South Africa — General government deficit (% of GDP)
% of GDP · Annual · 1913–2031 · 119 observations
About this series
The general government deficit series records the period's fiscal balance under the source's accounting and sign convention. A deficit indicates a shortfall; the series is a flow, not a debt stock. This series expresses that measure as a percentage of GDP for the matching period.
In South Africa, the general government deficit reading was −4.44% of GDP in 2025, compared with −5.12% of GDP in 2024. The period change was +0.68 percentage points. The latest reading was above the selected 10-year average of −5.5% of GDP.
Get the full series
- Annual data, 1913–2031
- All 6 sources, downloadable
Latest observations
2008–2031
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2031 | -3.91 % of GDP |
| 2030 | -3.93 % of GDP |
| 2029 | -4.09 % of GDP |
| 2028 | -4.36 % of GDP |
| 2027 | -3.89 % of GDP |
15 earlier values
| 2026 | -4.29 % of GDP |
| 2025 | -4.44 % of GDP |
| 2024 | -5.12 % of GDP |
| 2023 | -6.08 % of GDP |
| 2022 | -5.11 % of GDP |
| 2021 | -6.68 % of GDP |
| 2020 | -10.5 % of GDP |
| 2019 | -5.08 % of GDP |
| 2018 | -3.65 % of GDP |
| 2017 | -4.33 % of GDP |
| 2016 | -3.96 % of GDP |
| 2015 | -3.67 % of GDP |
| 2014 | -3.99 % of GDP |
| 2013 | -3.67 % of GDP |
| 2012 | -4.03 % of GDP |
Values before 2012, back to 2008, are on the chart — hover to read them.