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South Africa — Combined government deficit (% of GDP)

% of GDP · Annual · 1911–2031 · 121 observations

About this series

The combined 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. WED's combined-government scope requires source metadata. This series expresses that measure as a percentage of GDP for the matching period.

The combined government deficit reading for South Africa was −4.44% of GDP in 2025. The previous reading was −5.12% of GDP in 2024; the period change was +0.68 percentage points. Relative to the selected 10-year average of −5.5% of GDP, the latest reading was above.

-15-10-5051911201020202031% of GDPSubscribe to view

Get the full series

  • Annual data, 1911–2031
  • Quarterly data, 1960–2026
  • The underlying source, downloadable

Latest observations

2007–2031

PeriodValue
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 2007, are on the chart — hover to read them.

Data release 2026_10_06_0823, published 6 Oct 2026.