South Africa — Combined government deficit (% of GDP)

% of GDP · Annual · 1911–2030 · 120 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 −6.41% of GDP in 2025. The previous reading was −5.53% of GDP in 2024; the period change was −0.88 percentage points. Relative to the selected 10-year average of −5.77% of GDP, the latest reading was below.

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Get the full series

  • Annual data, 1911–2030
  • Quarterly data, 1992–2021
  • All 6 sources, downloadable

Latest observations

2007–2030

PeriodValue
2030-3.69 % of GDP
2029-3.74 % of GDP
2028-3.87 % of GDP
2027-4.09 % of GDP
2026-4.32 % of GDP
15 earlier values
2025-6.41 % of GDP
2024-5.53 % of GDP
2023-6.6 % of GDP
2022-5.04 % of GDP
2021-6.61 % 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
2011-3.39 % of GDP

Values before 2011, back to 2007, are on the chart — hover to read them.

Data release 2026_08_27_1049, published 30 Sept 2026.