Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa

South Africa: Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) was -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
-0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5
Change on year
down 22.3%
World rank
122nd
of 205 countries
All-time high
0.6157 approx. -2.5 to +2.5
in 1996
All-time low
-0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5
in 2024
Years of data
29
1996–2024

Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa, 1996–2024

-0.200.20.40.61996201020241996: 0.616 approx. -2.5 to +2.51997: 0.461 approx. -2.5 to +2.51998: 0.306 approx. -2.5 to +2.51999: 0.39 approx. -2.5 to +2.52000: 0.473 approx. -2.5 to +2.52001: 0.451 approx. -2.5 to +2.52002: 0.429 approx. -2.5 to +2.52003: 0.457 approx. -2.5 to +2.52004: 0.47 approx. -2.5 to +2.52005: 0.493 approx. -2.5 to +2.52006: 0.382 approx. -2.5 to +2.52007: 0.332 approx. -2.5 to +2.52008: 0.305 approx. -2.5 to +2.52009: 0.376 approx. -2.5 to +2.52010: 0.272 approx. -2.5 to +2.52011: 0.305 approx. -2.5 to +2.52012: 0.316 approx. -2.5 to +2.52013: 0.333 approx. -2.5 to +2.52014: 0.331 approx. -2.5 to +2.52015: 0.244 approx. -2.5 to +2.52016: 0.201 approx. -2.5 to +2.52017: 0.223 approx. -2.5 to +2.52018: 0.148 approx. -2.5 to +2.52019: 0.189 approx. -2.5 to +2.52020: 0.095 approx. -2.5 to +2.52021: 0.042 approx. -2.5 to +2.52022: -0.002 approx. -2.5 to +2.52023: -0.185 approx. -2.5 to +2.52024: -0.226 approx. -2.5 to +2.5

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in approx. -2.5 to +2.5.

Analysis

In 2024, government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa stood at -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.3% on the previous year and down 168.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa peaked at 0.6157 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 in 1996 and was at its lowest, -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5, in 2024.

South Africa ranks 122nd of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to +2.5), gaps filled in South Africa, 1996 to 2024.
Year approx. -2.5 to +2.5 Change
1996 0.6157 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 —
1997 0.4609 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -25.1%
1998 0.3061 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -33.6%
1999 0.3895 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +27.2%
2000 0.4729 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +21.4%
2001 0.451 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -4.6%
2002 0.4291 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -4.9%
2003 0.4574 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +6.6%
2004 0.4702 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +2.8%
2005 0.4932 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +4.9%
2006 0.3825 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -22.5%
2007 0.3322 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -13.2%
2008 0.3051 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -8.1%
2009 0.3763 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +23.3%
2010 0.272 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -27.7%
2011 0.3052 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +12.2%
2012 0.3163 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +3.6%
2013 0.3335 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +5.4%
2014 0.3314 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -0.6%
2015 0.2445 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -26.2%
2016 0.2013 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -17.7%
2017 0.2228 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +10.7%
2018 0.1481 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -33.5%
2019 0.1894 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +27.9%
2020 0.0953 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -49.7%
2021 0.0421 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -55.8%
2022 -0.0016 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -103.7%
2023 -0.1847 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +11740.1%
2024 -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 +22.3%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2023 -11740.1% -0.0016 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -0.1847 approx. -2.5 to +2.5

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.4431 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.3061 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.6157 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 4
2000s 0.417 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.3051 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.4932 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 10
2010s 0.2564 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.1481 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.3335 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 10
2020s -0.0549 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 0.0953 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 119 Mexico -0.2199 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare
  2. 120 Maldives -0.2213 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare
  3. 121 Brazil -0.224 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare
  4. 123 Tunisia -0.2393 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare
  5. 124 Algeria -0.2512 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare
  6. 125 Puerto Rico -0.2552 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa?
Government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa was -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.6157 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 in 1996.
What is the lowest government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -0.2259 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 in 2024.
How does South Africa rank for government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to)?
South Africa ranks 122nd out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
Is government effectiveness - governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 168.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to +2.5), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-effectiveness-governance-estimate-approx-2-5-to-2-5-gaps-filled/south-africa/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-effectiveness-governance-estimate-approx-2-5-to-2-5-gaps-filled/south-africa/">Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to) in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to +2.5) with 540 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to +2.5), gaps filled
Unit
approx. -2.5 to +2.5
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
205 places, 5,701 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

Government Effectiveness - Governance estimate (approx. -2.5 to +2.5) with 540 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.