Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa

South Africa: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 100.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
100.9%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
60th
of 166 countries
All-time high
102.9%
in 2022
All-time low
98.5%
in 2011
Years of data
18
2006–2024

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa, 2006–2024

02550751002006201520242006: 100.3 %2007: 99.4 %2008: 101.4 %2010: 101.2 %2011: 98.5 %2012: 100 %2013: 99.2 %2014: 99.3 %2015: 99.1 %2016: 101.8 %2017: 99 %2018: 99.7 %2019: 99.6 %2020: 102 %2021: 101.3 %2022: 102.9 %2023: 102.5 %2024: 100.9 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa is 100.9%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa peaked at 102.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 98.5%, in 2011.

That places South Africa 60th out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa, 2006 to 2024.
Year % Change
2006 100.3% —
2007 99.4% -1.0%
2008 101.4% +2.1%
2010 101.2% -0.2%
2011 98.5% -2.6%
2012 100.0% +1.5%
2013 99.2% -0.7%
2014 99.3% +0.1%
2015 99.1% -0.2%
2016 101.8% +2.8%
2017 99.0% -2.7%
2018 99.7% +0.7%
2019 99.6% -0.1%
2020 102.0% +2.3%
2021 101.3% -0.6%
2022 102.9% +1.6%
2023 102.5% -0.4%
2024 100.9% -1.6%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 100.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.6%, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 100.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 98.1%, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 100.4% 99.4% 101.4% 3
2010s 99.7% 98.5% 101.8% 10
2020s 101.9% 100.9% 102.9% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 57 Bhutan 101.2% compare
  2. 58 Belize 101.1% compare
  3. 59 Indonesia 101.0% compare
  4. 61 Brazil 100.8% compare
  5. 62 Cote d'Ivoire 100.8% compare
  6. 63 Ecuador 100.7% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa was 100.9% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 102.9% in 2022.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 98.5% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
South Africa ranks 60th out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).