Central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa

South Africa: Central government revenues, excluding all grants was 40.0% in 2008. ▼ Falling

Latest (2008)
40.0%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
6th
of 51 countries
All-time high
61.7%
in 1984
All-time low
38.6%
in 1968
Years of data
41
1968–2008

Central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa, 1968–2008

02040601968198820081968: 38.6 % of GDP1969: 42.1 % of GDP1970: 45.4 % of GDP1971: 46.1 % of GDP1972: 46.3 % of GDP1973: 43.7 % of GDP1974: 42.4 % of GDP1975: 49.5 % of GDP1976: 50.7 % of GDP1977: 53.8 % of GDP1978: 53.7 % of GDP1979: 53.8 % of GDP1980: 50.3 % of GDP1981: 50.5 % of GDP1982: 50.8 % of GDP1983: 54.2 % of GDP1984: 61.7 % of GDP1985: 59.2 % of GDP1986: 55.3 % of GDP1987: 49.8 % of GDP1988: 53.9 % of GDP1989: 53.3 % of GDP1990: 52.6 % of GDP1991: 52 % of GDP1992: 51.7 % of GDP1993: 42.1 % of GDP1994: 40.6 % of GDP1995: 38.7 % of GDP1996: 39 % of GDP1997: 40.6 % of GDP1998: 40.3 % of GDP1999: 42.8 % of GDP2000: 44.7 % of GDP2001: 47.2 % of GDP2002: 47.9 % of GDP2003: 47.8 % of GDP2004: 41 % of GDP2005: 42.4 % of GDP2006: 41.3 % of GDP2007: 40 % of GDP2008: 40 % of GDP

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

In 2008, central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa stood at 40.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa peaked at 61.7% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 38.6%, in 1968.

That places South Africa 6th out of 51 countries with data for 2008, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.

Central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Central government revenues, excluding all grants (% of GDP) in South Africa, 1968 to 2008.
Year % of GDP Change
1968 38.6%
1969 42.1% +9.2%
1970 45.4% +7.7%
1971 46.1% +1.7%
1972 46.3% +0.4%
1973 43.7% -5.6%
1974 42.4% -3.0%
1975 49.5% +16.6%
1976 50.7% +2.6%
1977 53.8% +6.1%
1978 53.7% -0.3%
1979 53.8% +0.3%
1980 50.3% -6.6%
1981 50.5% +0.4%
1982 50.8% +0.5%
1983 54.2% +6.7%
1984 61.7% +13.9%
1985 59.2% -4.1%
1986 55.3% -6.5%
1987 49.8% -10.0%
1988 53.9% +8.1%
1989 53.3% -1.1%
1990 52.6% -1.3%
1991 52.0% -1.2%
1992 51.7% -0.4%
1993 42.1% -18.7%
1994 40.6% -3.7%
1995 38.7% -4.6%
1996 39.0% +0.7%
1997 40.6% +4.3%
1998 40.3% -0.7%
1999 42.8% +6.0%
2000 44.7% +4.4%
2001 47.2% +5.7%
2002 47.9% +1.5%
2003 47.8% -0.1%
2004 41.0% -14.4%
2005 42.4% +3.6%
2006 41.3% -2.7%
2007 40.0% -3.1%
2008 40.0% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 40.3% 38.6% 42.1% 2
1970s 48.6% 42.4% 53.8% 10
1980s 53.9% 49.8% 61.7% 10
1990s 44.0% 38.7% 52.6% 10
2000s 43.6% 40.0% 47.9% 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 3 Lesotho 44.4% compare
  2. 4 Ghana 43.8% compare
  3. 5 Congo 43.6% compare
  4. 7 Sao Tome and Principe 34.4% compare
  5. 8 Malawi 31.6% compare
  6. 9 Djibouti 31.2% compare

See the full ranking of 57 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa?
Central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa was 40.0% in 2008, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest central government revenues, excluding all grants recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 61.7% in 1984.
What is the lowest central government revenues, excluding all grants recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 38.6% in 1968.
How does South Africa rank for central government revenues, excluding all grants?
South Africa ranks 6th out of 51 countries with data for 2008.
Is central government revenues, excluding all grants rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Central government revenues, excluding all grants (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Central government revenues, excluding all grants in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/central-government-revenues-excluding-all-grants-percent-of-gdp/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Central government revenues, excluding all grants (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
57 places, 1,580 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Central government revenues, excluding all grants.