Current expenditure, total in South Africa

South Africa: Current expenditure, total was 1.04 trillion current LCU in 2008. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2008)
1.04 trillion current LCU
Change on year
up 8.5%
World rank
16th
of 51 countries
All-time high
1.04 trillion current LCU
in 2008
All-time low
3.26 billion current LCU
in 1968
Years of data
41
1968–2008

Current expenditure, total in South Africa, 1968–2008

0250.0B500.0B750.0B1.0T1968198820081968: 3.3B current LCU1969: 4.2B current LCU1970: 5.1B current LCU1971: 6.1B current LCU1972: 6.9B current LCU1973: 7.8B current LCU1974: 9.3B current LCU1975: 11.2B current LCU1976: 13.9B current LCU1977: 17.3B current LCU1978: 21.0B current LCU1979: 25.9B current LCU1980: 31.6B current LCU1981: 39.1B current LCU1982: 47.0B current LCU1983: 56.9B current LCU1984: 66.4B current LCU1985: 75.8B current LCU1986: 88.2B current LCU1987: 104.8B current LCU1988: 132.5B current LCU1989: 148.1B current LCU1990: 164.5B current LCU1991: 188.4B current LCU1992: 206.3B current LCU1993: 184.8B current LCU1994: 198.8B current LCU1995: 216.3B current LCU1996: 236.3B current LCU1997: 287.3B current LCU1998: 324.2B current LCU1999: 363.1B current LCU2000: 409.7B current LCU2001: 462.8B current LCU2002: 533.3B current LCU2003: 616.5B current LCU2004: 706.4B current LCU2005: 780.2B current LCU2006: 877.0B current LCU2007: 954.3B current LCU2008: 1.0T current LCU

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current LCU.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 1.04 trillion current LCU for current expenditure, total in 2008. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.

That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and up 219.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, current expenditure, total in South Africa peaked at 1.04 trillion current LCU in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.26 billion current LCU, in 1968.

That places South Africa 16th out of 51 countries with data for 2008, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Current expenditure, total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Current expenditure, total (current LCU) in South Africa, 1968 to 2008.
Year current LCU Change
1968 3.26 billion current LCU
1969 4.17 billion current LCU +27.6%
1970 5.11 billion current LCU +22.8%
1971 6.12 billion current LCU +19.7%
1972 6.90 billion current LCU +12.7%
1973 7.78 billion current LCU +12.8%
1974 9.29 billion current LCU +19.3%
1975 11.21 billion current LCU +20.7%
1976 13.91 billion current LCU +24.1%
1977 17.33 billion current LCU +24.6%
1978 21.01 billion current LCU +21.2%
1979 25.89 billion current LCU +23.2%
1980 31.65 billion current LCU +22.3%
1981 39.13 billion current LCU +23.6%
1982 47.00 billion current LCU +20.1%
1983 56.89 billion current LCU +21.1%
1984 66.36 billion current LCU +16.6%
1985 75.78 billion current LCU +14.2%
1986 88.21 billion current LCU +16.4%
1987 104.78 billion current LCU +18.8%
1988 132.49 billion current LCU +26.4%
1989 148.11 billion current LCU +11.8%
1990 164.49 billion current LCU +11.1%
1991 188.38 billion current LCU +14.5%
1992 206.33 billion current LCU +9.5%
1993 184.82 billion current LCU -10.4%
1994 198.81 billion current LCU +7.6%
1995 216.33 billion current LCU +8.8%
1996 236.34 billion current LCU +9.2%
1997 287.25 billion current LCU +21.5%
1998 324.23 billion current LCU +12.9%
1999 363.12 billion current LCU +12.0%
2000 409.70 billion current LCU +12.8%
2001 462.79 billion current LCU +13.0%
2002 533.32 billion current LCU +15.2%
2003 616.47 billion current LCU +15.6%
2004 706.44 billion current LCU +14.6%
2005 780.22 billion current LCU +10.4%
2006 876.97 billion current LCU +12.4%
2007 954.31 billion current LCU +8.8%
2008 1.04 trillion current LCU +8.5%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 1.04 trillion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 434.30 billion current LCU, 2.4× the median. (7 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 1.04 trillion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 324.45 billion current LCU, 3.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 3.72 billion current LCU 3.26 billion current LCU 4.17 billion current LCU 2
1970s 12.46 billion current LCU 5.11 billion current LCU 25.89 billion current LCU 10
1980s 79.04 billion current LCU 31.65 billion current LCU 148.11 billion current LCU 10
1990s 237.01 billion current LCU 164.49 billion current LCU 363.12 billion current LCU 10
2000s 708.42 billion current LCU 409.70 billion current LCU 1.04 trillion current LCU 9

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 13 Cameroon 1.71 trillion current LCU compare
  2. 14 Senegal 1.16 trillion current LCU compare
  3. 15 Gabon 1.10 trillion current LCU compare
  4. 17 Sao Tome and Principe 850.54 billion current LCU compare
  5. 18 Chad 793.00 billion current LCU compare
  6. 19 Congo 686.82 billion current LCU compare

See the full ranking of 51 places →

More science & technology data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is current expenditure, total in South Africa?
Current expenditure, total in South Africa was 1.04 trillion current LCU in 2008, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest current expenditure, total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.04 trillion current LCU in 2008.
What is the lowest current expenditure, total recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.26 billion current LCU in 1968.
How does South Africa rank for current expenditure, total?
South Africa ranks 16th out of 51 countries with data for 2008.
Is current expenditure, total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 219.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Current expenditure, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Current expenditure, total in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/current-expenditure-total-current-lcu/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Current expenditure, total (current LCU)
Unit
current LCU
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
51 places, 1,441 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Total current expenditure includes requited payments other than for capital assets or for goods or services to be used in the production of capital assets, and unrequited payments for purposes other than permitting the recipients to acquire capital assets, compensating the recipients for damage or destruction of capital assets, or increasing the financial capital of the recipients. Data are shown for central government only. Data are in current local currency.