In its Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirmed public debt peaked at 78.4% of GDP in the 2025/26 fiscal year, slightly below the level projected in February’s budget, and is expected to decline to 78.2% in 2026/27 and 77.9% in 2027/28. The consolidated budget deficit for the current fiscal year (2026/27) is now forecast at 3.9% of GDP, down slightly from the previous estimate of 4%. The improving fiscal outlook is supported by a primary budget surplus expected to rise for a fourth consecutive year, reaching 1.7% of GDP in 2026/27, driven by stronger tax revenues from corporate income tax, VAT and higher commodity prices. To reinforce fiscal discipline, the government released draft legislation establishing a fiscal anchor for public comment, with the bill expected to be tabled in Parliament next year. However, the 2026 economic growth was revised down to 1.2%, from 1.6% projected in February. source: National Treasury, South Africa
South Africa recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 4.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2025. Government Budget in South Africa averaged -3.85 percent of GDP from 1989 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 1.00 percent of GDP in 2007 and a record low of -10.00 percent of GDP in 2020. This page provides - South Africa Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Government Budget - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on October of 2026.
South Africa recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 4.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2025. Government Budget in South Africa is expected to reach -3.90 percent of GDP by the end of 2026, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Government Budget is projected to trend around -3.50 percent of GDP in 2027 and -3.10 percent of GDP in 2028, according to our econometric models.