In its mid-year review of the 2025 budget, South Africa’s government projected an improved fiscal outlook, although economic growth is expected to slow slightly this year. The National Treasury now forecasts a slightly smaller consolidated budget deficit of 4.7% of the GDP, compared to May's estimate of 4.8% of GDP, thanks to higher revenue collections. The government is expected to collect ZAR 19.7 billion more in taxes than initially forecasted in the Budget Speech in May. South Africa's debt-to-GDP ratio is seen stabilizing at 77.9% this fiscal year, higher than the 77.4% indicated in May. Meanwhile, growth projections for this year and next have been revised down to 1.2% and 1.5%, from 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. Importantly, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirmed a lowering of South Africa's inflation target to 3%, with a 1 percentage point tolerance band on either side, marking the first adjustment in 25 years. source: National Treasury, South Africa

South Africa recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. Government Budget in South Africa averaged -3.83 percent of GDP from 1989 until 2024, 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 February of 2026.

South Africa recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. Government Budget in South Africa is expected to reach -4.70 percent of GDP by the end of 2025, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Government Budget is projected to trend around -3.80 percent of GDP in 2026 and -3.50 percent of GDP in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Credit Rating 41.00 Jan 2026
Fiscal Expenditure 159146.00 157042.00 ZAR Million Nov 2025
Government Budget -5.00 -4.90 percent of GDP Dec 2024
Budget Balance 38440.00 -14990.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Government Debt 93981.00 87456.00 USD Million Sep 2025
Government Debt to GDP 76.90 73.40 percent of GDP Dec 2024
Government Revenues 144159.00 121211.00 ZAR Million Nov 2025
Government Spending 914941.00 912423.00 ZAR Million Sep 2025
Holidays
Military Expenditure 2836.00 2876.50 USD Million Dec 2024


South Africa Government Budget
The Government Budget to GDP ratio is an itemized accounting of the payments received by the government (taxes and other fees) and the payments made by the government (purchases and transfer payments) relative to GDP. A budget deficit occurs when a government spends more money than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit is a budget surplus.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-5.00 -4.90 1.00 -10.00 1989 - 2024 percent of GDP Yearly