The benchmark interest rate in South Africa was last recorded at 7.25 percent. This dataset provides - South Africa Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data was reported at 7.250 % in Dec 2026. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.250 % for Sep 2026. Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data is updated quarterly, averaging 7.000 % from Mar 2000 (Median) to Dec 2026, with 108 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.500 % in Mar 2003 and a record low of 3.500 % in Sep 2021. Key Interest Rate: Central Banks data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.OECD.EO: Interest Rate: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Quarterly.

FocusEconomics' economic data is provided by official state statistical reporting agencies as well as our global network of leading banks, think tanks and consultancies. Our datasets provide not only historical data, but also Consensus Forecasts and individual forecasts from the aformentioned global network of economic analysts. This includes the latest forecasts as well as historical forecasts going back to 2010. Our global network consists of over 1000 world-renowned economic analysts from which we calculate our Consensus Forecasts. In this specific dataset you will find economic data for South Africa Interest Rate.

This dataset provides values for INTEREST RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Key information about South Africa Long Term Interest Rate

• South Africa Government Bond Yield: Month End: 10 Years and Over was reported at 10.52 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 10.38 % pa in the previous month.
• South Africa Long Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Aug 2006 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 12.43 % pa in Sep 2023 and a record low of 6.73 % pa in Apr 2013.
• Long Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by South African Reserve Bank.

• In the latest reports, South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.41 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.50 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.74 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.

Lending Rate in South Africa decreased to 10.75 percent in April from 11 percent in March of 2025. This dataset provides - South Africa Lending Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Forecast: Bank Lending Interest Rate in South Africa 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

South Africa ZA: Real Interest Rate data was reported at 4.584 % pa in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.451 % pa for 2016. South Africa ZA: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.728 % pa from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.012 % pa in 1998 and a record low of -12.315 % pa in 1980. South Africa ZA: Real Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files using World Bank data on the GDP deflator.; ;

Real interest rate (%) in South Africa was reported at 6.3888 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Real interest rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Interest Rate Spread data was reported at 3.130 % pa in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.287 % pa for 2016. South Africa ZA: Interest Rate Spread data is updated yearly, averaging 3.319 % pa from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2017, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.513 % pa in 2008 and a record low of 3.130 % pa in 2017. South Africa ZA: Interest Rate Spread data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Interest rate spread is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the interest rate paid by commercial or similar banks for demand, time, or savings deposits. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; Median;

Lending interest rate (%) in South Africa was reported at 11.62 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Lending interest rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Lending Interest Rate data was reported at 10.375 % pa in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.458 % pa for 2016. South Africa ZA: Lending Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 11.750 % pa from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.333 % pa in 1984 and a record low of 5.500 % pa in 1963. South Africa ZA: Lending Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Lending rate is the bank rate that usually meets the short- and medium-term financing needs of the private sector. This rate is normally differentiated according to creditworthiness of borrowers and objectives of financing. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; ;

Deposit Interest Rate in South Africa decreased to 7.85 percent in February from 7.88 percent in January of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in South Africa.

South Africa ZA: Deposit Interest Rate data was reported at 7.245 % pa in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.172 % pa for 2016. South Africa ZA: Deposit Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.309 % pa from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2017, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.613 % pa in 2008 and a record low of 5.152 % pa in 2013. South Africa ZA: Deposit Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Interest Rates. Deposit interest rate is the rate paid by commercial or similar banks for demand, time, or savings deposits. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; ;

South Africa’s inflation has been quite stable for the past years, levelling off between 3.2 and 6.9 percent, and is in fact expected to stabilize at around 4.5 percent in the future. South Africa is a mixed economy, generating most of its GDP through the services sector, especially tourism. However, the country struggles with unemployment and poverty.

Inflation who?

The inflation rate of a country is an important key factor to determine the country’s economic strength. It is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket, containing goods and services on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include, for example, expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, utilities, but also recreational activities, and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. Some of these goods are more volatile than others – food prices, for example, are considered less reliable. The European Central Bank aims to keep inflation at around two percent in the long run.

What happened in 2016?

In 2016, South Africa’s inflation rate peaked at over 6.3 percent, and gross domestic product, and thus economic growth , took a hit, a sure indicator that something was affecting the country’s economic scaffolding: Low growth due to weak demand and an uncertain political future caused a crisis; then-President Jacob Zuma’s alleged mismanagement and unstable reign steeped in controversy and criminal charges even caused the economy’s outlook to be downgraded by ratings agencies. Zuma was relieved of his office in 2018 – ever since, inflation, GDP, and economic growth seem to have stabilized.

Key information about South Africa Short Term Interest Rate

• South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.41 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 7.70 % pa in the previous month.
• South Africa Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Dec 1980 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 22.15 % pa in Feb 1985 and a record low of 3.45 % pa in Aug 2020.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by South African Reserve Bank.

• In the latest reports, South Africa Government Bond Yield: Month End: 10 Years and Over was reported at 10.52 % pa in Feb 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.50 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.74 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.

Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) in South Africa was reported at 4.8483 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Interest rate spread (lending rate minus deposit rate, %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Key information about South Africa Policy Rate

• South Africa cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Repo Rate) was set at 7.50 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 7.50 % pa in the previous Jan 2025.
• South Africa Policy Rate averaged 7.00 % pa and is updated monthly, available from Nov 1999 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13.50 % pa in May 2003 and a record low of 3.50 % pa in Oct 2021.

• In the latest reports, South Africa Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.41 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Bond Yield: Month End: 10 Years and Over) was reported at 10.52 % pa in Feb 2025.
• South Africa Exchange Rate against USD averaged 18.74 (USD/ZAR) in Jun 2023.
• Its Real Effective Exchange Rate was 89.35 in Dec 2024.

South Africa Prime Lending Rate data was reported at 11.000 % pa in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 11.000 % pa for Feb 2025. South Africa Prime Lending Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 10.500 % pa from Jan 2000 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 303 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.000 % pa in May 2003 and a record low of 7.000 % pa in Oct 2021. South Africa Prime Lending Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by South African Reserve Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.M005: Prime Lending Rate.

South Africa Banks Risk: Interest Rate data was reported at 2,902,564.000 ZAR th in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,114,563.000 ZAR th for Aug 2018. South Africa Banks Risk: Interest Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 1,321,170.000 ZAR th from Jan 2008 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 129 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,463,242.000 ZAR th in May 2018 and a record low of 529,144.000 ZAR th in Feb 2010. South Africa Banks Risk: Interest Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by South African Reserve Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.KB014: Banking Performance Indicator.