Key information about South Africa Tax revenue: % of GDP

• South Africa Tax revenue: % of GDP was reported at 21.6 % in Sep 2024.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 21.9 % for Jun 2024.
• South Africa Tax revenue: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, averaging 20.8 % from Mar 1990 to Sep 2024, with 139 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 27.8 % in Mar 1990 and a record low of 16.4 % in Jun 1993.
• South Africa Tax revenue: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Tax Revenue: % of Nominal GDP: Quarterly.

Tax revenue (% of GDP) in South Africa was reported at 26.01 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Tax revenue (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Key information about South Africa Tax Revenue

• South Africa Tax Revenue was reported at 6.427 USD bn in Jan 2025.
• This is a decrease from the previous figure of 11.168 USD bn for Dec 2024.
• South Africa Tax Revenue data is updated monthly, averaging 4.648 USD bn from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025, with 421 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13.530 USD bn in Jun 2021 and a record low of 1.487 USD bn in Apr 2002.
• South Africa Tax Revenue data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Tax Revenue: USD: Monthly.

Graph and download economic data for General Government Revenue for South Africa (ZAFGGRG01GDPPT) from 2000 to 2026 about South Africa, revenue, REO, and government.

Government Revenues in South Africa increased to 136332 ZAR Million in November from 112452 ZAR Million in October of 2024. This dataset provides - South Africa Government Revenues- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Tax revenue (current LCU) in South Africa was reported at 1730799559359 LCU in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Tax revenue (current LCU) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Exports: % of Tax Revenue data was reported at 0.010 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.011 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Exports: % of Tax Revenue data is updated yearly, averaging 0.175 % from Mar 1973 (Median) to 2017, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.756 % in 1978 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2006. South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Taxes on Exports: % of Tax Revenue 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: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Taxes on exports are all levies on goods being transported out of the country or services being delivered to nonresidents by residents. Rebates on exported goods that are repayments of previously paid general consumption taxes, excise taxes, or import duties are deducted from the gross amounts receivable from these taxes, not from amounts receivable from export taxes.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; ;

South Africa Circular Economy: Tax Revenue: % of GDP: Transport data was reported at 0.068 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.075 % for 2020. South Africa Circular Economy: Tax Revenue: % of GDP: Transport data is updated yearly, averaging 0.059 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2021, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.092 % in 1997 and a record low of 0.042 % in 2010. South Africa Circular Economy: Tax Revenue: % of GDP: Transport 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.ESG: Environmental: Environmentally Related Tax Revenue: Cross Cutting Domains: Non OECD Member: Annual.

This horizontal bar chart displays tax revenue (% of GDP) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by gdp in South Africa. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

This horizontal bar chart displays tax revenue (% of GDP) by currency using the aggregation average, weighted by gdp in South Africa. The data is about countries per year.

Taxes on exports (% of tax revenue) in South Africa was reported at 0.05749 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Taxes on exports (% of tax revenue) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This horizontal bar chart displays tax revenue (% of GDP) by capital city using the aggregation average, weighted by gdp in South Africa. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays incidence of HIV (per 1,000 uninfected population) against tax revenue (% of GDP) in South Africa. The data is about countries per year.

South Africa National Govt Revenue: Tax: Property data was reported at 1,281.281 ZAR mn in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,319.111 ZAR mn for Apr 2018. South Africa National Govt Revenue: Tax: Property data is updated monthly, averaging 593.000 ZAR mn from Jan 1990 (Median) to May 2018, with 341 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,775.000 ZAR mn in Mar 2018 and a record low of 72.000 ZAR mn in Dec 1990. South Africa National Govt Revenue: Tax: Property 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.F001: National Government Revenue and Expenditure.

Customs and other import duties (% of tax revenue) in South Africa was reported at 4.2235 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Customs and other import duties (% of tax revenue) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

This scatter chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) against tax revenue (% of GDP) in South Africa. The data is about countries per year.

South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Customs and Other Import Duties: % of Tax Revenue data was reported at 3.793 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.075 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Customs and Other Import Duties: % of Tax Revenue data is updated yearly, averaging 4.075 % from Mar 1973 (Median) to 2017, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.538 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.765 % in 1995. South Africa ZA: Revenue and Grants: Revenue: Customs and Other Import Duties: % of Tax Revenue 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: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Customs and other import duties are all levies collected on goods that are entering the country or services delivered by nonresidents to residents. They include levies imposed for revenue or protection purposes and determined on a specific or ad valorem basis as long as they are restricted to imported goods or services.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files.; ;

Tax effect in 2014 and 2015: South-Africa tax design.

South Africa ZA: Revenue Excluding Grants: % of GDP data was reported at 30.897 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.706 % for 2016. South Africa ZA: Revenue Excluding Grants: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 25.376 % from Mar 1973 (Median) to 2017, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.706 % in 2016 and a record low of 20.057 % in 1973. South Africa ZA: Revenue Excluding Grants: % of GDP 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: Government Revenue, Expenditure and Finance. Revenue is cash receipts from taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales. Grants are also considered as revenue but are excluded here.; ; International Monetary Fund, Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.; Weighted Average;

The study identifies the primary influences underlying the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and the increase in the standard VAT rate by way of a historical institutionalist analysis to examine the complex political environment that is tax policy development in South Africa. A case study approach is followed, blending theoretically-informed document analysis and data collected from 30 semi-structured interviews with a diverse range of actors. The pressing need to combat the escalating obesity crisis and the related surge in non-communicable diseases was identified as the main influence on the introduction of the sugar tax in SA. Meanwhile, the influences leading to the VAT rate increase, were identified as corruption, wasteful government spending, and the demand for more government revenue. This research shows how historical institutionalism can be harnessed to attain a deeper grasp of tax policy change in the context of research in African and other developing countries.