South Africa

South AfricaCurrent account

ZA desk: South Africa first; United States, United Kingdom, euro area, Australia and New Zealand alongside.

-0.42%

+0.22 pp

As of 2025 | % of GDP

Latest
-0.42% 2025
Previous year
-0.64% 2024
Min
-6.36% 1971
Max
5.29% 1987
YearValue
2025-0.42%
2024-0.64%
2023-1.10%
2022-0.30%
20213.77%
20202.00%
2019-2.62%
2018-3.00%
2017-2.37%
2016-2.63%
2015-4.31%
2014-4.81%
2013-5.34%
2012-4.68%
2011-2.02%
2010-1.30%
2009-2.38%
2008-5.19%
2007-4.86%
2006-4.00%
2005-2.77%
2004-2.51%
2003-0.78%
20020.78%
#CountryCurrent accountChangeYear
49China3.77%+1.30 pp2025
86India-0.42%+0.43 pp202587South Africa-0.42%+0.22 pp2025110United Kingdom-2.43%+0.53 pp2025115Australia-2.68%−0.37 pp2025129New Zealand-3.62%+1.01 pp2025131United States-3.63%+0.42 pp2025

What the current account is

The current-account balance as a share of GDP (BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS) is exports minus imports of goods and services, plus net primary income and current transfers, divided by GDP. A surplus means the economy is a net lender to the rest of the world. Latest: -0.42% in 2025.

A large surplus or deficit is not automatically good or bad; it depends on saving, investment and the exchange rate. From 1960 to 2025 (66 years): latest -0.42% (2025), previous year -0.64% (2024); low -6.36% (1971), high 5.29% (1987).

Source: World Bank Open Data. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (terms).