South Africa: Gross savings (current US$)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, South Africa's gross savings (current US$) rose 1.2% on 2024 (from US$54.48 billion to US$55.14 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +4% and a typical year strayed about 17.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 56.4% in 2003 and the biggest yearly fall was 23.8% in 1985. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 16% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, South Africa had the 44th highest value of the 100 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2025 ranking

• Pakistan — 41st of 100: US$62.03 billion
• Colombia — 42nd of 100: US$60.27 billion
• Hungary — 43rd of 100: US$58.75 billion
• Morocco — 45th of 100: US$53.59 billion
• Uzbekistan — 46th of 100: US$43.53 billion
• Ecuador — 47th of 100: US$35.43 billion

What this measures

Savings is an amount that represents the part of disposable income (adjusted for the change in pension entitlements) that is not spent on final consumption. Gross savings are calculated as gross national income less total consumption, plus net transfers. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.

All 66 values

Gross savings (current US$) in nearby economies

• Angola — US$16.37 billion (2024)
• Benin — US$5.96 billion (2023)
• Botswana — US$5.63 billion (2025)
• Burkina Faso — US$3.68 billion (2024)
• Burundi — US$1.45 billion (2025)
• Cabo Verde — US$646.25 million (2025)
• Cameroon — US$8.28 billion (2024)
• Comoros — US$176.62 million (2023)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — US$26.12 billion (2025)
• Congo, Rep. — US$4.69 billion (2021)
• Côte d'Ivoire — US$14.94 billion (2024)

More economic policy & debt data for South Africa

• Trade in services (% of GDP) — 9.32% (2025)
• Communications, computer, etc. (% of service imports, BoP) — 44.9% (2025)
• Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) — US$20.32 billion (2025)
• Imports of goods and services (current US$, BoP) — US$126.24 billion (2025)
• Insurance and financial services (% of service imports, BoP) — 5.58% (2025)
• Goods imports (current US$, BoP) — US$104.47 billion (2025)
• Service imports (current US$, BoP) — US$21.77 billion (2025)
• Charges for the use of intellectual property, payments (BoP, current US$) — US$1.74 billion (2025)
• Imports of goods, services and primary income (current US$, BoP)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is South Africa's gross savings (current US$)?

US$55.14 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 2,166% from US$2.43 billion in 1960 (4.92% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$73.78 billion in 2011 and the lowest US$2.43 billion in 1960.

How does South Africa rank?

44th highest of 100 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in gross savings (current US$) unusual for South Africa?

In 2025, South Africa's gross savings (current US$) rose 1.2% on 2024 (from US$54.48 billion to US$55.14 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +4% and a typical year strayed about 17.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator NY.GNS.ICTR.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs); National Accounts data files, Central Banks; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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