Claims on private sector in South Africa
South Africa: Claims on private sector was 5.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Claims on private sector in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in annual growth as % of broad money.
Analysis
The most recent figure for claims on private sector in South Africa is 5.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 57.0% on the previous year and down 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, claims on private sector in South Africa peaked at 28.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, -16.1%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 83rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Claims on private sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | annual growth as % of broad money | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 3.9% | — |
| 1967 | 7.8% | +100.9% |
| 1968 | 8.1% | +4.1% |
| 1969 | 11.9% | +46.4% |
| 1970 | 10.8% | -8.7% |
| 1971 | 8.8% | -18.7% |
| 1972 | 10.2% | +15.2% |
| 1973 | 22.4% | +120.5% |
| 1974 | 14.3% | -36.2% |
| 1975 | 15.0% | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 7.5% | -50.4% |
| 1977 | 6.4% | -14.2% |
| 1978 | 10.5% | +64.1% |
| 1979 | 12.5% | +19.3% |
| 1980 | 20.8% | +65.6% |
| 1981 | 22.3% | +7.4% |
| 1982 | 15.1% | -32.3% |
| 1983 | 18.4% | +22.0% |
| 1984 | 22.9% | +24.5% |
| 1985 | 15.4% | -32.7% |
| 1986 | 8.4% | -45.3% |
| 1987 | 15.7% | +85.5% |
| 1988 | 26.9% | +71.4% |
| 1989 | 19.2% | -28.5% |
| 1990 | 13.7% | -28.5% |
| 1993 | 12.9% | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 22.0% | +70.3% |
| 1995 | 18.9% | -13.8% |
| 1996 | 20.2% | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 17.5% | -13.4% |
| 1998 | 18.8% | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 11.2% | -40.6% |
| 2000 | 18.1% | +61.5% |
| 2001 | 28.2% | +56.3% |
| 2002 | -16.1% | -157.1% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | -208.2% |
| 2004 | 14.6% | -16.3% |
| 2005 | 17.3% | +18.6% |
| 2006 | 25.0% | +44.3% |
| 2007 | 22.1% | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 9.9% | -55.2% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | -71.6% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | +14.3% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | +64.6% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | +58.6% |
| 2013 | 6.2% | -25.6% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 7.9% | +15.9% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | -40.2% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +14.2% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | -70.8% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +139.6% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | +85.7% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -50.4% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 5.5% | +57.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 95% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.7%, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.9% | 3.9% | 11.9% | 4 |
| 1970s | 11.8% | 6.4% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.5% | 8.4% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.9% | 11.2% | 22.0% | 8 |
| 2000s | 13.9% | -16.1% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 3.2% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 1.5% | 6.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 10.08 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is claims on private sector in South Africa?
- Claims on private sector in South Africa was 5.5% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest claims on private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest claims on private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.1% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for claims on private sector?
- South Africa ranks 83rd out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is claims on private sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Claims on private sector (annual growth as % of broad money). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Claims on private sector include gross credit from the financial system to individuals, enterprises, nonfinancial public entities not included under net domestic credit, and financial institutions not included elsewhere. Broad money is the sum of all liquid financial instruments held by money-holding sectors that are widely accepted in an economy as a medium of exchange, plus those that can be converted into a medium of exchange at short notice at, or close to, their full nominal value. This indicator represents the annual percentage growth in the ratio of claims to broad money.