Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa
South Africa: Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations was 152.22 billion Domestic currency in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
152.22 billion Domestic currency
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
70th
of 145 countries
All-time high
152.22 billion Domestic currency
in 2025
All-time low
25.28 billion Domestic currency
in 2001
Years of data
25
2001–2025
Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa, 2001–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in Domestic currency.
Analysis
In 2025, currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa stood at 152.22 billion Domestic currency. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 50.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa peaked at 152.22 billion Domestic currency in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.28 billion Domestic currency, in 2001.
That places South Africa 70th out of 145 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Domestic currency | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 25.28 billion Domestic currency | — |
| 2002 | 29.22 billion Domestic currency | +15.6% |
| 2003 | 33.71 billion Domestic currency | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 39.08 billion Domestic currency | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 43.42 billion Domestic currency | +11.1% |
| 2006 | 49.95 billion Domestic currency | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 53.61 billion Domestic currency | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 57.36 billion Domestic currency | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 61.78 billion Domestic currency | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 65.08 billion Domestic currency | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 75.40 billion Domestic currency | +15.9% |
| 2012 | 81.04 billion Domestic currency | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 87.01 billion Domestic currency | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 94.19 billion Domestic currency | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 101.05 billion Domestic currency | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 107.57 billion Domestic currency | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 114.43 billion Domestic currency | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 124.95 billion Domestic currency | +9.2% |
| 2019 | 127.07 billion Domestic currency | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 139.57 billion Domestic currency | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 144.40 billion Domestic currency | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 144.68 billion Domestic currency | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 146.27 billion Domestic currency | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 147.13 billion Domestic currency | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 152.22 billion Domestic currency | +3.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 152.22 billion Domestic currency is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 152.22 billion Domestic currency, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 152.22 billion Domestic currency is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 355.54 billion Domestic currency, 43% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43.71 billion Domestic currency | 25.28 billion Domestic currency | 61.78 billion Domestic currency | 9 |
| 2010s | 97.78 billion Domestic currency | 65.08 billion Domestic currency | 127.07 billion Domestic currency | 10 |
| 2020s | 145.71 billion Domestic currency | 139.57 billion Domestic currency | 152.22 billion Domestic currency | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 67 Central African Republic 254.84 billion Domestic currency compare
- 68 Kyrgyzstan 176.43 billion Domestic currency compare
- 69 Malaysia 162.29 billion Domestic currency compare
- 71 United Arab Emirates 151.89 billion Domestic currency compare
- 72 Romania 137.66 billion Domestic currency compare
- 73 Israel 124.51 billion Domestic currency compare
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 currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa?
- Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations in South Africa was 152.22 billion Domestic currency in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest currency in circulation outside of depository corporations recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 152.22 billion Domestic currency in 2025.
- What is the lowest currency in circulation outside of depository corporations recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.28 billion Domestic currency in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for currency in circulation outside of depository corporations?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 145 countries with data for 2025.
- Is currency in circulation outside of depository corporations rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Currency in circulation outside of depository corporations (Domestic currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Monetary and Financial Statistics (MFS), Monetary Aggregates dataset presents monetary aggregates based on standardized SRF data, while also reflecting country-specific components aligned with national definitions.