Domestic credit to private sector in South Africa
South Africa: Domestic credit to private sector was 112.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Domestic credit to private sector in South Africa, 1965–2020
Source: World Development Indicators (WDI), World Bank. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic credit to private sector in South Africa is 112.0%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic credit to private sector in South Africa peaked at 142.4% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 50.1%, in 1980.
That places South Africa 24th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Domestic credit to private sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 58.7% | — |
| 1966 | 57.4% | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 56.8% | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 54.8% | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 56.2% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 57.6% | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 58.1% | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 57.2% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 57.9% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 55.0% | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 56.7% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 54.7% | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 53.9% | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 53.4% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 52.1% | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 50.1% | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 53.9% | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 55.3% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 58.8% | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 61.8% | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 65.2% | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 64.9% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 65.2% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 66.8% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 69.1% | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 71.9% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 91.0% | +26.5% |
| 1993 | 95.8% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 101.1% | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 105.0% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 105.5% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 102.4% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 103.7% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 118.2% | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 117.1% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 121.1% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 97.3% | -19.6% |
| 2003 | 102.8% | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 112.8% | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 122.3% | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 139.0% | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 142.4% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 126.0% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 121.1% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 124.5% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 119.2% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 125.5% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 127.4% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 129.2% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 127.5% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 124.6% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 127.2% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 118.6% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 118.2% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 112.0% | -5.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 112.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 52.0%, 2.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 112.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.1%, 6.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56.8% | 54.8% | 58.7% | 5 |
| 1970s | 55.7% | 52.1% | 58.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.1% | 50.1% | 69.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.4% | 71.9% | 118.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 120.2% | 97.3% | 142.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.2% | 118.2% | 129.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 112.0% | 112.0% | 112.0% | 1 |
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 domestic credit to private sector in South Africa?
- Domestic credit to private sector in South Africa was 112.0% in 2020, according to World Development Indicators (WDI), World Bank.
- What is the highest domestic credit to private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 142.4% in 2007.
- What is the lowest domestic credit to private sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.1% in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for domestic credit to private sector?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
- Is domestic credit to private sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Development Indicators (WDI), World Bank, published as part of Domestic credit to private sector (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Domestic credit to private sector refers to financial resources provided to the private sector, such as through loans, purchases of nonequity securities, and trade credits and other accounts receivable, that establish a claim for repayment. For some countries these claims include credit to public enterprises.