Cost of registering property in South Africa
South Africa: Cost of registering property was 5.9% in 2012. ▼ Falling
Cost of registering property in South Africa, 2004–2012
Source: World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/). Measured in % of property value.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5.9% for cost of registering property in 2012.
The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 47.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cost of registering property in South Africa peaked at 11.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 36th of 51 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Cost of registering property in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of property value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11.3% | — |
| 2005 | 11.0% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 8.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -36.4% |
| 2012 | 5.9% | +5.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.1%, 83% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.1%, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.6% | 8.7% | 11.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 5.6% | 8.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cost of registering property in South Africa?
- Cost of registering property in South Africa was 5.9% in 2012, according to World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/).
- What is the highest cost of registering property recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest cost of registering property recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for cost of registering property?
- South Africa ranks 36th out of 51 countries with data for 2012.
- Is cost of registering property rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Doing Business project (http://www.doingbusiness.org/), published as part of Cost of registering property (% of property value). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Cost is recorded as a percentage of the property value, assumed to be equivalent to 50 times income per capita. Only official costs required by law are recorded, including fees, transfer taxes, stamp duties and any other payment to the property registry, notaries, public agencies or lawyers. Other taxes, such as capital gains tax or value added tax, are excluded from the cost measure. Both costs borne by the buyer and those borne by the seller are included. If cost estimates differ among