zaf-statssa-l-1980-2025-v1 DataFirst 2025-12-11 Nesstar Publisher Version 1 Liquidations 1980-2025 L 1980-2025 zaf-statssa-l-1980-2025-v1 Statistics South Africa Companies and Intellectual Property Commission Nesstar Publisher DataFirst Support Other V1: Edited, anonymised dataset for public distribution Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) compiles data on liquidations using administrative records obtained from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) within the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC). The statistical series captures both voluntary and compulsory liquidations of companies and close corporations across South Africa. The purpose of collecting and publishing this data is to provide timely indicators of business distress and overall economic performance. The information is widely used by government, researchers, and the private sector to monitor trends in business closures, assess sectoral vulnerabilities, and gauge the extent of unpaid debt within the economy. The dataset contains aggregated counts of liquidation cases, classified by type of liquidation and legal entity. This data supports economic analysis, policy development, and the evaluation of financial stability in South Africa. South Africa National coverage Establishments All business entities registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission Time-Series This survey covers the total number of companies and close corporations which were liquidated Statistics South Africa Companies and Intellectual Property Commission Other During processing, the original monthly data were integrated and converted into a structured time-series format by DataFirst. Monthly variables contained in separate columns were reshaped into a long dataset in which each row represents a unique liquidation count for a specific month and classification category. A standardised reference-date variable was then constructed to ensure temporal comparability across years. Classification variables—namely business type, liquidation type, and industry—were harmonised, recoded into numeric codes, and assigned appropriate value labels to promote consistent interpretation across time. Descriptive variable labels were added to all key fields to enhance usability in statistical software environments. Text fields were standardised to lowercase to eliminate variation caused by inconsistent text formatting. After all processing steps were completed, the dataset was sorted chronologically and organised into a tidy structure suitable for producing time-series indicators, tables, and aggregated outputs. The final cleaned dataset was exported in Stata (.dta) format for analysis and dissemination. For the period 1980 to 1999, the monthly records contain only the total number of liquidations. From 2000 onwards, the data includes additional detail, such as the legal form of the business entity, whether the liquidation was voluntary or compulsory, and the industry classification, allowing for more granular analysis of liquidation trends DataFirst Statistics South Africa. Liquidations 1980-2025 [dataset]. Version 1. Place: StatsSA [producer], 2025. Cape Town: DataFirst [distributor], 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25828/fmm7-j859 Public access data for use under a Creative Commons CC-BY (Attribution-only) License liquidations-1980-2025-v1.NSDstat 21064 6 Nesstar 200801 Date 21064 1980-03-01 2025-10-01 1980-03-01 39 1980-04-01 38 1980-05-01 39 1980-06-01 38 1980-07-01 39 1980-08-01 38 1980-09-01 38 1980-10-01 39 1980-11-01 38 1980-12-01 39 1981-01-01 38 1981-02-01 39 1981-03-01 38 1981-04-01 39 1981-05-01 38 1981-06-01 38 1981-07-01 39 1981-08-01 38 1981-09-01 39 1981-10-01 38 1981-11-01 39 1981-12-01 38 1982-01-01 38 1982-02-01 39 1982-03-01 38 1982-04-01 39 1982-05-01 38 1982-06-01 39 1982-07-01 38 1982-08-01 39 1982-09-01 38 1982-10-01 38 1982-11-01 39 1982-12-01 38 1983-01-01 39 1983-02-01 38 1983-03-01 39 1983-04-01 38 1983-05-01 38 1983-06-01 39 1983-07-01 38 1983-08-01 39 1983-09-01 38 1983-10-01 39 1983-11-01 38 1983-12-01 39 1984-01-01 38 1984-02-01 38 1984-03-01 39 1984-04-01 38 1984-05-01 39 1984-06-01 38 1984-07-01 39 1984-08-01 38 1984-09-01 38 1984-10-01 39 1984-11-01 38 1984-12-01 39 1985-01-01 38 1985-02-01 39 1985-03-01 38 1985-04-01 39 1985-05-01 38 1985-06-01 38 1985-07-01 39 1985-08-01 38 1985-09-01 39 1985-10-01 38 1985-11-01 39 1985-12-01 38 1986-01-01 38 1986-02-01 39 1986-03-01 38 1986-04-01 39 1986-05-01 38 1986-06-01 39 1986-07-01 38 1986-08-01 39 1986-09-01 38 1986-10-01 38 1986-11-01 39 1986-12-01 38 1987-01-01 39 1987-02-01 38 1987-03-01 39 1987-04-01 38 1987-05-01 38 1987-06-01 39 1987-07-01 38 1987-08-01 39 1987-09-01 38 1987-10-01 39 1987-11-01 38 1987-12-01 39 1988-01-01 38 1988-02-01 38 1988-03-01 39 1988-04-01 38 1988-05-01 39 1988-06-01 38 1988-07-01 39 1988-08-01 38 1988-09-01 38 1988-10-01 39 1988-11-01 38 1988-12-01 39 1989-01-01 38 1989-02-01 39 1989-03-01 38 1989-04-01 39 1989-05-01 38 1989-06-01 38 1989-07-01 39 1989-08-01 38 1989-09-01 39 1989-10-01 38 1989-11-01 39 1989-12-01 38 1990-01-01 38 1990-02-01 39 1990-03-01 38 1990-04-01 39 1990-05-01 38 1990-06-01 39 1990-07-01 38 1990-08-01 39 1990-09-01 38 1990-10-01 38 1990-11-01 39 1990-12-01 38 1991-01-01 39 1991-02-01 38 1991-03-01 39 1991-04-01 38 1991-05-01 38 1991-06-01 39 1991-07-01 38 1991-08-01 39 1991-09-01 38 1991-10-01 39 1991-11-01 38 1991-12-01 39 1992-01-01 38 1992-02-01 38 1992-03-01 39 1992-04-01 38 1992-05-01 39 1992-06-01 38 1992-07-01 39 1992-08-01 38 1992-09-01 38 1992-10-01 39 1992-11-01 38 1992-12-01 39 1993-01-01 38 1993-02-01 39 1993-03-01 38 1993-04-01 39 1993-05-01 38 1993-06-01 38 1993-07-01 39 1993-08-01 38 1993-09-01 39 1993-10-01 38 1993-11-01 39 1993-12-01 38 1994-01-01 38 1994-02-01 39 1994-03-01 38 1994-04-01 39 1994-05-01 38 1994-06-01 39 1994-07-01 38 1994-08-01 39 1994-09-01 38 1994-10-01 38 1994-11-01 39 1994-12-01 38 1995-01-01 39 1995-02-01 38 1995-03-01 39 1995-04-01 38 1995-05-01 38 1995-06-01 39 1995-07-01 38 1995-08-01 39 1995-09-01 38 1995-10-01 39 1995-11-01 38 1995-12-01 39 1996-01-01 38 1996-02-01 38 1996-03-01 39 1996-04-01 38 1996-05-01 39 1996-06-01 38 1996-07-01 39 1996-08-01 38 1996-09-01 38 1996-10-01 39 1996-11-01 38 1996-12-01 39 1997-01-01 38 1997-02-01 39 1997-03-01 38 1997-04-01 39 1997-05-01 38 1997-06-01 38 1997-07-01 39 1997-08-01 38 1997-09-01 39 1997-10-01 38 1997-11-01 39 1997-12-01 38 1998-01-01 38 1998-02-01 39 1998-03-01 38 1998-04-01 39 1998-05-01 38 1998-06-01 39 1998-07-01 38 1998-08-01 39 1998-09-01 38 1998-10-01 38 1998-11-01 39 1998-12-01 38 1999-01-01 39 1999-02-01 38 1999-03-01 39 1999-04-01 38 1999-05-01 38 1999-06-01 39 1999-07-01 38 1999-08-01 39 1999-09-01 38 1999-10-01 39 1999-11-01 38 1999-12-01 39 2000-01-01 38 2000-02-01 38 2000-03-01 39 2000-04-01 38 2000-05-01 39 2000-06-01 38 2000-07-01 39 2000-08-01 38 2000-09-01 38 2000-10-01 39 2000-11-01 38 2000-12-01 39 2001-01-01 38 2001-02-01 39 2001-03-01 38 2001-04-01 39 2001-05-01 38 2001-06-01 38 2001-07-01 39 2001-08-01 38 2001-09-01 39 2001-10-01 38 2001-11-01 39 2001-12-01 38 2002-01-01 38 2002-02-01 39 2002-03-01 38 2002-04-01 39 2002-05-01 38 2002-06-01 39 2002-07-01 38 2002-08-01 39 2002-09-01 38 2002-10-01 38 2002-11-01 39 2002-12-01 38 2003-01-01 39 2003-02-01 38 2003-03-01 39 2003-04-01 38 2003-05-01 38 2003-06-01 39 2003-07-01 38 2003-08-01 39 2003-09-01 38 2003-10-01 39 2003-11-01 38 2003-12-01 39 2004-01-01 38 2004-02-01 38 2004-03-01 39 2004-04-01 38 2004-05-01 39 2004-06-01 38 2004-07-01 39 2004-08-01 38 2004-09-01 38 2004-10-01 39 2004-11-01 38 2004-12-01 39 2005-01-01 38 2005-02-01 39 2005-03-01 38 2005-04-01 39 2005-05-01 38 2005-06-01 38 2005-07-01 39 2005-08-01 38 2005-09-01 39 2005-10-01 38 2005-11-01 39 2005-12-01 38 2006-01-01 38 2006-02-01 39 2006-03-01 38 2006-04-01 39 2006-05-01 38 2006-06-01 39 2006-07-01 38 2006-08-01 39 2006-09-01 38 2006-10-01 38 2006-11-01 39 2006-12-01 38 2007-01-01 39 2007-02-01 38 2007-03-01 39 2007-04-01 38 2007-05-01 38 2007-06-01 39 2007-07-01 38 2007-08-01 39 2007-09-01 38 2007-10-01 39 2007-11-01 38 2007-12-01 39 2008-01-01 38 2008-02-01 38 2008-03-01 39 2008-04-01 38 2008-05-01 39 2008-06-01 38 2008-07-01 39 2008-08-01 38 2008-09-01 38 2008-10-01 39 2008-11-01 38 2008-12-01 39 2009-01-01 38 2009-02-01 39 2009-03-01 38 2009-04-01 39 2009-05-01 38 2009-06-01 38 2009-07-01 39 2009-08-01 38 2009-09-01 39 2009-10-01 38 2009-11-01 39 2009-12-01 38 2010-01-01 38 2010-02-01 39 2010-03-01 38 2010-04-01 39 2010-05-01 38 2010-06-01 39 2010-07-01 38 2010-08-01 39 2010-09-01 38 2010-10-01 38 2010-11-01 39 2010-12-01 38 2011-01-01 39 2011-02-01 38 2011-03-01 39 2011-04-01 38 2011-05-01 38 2011-06-01 39 2011-07-01 38 2011-08-01 39 2011-09-01 38 2011-10-01 39 2011-11-01 38 2011-12-01 39 2012-01-01 38 2012-02-01 38 2012-03-01 39 2012-04-01 38 2012-05-01 39 2012-06-01 38 2012-07-01 39 2012-08-01 38 2012-09-01 38 2012-10-01 39 2012-11-01 38 2012-12-01 39 2013-01-01 38 2013-02-01 39 2013-03-01 38 2013-04-01 39 2013-05-01 38 2013-06-01 38 2013-07-01 39 2013-08-01 38 2013-09-01 39 2013-10-01 38 2013-11-01 39 2013-12-01 38 2014-01-01 38 2014-02-01 39 2014-03-01 38 2014-04-01 39 2014-05-01 38 2014-06-01 39 2014-07-01 38 2014-08-01 39 2014-09-01 38 2014-10-01 38 2014-11-01 39 2014-12-01 38 2015-01-01 39 2015-02-01 38 2015-03-01 39 2015-04-01 38 2015-05-01 38 2015-06-01 39 2015-07-01 38 2015-08-01 39 2015-09-01 38 2015-10-01 39 2015-11-01 38 2015-12-01 39 2016-01-01 38 2016-02-01 38 2016-03-01 39 2016-04-01 38 2016-05-01 39 2016-06-01 38 2016-07-01 39 2016-08-01 38 2016-09-01 38 2016-10-01 39 2016-11-01 38 2016-12-01 39 2017-01-01 38 2017-02-01 39 2017-03-01 38 2017-04-01 39 2017-05-01 38 2017-06-01 38 2017-07-01 39 2017-08-01 38 2017-09-01 39 2017-10-01 38 2017-11-01 39 2017-12-01 38 2018-01-01 38 2018-02-01 39 2018-03-01 38 2018-04-01 39 2018-05-01 38 2018-06-01 39 2018-07-01 38 2018-08-01 39 2018-09-01 38 2018-10-01 38 2018-11-01 39 2018-12-01 38 2019-01-01 39 2019-02-01 38 2019-03-01 39 2019-04-01 38 2019-05-01 38 2019-06-01 39 2019-07-01 38 2019-08-01 39 2019-09-01 38 2019-10-01 39 2019-11-01 38 2019-12-01 39 2020-01-01 38 2020-02-01 38 2020-03-01 39 2020-04-01 38 2020-05-01 39 2020-06-01 38 2020-07-01 39 2020-08-01 38 2020-09-01 38 2020-10-01 39 2020-11-01 38 2020-12-01 39 2021-01-01 38 2021-02-01 39 2021-03-01 38 2021-04-01 39 2021-05-01 38 2021-06-01 38 2021-07-01 39 2021-08-01 38 2021-09-01 39 2021-10-01 38 2021-11-01 39 2021-12-01 38 2022-01-01 38 2022-02-01 39 2022-03-01 38 2022-04-01 39 2022-05-01 38 2022-06-01 39 2022-07-01 38 2022-08-01 39 2022-09-01 38 2022-10-01 38 2022-11-01 39 2022-12-01 38 2023-01-01 39 2023-02-01 38 2023-03-01 39 2023-04-01 38 2023-05-01 38 2023-06-01 39 2023-07-01 38 2023-08-01 39 2023-09-01 38 2023-10-01 39 2023-11-01 38 2023-12-01 39 2024-01-01 38 2024-02-01 38 2024-03-01 39 2024-04-01 38 2024-05-01 39 2024-06-01 38 2024-07-01 39 2024-08-01 38 2024-09-01 38 2024-10-01 39 2024-11-01 38 2024-12-01 39 2025-01-01 38 2025-02-01 39 2025-03-01 38 2025-04-01 39 2025-05-01 38 2025-06-01 38 2025-07-01 39 2025-08-01 38 2025-09-01 39 2025-10-01 38 Liquidation ID 21064 0 lik00000 514 liq11100 514 liq11200 514 liq11300 513 liq11400 514 liq11500 513 liq11600 514 liq11700 514 liq11800 514 liq11900 514 liq119001 514 liq12100 514 liq12200 513 liq12300 514 liq12400 513 liq12500 514 liq12600 514 liq12700 514 liq12800 514 liq12900 513 liq129001 514 liq21100 513 liq21200 514 liq21300 514 liq21400 514 liq21500 514 liq21600 514 liq21700 514 liq21800 513 liq21900 514 liq219001 513 liq22100 514 liq22200 514 liq22300 514 liq22400 514 liq22500 513 liq22600 514 liq22700 513 liq22800 514 liq22900 514 liq229001 514 Legal form of business entity 21064 0 1 10275 2 10275 3 514 Whether the business entity was wound up voluntarily or compulsorily 21064 0 1 10275 2 10275 3 514 Type of industry 21064 0 1 2055 10 2056 11 514 2 2055 3 2054 4 2055 5 2055 6 2055 7 2055 8 2055 9 2055 Number of liquidations 12139 8925 0 511 14.874 48.433