Annual national net: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa
South Africa: Annual national net: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -4,708 US dollars, PPP converted in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual national net lending/net borrowing, US $, current prices in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in US dollars, PPP converted.
Analysis
In 2025, annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices in South Africa stood at -4,708 US dollars, PPP converted.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 54.8% on the previous year and up 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices in South Africa peaked at 31,434 US dollars, PPP converted in 2021 and was at its lowest, -38,892 US dollars, PPP converted, in 2013.
That places South Africa 25th out of 37 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.
Annual national net: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollars, PPP converted | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -3,469 US dollars, PPP converted | — |
| 1971 | -3,977 US dollars, PPP converted | +14.7% |
| 1972 | -503.11 US dollars, PPP converted | -87.4% |
| 1973 | -517.11 US dollars, PPP converted | +2.8% |
| 1974 | -2,885 US dollars, PPP converted | +457.8% |
| 1975 | -5,133 US dollars, PPP converted | +78.0% |
| 1976 | -4,596 US dollars, PPP converted | -10.5% |
| 1977 | 546.23 US dollars, PPP converted | -111.9% |
| 1978 | 2,416 US dollars, PPP converted | +342.3% |
| 1979 | 5,983 US dollars, PPP converted | +147.7% |
| 1980 | 5,330 US dollars, PPP converted | -10.9% |
| 1981 | -9,356 US dollars, PPP converted | -275.5% |
| 1982 | -7,170 US dollars, PPP converted | -23.4% |
| 1983 | -783.28 US dollars, PPP converted | -89.1% |
| 1984 | -4,440 US dollars, PPP converted | +466.9% |
| 1985 | 7,240 US dollars, PPP converted | -263.1% |
| 1986 | 7,653 US dollars, PPP converted | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 11,351 US dollars, PPP converted | +48.3% |
| 1988 | 5,713 US dollars, PPP converted | -49.7% |
| 1989 | 3,430 US dollars, PPP converted | -40.0% |
| 1990 | 3,059 US dollars, PPP converted | -10.8% |
| 1991 | 2,707 US dollars, PPP converted | -11.5% |
| 1992 | 3,470 US dollars, PPP converted | +28.2% |
| 1993 | 5,100 US dollars, PPP converted | +47.0% |
| 1994 | -96.07 US dollars, PPP converted | -101.9% |
| 1995 | -4,518 US dollars, PPP converted | +4602.9% |
| 1996 | -3,391 US dollars, PPP converted | -24.9% |
| 1997 | -4,849 US dollars, PPP converted | +43.0% |
| 1998 | -5,470 US dollars, PPP converted | +12.8% |
| 1999 | -1,755 US dollars, PPP converted | -67.9% |
| 2000 | -562.25 US dollars, PPP converted | -68.0% |
| 2001 | 898.48 US dollars, PPP converted | -259.8% |
| 2002 | 3,355 US dollars, PPP converted | +273.4% |
| 2003 | -3,159 US dollars, PPP converted | -194.2% |
| 2004 | -11,665 US dollars, PPP converted | +269.3% |
| 2005 | -14,375 US dollars, PPP converted | +23.2% |
| 2006 | -22,601 US dollars, PPP converted | +57.2% |
| 2007 | -29,447 US dollars, PPP converted | +30.3% |
| 2008 | -32,074 US dollars, PPP converted | +8.9% |
| 2009 | -15,392 US dollars, PPP converted | -52.0% |
| 2010 | -8,789 US dollars, PPP converted | -42.9% |
| 2011 | -13,925 US dollars, PPP converted | +58.4% |
| 2012 | -32,707 US dollars, PPP converted | +134.9% |
| 2013 | -38,892 US dollars, PPP converted | +18.9% |
| 2014 | -35,653 US dollars, PPP converted | -8.3% |
| 2015 | -32,935 US dollars, PPP converted | -7.6% |
| 2016 | -20,674 US dollars, PPP converted | -37.2% |
| 2017 | -18,710 US dollars, PPP converted | -9.5% |
| 2018 | -22,880 US dollars, PPP converted | +22.3% |
| 2019 | -20,701 US dollars, PPP converted | -9.5% |
| 2020 | 15,143 US dollars, PPP converted | -173.1% |
| 2021 | 31,434 US dollars, PPP converted | +107.6% |
| 2022 | -6,990 US dollars, PPP converted | -122.2% |
| 2023 | -10,418 US dollars, PPP converted | +49.0% |
| 2025 | -4,708 US dollars, PPP converted | -54.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -4,708 US dollars, PPP converted is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -5,484 US dollars, PPP converted, 86% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual national net: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -4602.9% | -96.07 US dollars, PPP converted | -4,518 US dollars, PPP converted |
| 1984 | -466.9% | -783.28 US dollars, PPP converted | -4,440 US dollars, PPP converted |
| 1974 | -457.8% | -517.11 US dollars, PPP converted | -2,885 US dollars, PPP converted |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -1,213 US dollars, PPP converted | -5,133 US dollars, PPP converted | 5,983 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,897 US dollars, PPP converted | -9,356 US dollars, PPP converted | 11,351 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 1990s | -574.28 US dollars, PPP converted | -5,470 US dollars, PPP converted | 5,100 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 2000s | -12,502 US dollars, PPP converted | -32,074 US dollars, PPP converted | 3,355 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 2010s | -24,587 US dollars, PPP converted | -38,892 US dollars, PPP converted | -8,789 US dollars, PPP converted | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,892 US dollars, PPP converted | -10,418 US dollars, PPP converted | 31,434 US dollars, PPP converted | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 22 Luxembourg -4,249 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 23 Mexico -4,419 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 24 Belgium -4,616 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 26 Georgia -5,484 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 27 Cameroon -6,974 US dollars, PPP converted compare
- 28 New Zealand -12,910 US dollars, PPP converted compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices in South Africa?
- Annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices in South Africa was -4,708 US dollars, PPP converted in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31,434 US dollars, PPP converted in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -38,892 US dollars, PPP converted in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 37 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual national net lending/net borrowing, us $, current prices rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 85.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Annual national net lending/net borrowing, US $, current prices, current PPPs — Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table presents countries' annual national net lending or net borrowing. Net lending (positive sign) or net borrowing (negative sign) is the balancing item at the end of the capital account in the sequence of economic accounts, and also appears in the financial accounts. It represents the surplus resources that are available for borrowing, or the deficit, which means that borrowing is required. The data is in US dollars converted using Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) and in current prices. The indicators were presented in the previous dissemination system in the SNA_TABLE2 dataset. See ANA Changes for information on changes in methodology: ANA Changes Explore also the GDP and non-financial accounts webpage: GDP and non-financial accounts webpage OECD statistics contact: STAT.Contact@oecd.org