External debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa
South Africa: External debt as a share of gross national income was 44.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa is 44.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa peaked at 52.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 60th of 121 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
External debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.9% | — |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 27.8% | +42.5% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | -25.0% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | -16.1% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -9.3% |
| 2006 | 19.4% | +22.2% |
| 2007 | 22.5% | +16.1% |
| 2008 | 24.2% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 26.1% | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 28.2% | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 27.7% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 34.9% | +26.0% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 40.2% | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 37.7% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 45.7% | +21.2% |
| 2017 | 47.2% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 45.7% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 50.2% | +9.9% |
| 2020 | 52.8% | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 41.0% | -22.2% |
| 2022 | 43.1% | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 44.2% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 44.8% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.2% | 15.9% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.4% | 27.7% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.2% | 41.0% | 52.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 7,985 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 5.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2409 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 28,432 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa?
- External debt as a share of gross national income in South Africa was 44.8% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest external debt as a share of gross national income recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt as a share of gross national income?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 121 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt as a share of gross national income rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External debt as a share of gross national income. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
External debt stocks as a proportion of GNI (%).