External debt stocks in South Africa
South Africa: External debt stocks was 44.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
External debt stocks in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 44.8% for external debt stocks in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in South Africa peaked at 52.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 1994.
That places South Africa 59th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
External debt stocks in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 14.3% | — |
| 1995 | 15.0% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 16.3% | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 18.5% | +13.6% |
| 1998 | 17.4% | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 17.3% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 17.9% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 27.8% | +42.5% |
| 2003 | 20.8% | -25.0% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | -16.1% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -9.2% |
| 2006 | 19.4% | +22.1% |
| 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% | +25.9% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.5% | 14.3% | 18.5% | 6 |
| 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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 11.78 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 77,700 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5921 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3,907 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 7.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8472 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in South Africa?
- External debt stocks in South Africa was 44.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 52.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt stocks?
- South Africa ranks 59th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks 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 International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.