External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: External debt stocks, total was 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks, total in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks, total in South Africa is 175.90 billion DOD, current US$, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in South Africa peaked at 190.75 billion DOD, current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.67 billion DOD, current US$, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 12th of 122 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in South Africa, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 21.67 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1995 | 25.36 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1996 | 26.05 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 30.63 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1998 | 26.01 billion DOD, current US$ | -15.1% |
| 1999 | 25.72 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 26.67 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 25.68 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 35.10 billion DOD, current US$ | +36.7% |
| 2003 | 40.11 billion DOD, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 2004 | 44.01 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 45.09 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 57.95 billion DOD, current US$ | +28.5% |
| 2007 | 72.81 billion DOD, current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2008 | 74.28 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 84.38 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 2010 | 115.33 billion DOD, current US$ | +36.7% |
| 2011 | 124.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 147.97 billion DOD, current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2013 | 141.65 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 149.33 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 127.75 billion DOD, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 144.06 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 175.03 billion DOD, current US$ | +21.5% |
| 2018 | 180.19 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 190.75 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 175.43 billion DOD, current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 169.45 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 171.73 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 165.84 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ | +6.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.94 billion DOD, current US$, 9.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.69 billion DOD, current US$, 26.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.91 billion DOD, current US$ | 21.67 billion DOD, current US$ | 30.63 billion DOD, current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 50.61 billion DOD, current US$ | 25.68 billion DOD, current US$ | 84.38 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 149.62 billion DOD, current US$ | 115.33 billion DOD, current US$ | 190.75 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 171.67 billion DOD, current US$ | 165.84 billion DOD, current US$ | 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 9 Colombia 201.76 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 10 Ukraine 193.49 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 11 Thailand 191.83 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 13 Kazakhstan 167.53 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 14 Egypt 155.97 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 15 Philippines 137.02 billion DOD, current US$ compare
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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in South Africa?
- External debt stocks, total in South Africa was 175.90 billion DOD, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 190.75 billion DOD, current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.67 billion DOD, current US$ in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt stocks, total?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.