Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa
South Africa: Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product was 74.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa, 2010–2024
Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa is 74.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 63.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa peaked at 74.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 32.4%, in 2010.
That places South Africa 16th out of 49 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32.4% | — |
| 2011 | 37.0% | +14.3% |
| 2012 | 40.0% | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 42.6% | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 45.8% | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 48.4% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 46.4% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 47.3% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 50.0% | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 54.5% | +8.9% |
| 2020 | 64.4% | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 68.2% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 69.9% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 71.4% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 74.7% | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 44.4% | 32.4% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.7% | 64.4% | 74.7% | 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)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.62 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 37,072 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.232 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,531 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1388 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa?
- Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product in South Africa was 74.7% in 2024, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 74.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.4% in 2010.
- How does South Africa rank for gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 49 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.2%. 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 Gross public sector debt as a share of gross domestic product. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross public sector debt, Central Government, as a proportion of GDP (%).