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Short-term debt in South Africa

South Africa: Short-term debt was 33.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
33.8%
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
14th
of 119 countries
All-time high
40.1%
in 2018
All-time low
20.6%
in 2002
Years of data
31
1994–2024

Short-term debt in South Africa, 1994–2024

0102030401994200920241994: 25 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1995: 27.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1996: 29.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1997: 28.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1998: 31.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1999: 30.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2000: 24.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2001: 21.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2002: 20.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2003: 22.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2004: 22 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2005: 24.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2006: 28.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2007: 29.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2008: 28.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 33.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 28.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 22.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 29.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 30.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 36 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 35.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 38.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 37.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 40.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 38.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 36.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 25.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 29 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 30.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 33.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 33.8% for short-term debt in 2024.

The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, short-term debt in South Africa peaked at 40.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 2002.

That places South Africa 14th out of 119 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.

Short-term debt in South Africa, year by year

Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1994 25.0% —
1995 27.2% +8.9%
1996 29.6% +8.8%
1997 28.8% -2.8%
1998 31.7% +10.2%
1999 30.4% -4.1%
2000 24.2% -20.5%
2001 21.8% -10.0%
2002 20.6% -5.3%
2003 22.3% +8.1%
2004 22.0% -1.5%
2005 24.1% +10.0%
2006 28.7% +18.8%
2007 29.2% +1.7%
2008 28.9% -1.0%
2009 33.3% +15.5%
2010 28.5% -14.6%
2011 22.2% -22.1%
2012 29.5% +32.9%
2013 30.1% +2.2%
2014 36.0% +19.5%
2015 35.5% -1.2%
2016 38.2% +7.5%
2017 37.1% -2.9%
2018 40.1% +8.2%
2019 38.9% -3.1%
2020 36.3% -6.6%
2021 25.5% -29.9%
2022 29.0% +13.8%
2023 30.5% +5.1%
2024 33.8% +11.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 33.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.7%, 1.9× the median. (51 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 33.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.1%, 3.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 28.8% 25.0% 31.7% 6
2000s 25.5% 20.6% 33.3% 10
2010s 33.6% 22.2% 40.1% 10
2020s 31.0% 25.5% 36.3% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 11 Egypt 46.3% compare
  2. 12 Central African Republic 39.3%
  3. 13 Nigeria 36.2% compare
  4. 15 Moldova 32.5% compare
  5. 16 Cape Verde 32.1% compare
  6. 17 Fiji 31.5% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More economy & growth data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is short-term debt in South Africa?
Short-term debt in South Africa was 33.8% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest short-term debt recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 40.1% in 2018.
What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 2002.
How does South Africa rank for short-term debt?
South Africa ranks 14th out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
Is short-term debt rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. 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 Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Short-term debt in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/short-term-debt-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Unit
% of exports of goods, services and primary income
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 5,838 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Short-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original maturity of one year or less. Available data permit no distinction between public and private nonguaranteed short-term debt. Exports of goods, services and primary income is the sum of goods (merchandise) exports, exports of (nonfactor) services and income (factor) receipts.