Total debt service in South Africa
South Africa: Total debt service was 16.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Total debt service in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total debt service in South Africa is 16.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 90.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in South Africa peaked at 27.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2007.
South Africa ranks 46th of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Total debt service in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of exports of goods, services and primary income | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 9.4% | — |
| 1995 | 9.5% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 11.6% | +21.4% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | +48.8% |
| 1998 | 12.2% | -29.4% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | -18.5% |
| 2001 | 11.6% | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -34.0% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | -24.7% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 9.0% | +32.7% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -49.4% |
| 2008 | 6.4% | +40.0% |
| 2009 | 6.4% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -14.2% |
| 2012 | 8.6% | +69.5% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +30.4% |
| 2014 | 8.6% | -23.6% |
| 2015 | 26.0% | +203.4% |
| 2016 | 14.8% | -43.1% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 24.3% | +80.5% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | -23.0% |
| 2020 | 27.3% | +45.5% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | -31.3% |
| 2022 | 18.6% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 16.5% | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 16.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 16.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 1.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.1% | 9.4% | 17.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 4.6% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 5.1% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.5% | 16.3% | 27.3% | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in South Africa?
- Total debt service in South Africa was 16.3% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 27.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for total debt service?
- South Africa ranks 46th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.3%. 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 Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.