Debt service on external debt, public and publicly … capita in South Africa
South Africa: Debt service on external debt, public and publicly … capita was 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in TDS, current US$ per person.
Analysis
In 2024, debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa stood at 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person.
The figure is down 11.9% on the previous year and up 75.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa peaked at 280.1 TDS, current US$ per person in 2015 and was at its lowest, 25.35 TDS, current US$ per person, in 1999.
That places South Africa 47th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service on external debt, public and publicly … capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | TDS, current US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 33.72 TDS, current US$ per person | — |
| 1995 | 39.64 TDS, current US$ per person | +17.5% |
| 1996 | 49.53 TDS, current US$ per person | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 47.07 TDS, current US$ per person | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 57.47 TDS, current US$ per person | +22.1% |
| 1999 | 25.35 TDS, current US$ per person | -55.9% |
| 2000 | 49.25 TDS, current US$ per person | +94.2% |
| 2001 | 56.02 TDS, current US$ per person | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 39.79 TDS, current US$ per person | -29.0% |
| 2003 | 48.11 TDS, current US$ per person | +20.9% |
| 2004 | 40.83 TDS, current US$ per person | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 82.49 TDS, current US$ per person | +102.0% |
| 2006 | 86.84 TDS, current US$ per person | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 53.94 TDS, current US$ per person | -37.9% |
| 2008 | 61.88 TDS, current US$ per person | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 61.57 TDS, current US$ per person | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 61.91 TDS, current US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 71.25 TDS, current US$ per person | +15.1% |
| 2012 | 111.24 TDS, current US$ per person | +56.1% |
| 2013 | 154.03 TDS, current US$ per person | +38.5% |
| 2014 | 79.69 TDS, current US$ per person | -48.3% |
| 2015 | 280.1 TDS, current US$ per person | +251.5% |
| 2016 | 99.42 TDS, current US$ per person | -64.5% |
| 2017 | 96.01 TDS, current US$ per person | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 267.89 TDS, current US$ per person | +179.0% |
| 2019 | 128.78 TDS, current US$ per person | -51.9% |
| 2020 | 183.53 TDS, current US$ per person | +42.5% |
| 2021 | 184.26 TDS, current US$ per person | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 219.29 TDS, current US$ per person | +19.0% |
| 2023 | 158.33 TDS, current US$ per person | -27.8% |
| 2024 | 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person | -11.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 225.5 TDS, current US$ per person, 62% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.62 TDS, current US$ per person, 6.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Debt service on external debt, public and publicly … capita in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +251.5% | 79.69 TDS, current US$ per person | 280.1 TDS, current US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.13 TDS, current US$ per person | 25.35 TDS, current US$ per person | 57.47 TDS, current US$ per person | 6 |
| 2000s | 58.07 TDS, current US$ per person | 39.79 TDS, current US$ per person | 86.84 TDS, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 135.03 TDS, current US$ per person | 61.91 TDS, current US$ per person | 280.1 TDS, current US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 176.99 TDS, current US$ per person | 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person | 219.29 TDS, current US$ per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 44 Guyana 147.06 TDS, current US$ per person compare
- 45 Moldova 141.84 TDS, current US$ per person compare
- 46 Russia 139.86 TDS, current US$ per person compare
- 48 Peru 138.42 TDS, current US$ per person compare
- 49 Cote d'Ivoire 136.22 TDS, current US$ per person compare
- 50 Indonesia 134.77 TDS, current US$ per person compare
More external debt data for South Africa
- Net financial flows, IBRD 1.36 billion NFL, current US$ (2025)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -0.2407 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 444.22 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Use of IMF credit 6.45 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, long-term 139.25 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- External debt stocks, short-term 60.64 billion DOD, current US$ (2025)
- Short-term debt 29.4% (2025)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa?
- Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa was 139.55 TDS, current US$ per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 280.1 TDS, current US$ per person in 2015.
- What is the lowest debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.35 TDS, current US$ per person in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg)?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Debt service on external debt, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (TDS, current US$) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.