Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square in South Africa

South Africa: Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square was 18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 17.2%
World rank
44th
of 120 countries
All-time high
23,923 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre
in 2018
All-time low
2,392 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre
in 1994
Years of data
30
1994–2023

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square in South Africa, 1994–2023

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k1994200820231994: 2.4k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre1995: 2.8k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre1996: 3.5k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre1997: 5.4k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre1998: 3.6k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre1999: 3.7k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2000: 3.3k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2001: 3.7k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2002: 4.3k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2003: 3.6k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2004: 3.4k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2005: 4.1k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2006: 6.3k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2007: 3.8k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2008: 5.7k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2009: 4.6k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2010: 5.5k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2011: 5.5k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2012: 8.8k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2013: 11.1k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2014: 8.3k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2015: 22.3k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2016: 11.9k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2017: 12.2k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2018: 23.9k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2019: 17.7k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2020: 22.9k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2021: 22.0k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2022: 22.8k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre2023: 18.9k TDS, current US$ per square kilometre

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in TDS, current US$ per square kilometre.

Analysis

The most recent figure for debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square in South Africa is 18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 17.2% on the previous year and up 69.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square in South Africa peaked at 23,923 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2,392 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre, in 1994.

South Africa ranks 44th of 120 countries on this measure, 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, total (TDS, current US$), per square in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1994 to 2023.
Year TDS, current US$ per square kilometre Change
1994 2,392 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre
1995 2,795 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +16.9%
1996 3,492 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +24.9%
1997 5,393 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +54.4%
1998 3,619 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -32.9%
1999 3,662 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +1.2%
2000 3,316 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -9.4%
2001 3,683 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +11.1%
2002 4,288 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +16.4%
2003 3,640 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -15.1%
2004 3,369 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -7.4%
2005 4,073 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +20.9%
2006 6,320 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +55.2%
2007 3,768 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -40.4%
2008 5,728 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +52.0%
2009 4,600 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -19.7%
2010 5,490 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +19.3%
2011 5,533 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +0.8%
2012 8,781 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +58.7%
2013 11,126 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +26.7%
2014 8,333 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -25.1%
2015 22,331 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +168.0%
2016 11,881 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -46.8%
2017 12,249 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +3.1%
2018 23,923 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +95.3%
2019 17,664 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -26.2%
2020 22,931 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +29.8%
2021 21,998 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -4.1%
2022 22,760 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre +3.5%
2023 18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre -17.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3,559 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 2,392 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 5,393 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 6
2000s 4,278 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 3,316 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 6,320 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 10
2010s 12,731 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 5,490 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 23,923 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 10
2020s 21,636 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 22,931 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 41 Rwanda 22,107 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  2. 42 Egypt 21,500 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  3. 43 Pakistan 20,872 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  4. 45 Kazakhstan 17,649 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  5. 46 Ghana 16,949 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  6. 47 Argentina 16,868 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More external debt data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square in South Africa?
Debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square in South Africa was 18,854 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 23,923 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre in 2018.
What is the lowest debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2,392 TDS, current US$ per square kilometre in 1994.
How does South Africa rank for debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square?
South Africa ranks 44th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
Is debt service on external debt, total (tds, current us$), per square rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 69.5%. 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, total (TDS, current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/debt-service-on-external-debt-total-tds-current-us-per-square-kilometre/south-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

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

Indicator
Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$), per square kilometre
Unit
TDS, current US$ per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
132 places, 6,172 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.