Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) was 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
22.56 billion TDS, current US$
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
13th
of 122 countries
All-time high
29.02 billion TDS, current US$
in 2018
All-time low
2.90 billion TDS, current US$
in 1994
Years of data
31
1994–2024
Debt service on external debt, total in South Africa, 1994–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in TDS, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, debt service on external debt, total in South Africa stood at 22.56 billion TDS, current US$.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 123.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, debt service on external debt, total in South Africa peaked at 29.02 billion TDS, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.90 billion TDS, current US$, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 13th of 122 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | TDS, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.90 billion TDS, current US$ | — |
| 1995 | 3.39 billion TDS, current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1996 | 4.24 billion TDS, current US$ | +24.9% |
| 1997 | 6.54 billion TDS, current US$ | +54.4% |
| 1998 | 4.39 billion TDS, current US$ | -32.9% |
| 1999 | 4.44 billion TDS, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 4.02 billion TDS, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 4.47 billion TDS, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 5.20 billion TDS, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2003 | 4.42 billion TDS, current US$ | -15.1% |
| 2004 | 4.09 billion TDS, current US$ | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 4.94 billion TDS, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 2006 | 7.67 billion TDS, current US$ | +55.2% |
| 2007 | 4.57 billion TDS, current US$ | -40.4% |
| 2008 | 6.95 billion TDS, current US$ | +52.0% |
| 2009 | 5.58 billion TDS, current US$ | -19.7% |
| 2010 | 6.66 billion TDS, current US$ | +19.3% |
| 2011 | 6.71 billion TDS, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 10.65 billion TDS, current US$ | +58.7% |
| 2013 | 13.50 billion TDS, current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2014 | 10.11 billion TDS, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 2015 | 27.09 billion TDS, current US$ | +168.0% |
| 2016 | 14.41 billion TDS, current US$ | -46.8% |
| 2017 | 14.86 billion TDS, current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 29.02 billion TDS, current US$ | +95.3% |
| 2019 | 21.43 billion TDS, current US$ | -26.2% |
| 2020 | 27.82 billion TDS, current US$ | +29.8% |
| 2021 | 26.69 billion TDS, current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 27.61 billion TDS, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 22.87 billion TDS, current US$ | -17.2% |
| 2024 | 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ | -1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.21 billion TDS, current US$, 10.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 421.48 million TDS, current US$, 53.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.32 billion TDS, current US$ | 2.90 billion TDS, current US$ | 6.54 billion TDS, current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 5.19 billion TDS, current US$ | 4.02 billion TDS, current US$ | 7.67 billion TDS, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.44 billion TDS, current US$ | 6.66 billion TDS, current US$ | 29.02 billion TDS, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.51 billion TDS, current US$ | 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ | 27.82 billion TDS, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 10 Colombia 33.84 billion TDS, current US$ compare
- 11 Vietnam 33.59 billion TDS, current US$ compare
- 12 Egypt 32.91 billion TDS, current US$ compare
- 14 Philippines 18.00 billion TDS, current US$ compare
- 15 Thailand 17.99 billion TDS, current US$ compare
- 16 Pakistan 16.31 billion TDS, current US$ compare
More external debt data for South Africa
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -15.41 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- 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)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 2.3% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 910.75 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 6.5% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
- Other investment, Debt instruments 53.54 billion US dollar (2025)
- Use of IMF credit 7.63 billion DOD, current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is debt service on external debt, total in South Africa?
- Debt service on external debt, total in South Africa was 22.56 billion TDS, current US$ in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest debt service on external debt, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.02 billion TDS, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest debt service on external debt, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.90 billion TDS, current US$ in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for debt service on external debt, total?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is debt service on external debt, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 123.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.