External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$) was 24.21 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
24.21 billion DOD, current US$
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
20th
of 98 countries
All-time high
47.78 billion DOD, current US$
in 2011
All-time low
2.41 billion DOD, current US$
in 1997
Years of data
32
1994–2025
External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) in South Africa, 1994–2025
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) in South Africa stood at 24.21 billion DOD, current US$.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 29.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) in South Africa peaked at 47.78 billion DOD, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2.41 billion DOD, current US$, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 20th of 98 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5.25 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1995 | 4.93 billion DOD, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 3.99 billion DOD, current US$ | -19.2% |
| 1997 | 2.41 billion DOD, current US$ | -39.5% |
| 1998 | 2.64 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 5.22 billion DOD, current US$ | +97.7% |
| 2000 | 6.51 billion DOD, current US$ | +24.6% |
| 2001 | 8.03 billion DOD, current US$ | +23.4% |
| 2002 | 10.60 billion DOD, current US$ | +32.0% |
| 2003 | 10.42 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 12.32 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2005 | 8.85 billion DOD, current US$ | -28.2% |
| 2006 | 15.42 billion DOD, current US$ | +74.3% |
| 2007 | 25.38 billion DOD, current US$ | +64.6% |
| 2008 | 21.00 billion DOD, current US$ | -17.2% |
| 2009 | 29.05 billion DOD, current US$ | +38.3% |
| 2010 | 44.17 billion DOD, current US$ | +52.0% |
| 2011 | 47.78 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 47.60 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 42.58 billion DOD, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2014 | 41.62 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 34.33 billion DOD, current US$ | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 34.77 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 40.95 billion DOD, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 41.17 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 41.72 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 31.94 billion DOD, current US$ | -23.4% |
| 2021 | 27.11 billion DOD, current US$ | -15.1% |
| 2022 | 27.21 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 24.19 billion DOD, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 23.62 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 24.21 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.21 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.52 billion DOD, current US$, 3.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.21 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.75 billion DOD, current US$, 13.8× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.07 billion DOD, current US$ | 2.41 billion DOD, current US$ | 5.25 billion DOD, current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 14.76 billion DOD, current US$ | 6.51 billion DOD, current US$ | 29.05 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.67 billion DOD, current US$ | 34.33 billion DOD, current US$ | 47.78 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.38 billion DOD, current US$ | 23.62 billion DOD, current US$ | 31.94 billion DOD, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 17 Philippines 33.23 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 18 Uzbekistan 32.84 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 19 Mongolia 27.28 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 21 Serbia 22.42 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 22 Bulgaria 19.39 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 23 Pakistan 17.58 billion DOD, current US$ 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$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) in South Africa?
- External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) in South Africa was 24.21 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.78 billion DOD, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.41 billion DOD, current US$ in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png)?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 98 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (png) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.5%. 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 External debt stocks, private nonguaranteed (PNG) (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Private nonguaranteed external debt comprises long-term external obligations of private debtors that are not guaranteed for repayment by a public entity. Data are in current U.S. dollars.