External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa

South Africa: External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) was 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1,528 DOD, current US$ per person
Change on year
up 7.9%
World rank
41st
of 122 countries
All-time high
1,713 DOD, current US$ per person
in 2019
All-time low
177.01 DOD, current US$ per person
in 1994
Years of data
31
1994–2024

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa, 1994–2024

05001.0k1.5k1994200920241994: 177 DOD, current US$ per person1995: 220.8 DOD, current US$ per person1996: 229.3 DOD, current US$ per person1997: 369.6 DOD, current US$ per person1998: 258.1 DOD, current US$ per person1999: 200.7 DOD, current US$ per person2000: 218.8 DOD, current US$ per person2001: 189.6 DOD, current US$ per person2002: 336.3 DOD, current US$ per person2003: 374.6 DOD, current US$ per person2004: 363.3 DOD, current US$ per person2005: 371.2 DOD, current US$ per person2006: 356 DOD, current US$ per person2007: 353.5 DOD, current US$ per person2008: 421.3 DOD, current US$ per person2009: 451.4 DOD, current US$ per person2010: 694.2 DOD, current US$ per person2011: 836 DOD, current US$ per person2012: 1.1k DOD, current US$ per person2013: 1.1k DOD, current US$ per person2014: 1.1k DOD, current US$ per person2015: 950.6 DOD, current US$ per person2016: 1.2k DOD, current US$ per person2017: 1.6k DOD, current US$ per person2018: 1.5k DOD, current US$ per person2019: 1.7k DOD, current US$ per person2020: 1.6k DOD, current US$ per person2021: 1.5k DOD, current US$ per person2022: 1.5k DOD, current US$ per person2023: 1.4k DOD, current US$ per person2024: 1.5k DOD, current US$ per person

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in DOD, current US$ per person.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person for external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) in 2024.

The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 35.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) in South Africa peaked at 1,713 DOD, current US$ per person in 2019 and was at its lowest, 177.01 DOD, current US$ per person, in 1994.

That places South Africa 41st 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.

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$), per capita in South Africa, 1994 to 2024.
Year DOD, current US$ per person Change
1994 177.01 DOD, current US$ per person
1995 220.84 DOD, current US$ per person +24.8%
1996 229.32 DOD, current US$ per person +3.8%
1997 369.6 DOD, current US$ per person +61.2%
1998 258.08 DOD, current US$ per person -30.2%
1999 200.75 DOD, current US$ per person -22.2%
2000 218.85 DOD, current US$ per person +9.0%
2001 189.57 DOD, current US$ per person -13.4%
2002 336.26 DOD, current US$ per person +77.4%
2003 374.65 DOD, current US$ per person +11.4%
2004 363.33 DOD, current US$ per person -3.0%
2005 371.21 DOD, current US$ per person +2.2%
2006 355.97 DOD, current US$ per person -4.1%
2007 353.51 DOD, current US$ per person -0.7%
2008 421.34 DOD, current US$ per person +19.2%
2009 451.4 DOD, current US$ per person +7.1%
2010 694.21 DOD, current US$ per person +53.8%
2011 836.02 DOD, current US$ per person +20.4%
2012 1,137 DOD, current US$ per person +36.0%
2013 1,099 DOD, current US$ per person -3.4%
2014 1,127 DOD, current US$ per person +2.6%
2015 950.6 DOD, current US$ per person -15.7%
2016 1,217 DOD, current US$ per person +28.0%
2017 1,573 DOD, current US$ per person +29.2%
2018 1,513 DOD, current US$ per person -3.8%
2019 1,713 DOD, current US$ per person +13.2%
2020 1,642 DOD, current US$ per person -4.1%
2021 1,548 DOD, current US$ per person -5.7%
2022 1,463 DOD, current US$ per person -5.5%
2023 1,416 DOD, current US$ per person -3.2%
2024 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person +7.9%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,034 DOD, current US$ per person, 75% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359.97 DOD, current US$ per person, 4.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 242.6 DOD, current US$ per person 177.01 DOD, current US$ per person 369.6 DOD, current US$ per person 6
2000s 343.61 DOD, current US$ per person 189.57 DOD, current US$ per person 451.4 DOD, current US$ per person 10
2010s 1,186 DOD, current US$ per person 694.21 DOD, current US$ per person 1,713 DOD, current US$ per person 10
2020s 1,519 DOD, current US$ per person 1,416 DOD, current US$ per person 1,642 DOD, current US$ per person 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 38 Tunisia 1,696 DOD, current US$ per person compare
  2. 39 Kazakhstan 1,653 DOD, current US$ per person compare
  3. 40 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1,557 DOD, current US$ per person compare
  4. 42 Peru 1,384 DOD, current US$ per person compare
  5. 43 Senegal 1,356 DOD, current US$ per person compare
  6. 44 Lao People's Democratic Republic 1,290 DOD, current US$ per person compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More external debt data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) in South Africa?
External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) in South Africa was 1,528 DOD, current US$ per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1,713 DOD, current US$ per person in 2019.
What is the lowest external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 177.01 DOD, current US$ per person in 1994.
How does South Africa rank for external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod)?
South Africa ranks 41st out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
Is external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) (dod) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 35.6%. 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 External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-stocks-public-and-publicly-guaranteed-ppg-dod-current-us-per-capita/south-africa/

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<a href="https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/external-debt-stocks-public-and-publicly-guaranteed-ppg-dod-current-us-per-capita/south-africa/">External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, 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.

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$) ÷ Population, total

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
External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$), per capita
Unit
DOD, current US$ per person
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
134 places, 6,457 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, 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.