External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa
South Africa: External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) was 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) in South Africa, 1994–2025
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa stood at 115.04 billion DOD, current US$. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 18.0% on the previous year and up 113.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa peaked at 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.79 billion DOD, current US$, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 11th of 124 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 7.79 billion DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1995 | 9.84 billion DOD, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 1996 | 10.35 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 16.88 billion DOD, current US$ | +63.1% |
| 1998 | 11.93 billion DOD, current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1999 | 9.38 billion DOD, current US$ | -21.4% |
| 2000 | 10.32 billion DOD, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 9.02 billion DOD, current US$ | -12.6% |
| 2002 | 16.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +79.1% |
| 2003 | 18.17 billion DOD, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 17.80 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 18.37 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 17.80 billion DOD, current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 17.86 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 21.54 billion DOD, current US$ | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 23.35 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 36.34 billion DOD, current US$ | +55.6% |
| 2011 | 44.30 billion DOD, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2012 | 61.15 billion DOD, current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2013 | 60.09 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 62.68 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 53.96 billion DOD, current US$ | -13.9% |
| 2016 | 69.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +29.2% |
| 2017 | 90.69 billion DOD, current US$ | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 88.72 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 102.11 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.1% |
| 2020 | 99.49 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 95.23 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 91.29 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 89.61 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 97.46 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2025 | 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ | +18.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.67 billion DOD, current US$, 11.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.94 billion DOD, current US$, 23.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.03 billion DOD, current US$ | 7.79 billion DOD, current US$ | 16.88 billion DOD, current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.04 billion DOD, current US$ | 9.02 billion DOD, current US$ | 23.35 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.98 billion DOD, current US$ | 36.34 billion DOD, current US$ | 102.11 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 98.02 billion DOD, current US$ | 89.61 billion DOD, current US$ | 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 Colombia 152.84 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 9 Russia 136.09 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 10 Argentina 116.31 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 12 Egypt 114.58 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 13 Pakistan 92.90 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 14 Philippines 89.88 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, 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$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
- Other investment, Debt instruments 53.54 billion US dollar (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa?
- External debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) in South Africa was 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 115.04 billion DOD, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.79 billion DOD, current US$ in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg)?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 124 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external debt stocks, public and publicly guaranteed (ppg) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 113.2%. 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, public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public and publicly guaranteed debt comprises long-term external obligations of public debtors, including the national government, Public Corporations, State Owned Enterprises, Development Banks and Other Mixed Enterprises, political subdivisions (or an agency of either), autonomous public bodies, and external obligations of private debtors that are guaranteed for repayment by a public entity. Data are in current U.S. dollars.