Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in South Africa
South Africa: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 19.64 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in South Africa, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 19.64 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2027.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in South Africa peaked at 23.39 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.73, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 35th of 45 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.93 | — |
| 2001 | 8.93 | +12.5% |
| 2002 | 11.36 | +27.2% |
| 2003 | 8.29 | -27.0% |
| 2004 | 7.19 | -13.3% |
| 2005 | 6.81 | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 6.82 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 5.86 | -14.0% |
| 2008 | 5.73 | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 6.82 | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 8.58 | +25.8% |
| 2011 | 9.06 | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 12.87 | +42.1% |
| 2013 | 13.17 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 14.12 | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 11.81 | -16.4% |
| 2016 | 17.31 | +46.6% |
| 2017 | 19.5 | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 16.58 | -14.9% |
| 2019 | 20.15 | +21.5% |
| 2020 | 23.39 | +16.1% |
| 2021 | 18.56 | -20.6% |
| 2022 | 18.71 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 19.55 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 20.1 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 20.34 | +1.2% |
| 2026 | 18.88 | -7.2% |
| 2027 | 19.64 | +4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 19.64 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 74% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 19.64 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.49, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.58 | 5.73 | 11.36 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.32 | 8.58 | 20.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9 | 18.56 | 23.39 | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in South Africa?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in South Africa was 19.64 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.39 in 2020.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.73 in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.