Multilateral debt service in South Africa
South Africa: Multilateral debt service was 10.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Multilateral debt service in South Africa, 1999–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of public and publicly guaranteed debt service.
Analysis
In 2024, multilateral debt service in South Africa stood at 10.1%.
That represents a change of up 19.2% on the previous year and up 192.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, multilateral debt service in South Africa peaked at 10.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 117th of 123 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Multilateral debt service in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of public and publicly guaranteed debt service | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +837.7% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +644.3% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | -29.3% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +102.4% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | +70.0% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +68.5% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -16.0% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +13.5% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +22.3% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | -23.5% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -31.7% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | +207.2% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -31.1% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +184.7% |
| 2017 | 10.1% | +49.3% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -59.2% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | +96.3% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | -33.0% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +17.9% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -32.5% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | +96.0% |
| 2024 | 10.1% | +19.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 10.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.4%, 29% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 10.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 39.0%, 26% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Multilateral debt service in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +837.7% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2001 | +644.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.1% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 1.1% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 4.3% | 10.1% | 5 |
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 multilateral debt service in South Africa?
- Multilateral debt service in South Africa was 10.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest multilateral debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest multilateral debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for multilateral debt service?
- South Africa ranks 117th out of 123 countries with data for 2024.
- Is multilateral debt service rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 192.3%. 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 Multilateral debt service (% of public and publicly guaranteed debt service). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Multilateral debt service is the repayment of principal and interest to the World Bank, regional development banks, and other multilateral agencies. public and publicly guaranteed debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term obligations of public debtors and long-term private obligations guaranteed by a public entity.