Total debt service in South Africa
South Africa: Total debt service was 6.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in South Africa, 1994–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 6.1% for total debt service in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.9% on the previous year and up 76.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in South Africa peaked at 8.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2007.
That places South Africa 37th out of 119 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total debt service in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1.9% | — |
| 1995 | 2.0% | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | +31.8% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | +49.2% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | -25.7% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 4.1% | +21.4% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -44.3% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | -29.2% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +47.5% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | -44.9% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | +60.0% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 2.5% | +67.7% |
| 2013 | 3.5% | +37.2% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -21.2% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | +194.1% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -42.8% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -12.4% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +83.9% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | -23.4% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +48.3% |
| 2021 | 6.5% | -22.8% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | -11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.7% | 1.9% | 3.9% | 6 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.4% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 1.5% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 6.1% | 8.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total debt service in South Africa?
- Total debt service in South Africa was 6.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for total debt service?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 76.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total debt service (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release