External debt, end year in South Africa
South Africa: External debt, end year was 13.32 billion current US$ in 2008. ◆ Volatile
External debt, end year in South Africa, 1967–2008
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt, end year in South Africa is 13.32 billion current US$, measured in 2008.
That represents a change of down 13.5% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt, end year in South Africa peaked at 19.07 billion current US$ in 1996 and was at its lowest, 616.81 million current US$, in 1968.
That places South Africa 8th out of 42 countries with data for 2008, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt, end year in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 676.38 million current US$ | — |
| 1968 | 616.81 million current US$ | -8.8% |
| 1969 | 682.40 million current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1970 | 974.65 million current US$ | +42.8% |
| 1971 | 1.09 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1972 | 901.88 million current US$ | -17.3% |
| 1973 | 879.90 million current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 990.47 million current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1975 | 870.51 million current US$ | -12.1% |
| 1976 | 974.05 million current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1977 | 1.18 billion current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1978 | 1.39 billion current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1979 | 1.79 billion current US$ | +28.2% |
| 1980 | 1.90 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 1.80 billion current US$ | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 1.61 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
| 1985 | 862.12 million current US$ | -46.6% |
| 1986 | 1.35 billion current US$ | +56.3% |
| 1987 | 842.50 million current US$ | -37.5% |
| 1988 | 1.38 billion current US$ | +64.2% |
| 1989 | 3.87 billion current US$ | +179.4% |
| 1990 | 7.09 billion current US$ | +83.5% |
| 1991 | 7.05 billion current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 5.86 billion current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1993 | 4.98 billion current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1994 | 7.27 billion current US$ | +45.9% |
| 1995 | 8.81 billion current US$ | +21.2% |
| 1996 | 19.07 billion current US$ | +116.6% |
| 1997 | 16.12 billion current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1998 | 11.70 billion current US$ | -27.4% |
| 1999 | 11.36 billion current US$ | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 9.63 billion current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2001 | 9.59 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 9.13 billion current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 12.86 billion current US$ | +40.9% |
| 2004 | 15.40 billion current US$ | +19.7% |
| 2005 | 14.98 billion current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 14.83 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 15.40 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 13.32 billion current US$ | -13.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 13.32 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.09 billion current US$, 6.4× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 13.32 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.39 billion current US$, 9.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External debt, end year in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +179.4% | 1.38 billion current US$ | 3.87 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 658.53 million current US$ | 616.81 million current US$ | 682.40 million current US$ | 3 |
| 1970s | 1.10 billion current US$ | 870.51 million current US$ | 1.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.70 billion current US$ | 842.50 million current US$ | 3.87 billion current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 9.93 billion current US$ | 4.98 billion current US$ | 19.07 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.79 billion current US$ | 9.13 billion current US$ | 15.40 billion current US$ | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More science & technology data for South Africa
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 179.34 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 89.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 14,949 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0002 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt, end year in South Africa?
- External debt, end year in South Africa was 13.32 billion current US$ in 2008, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest external debt, end year recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.07 billion current US$ in 1996.
- What is the lowest external debt, end year recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 616.81 million current US$ in 1968.
- How does South Africa rank for external debt, end year?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 42 countries with data for 2008.
- Is external debt, end year rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of External debt, end year (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign debt consists of the outstanding stock or recognized, direct liabilities of the government to the rest of the world, generated in the past and scheduled to be extinguished by government operations in the future or to continue as perpetual debt. Data are in current U.S. dollars.