South Africa Central Government Debt (% of GDP) (2024)
South Africa's Central Government Debt (% of GDP): 82.8 % of GDP in 2024, +3.4pp YoY. World Bank (GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS), 1990–2024.
South Africa (2024)
82.8
% of GDP
+3.4pp YoY
YoY Change
+3.4pp
percentage points
Trend
up
Series length
21
years of data
Data
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.8 | +3.4pp |
| 2023 | 79.4 | +3.2pp |
| 2022 | 76.2 | +2.1pp |
| 2021 | 74.1 | -1.6pp |
| 2020 | 75.7 | +11.1pp |
| 2019 | 64.6 | +5.5pp |
| 2018 | 59.1 | +2.8pp |
| 2017 | 56.3 | +2.6pp |
| 2016 | 53.7 | +1pp |
| 2015 | 52.7 | n/a |
| 2000 | 39.6 | -2.6pp |
| 1999 | 42.2 | -2.5pp |
| 1998 | 44.7 | +1.5pp |
| 1997 | 43.2 | -1pp |
| 1996 | 44.2 | -0.7pp |
| 1995 | 44.9 | +0.1pp |
| 1994 | 44.8 | +4.8pp |
| 1993 | 40 | +3.1pp |
| 1992 | 36.9 | +3pp |
| 1991 | 33.9 | +1.5pp |
About this Dataset
South Africa recorded 82.8 % of GDP in 2024. The latest change was +3.4pp. Across 1990–2024 the series ranges from 32.4 % of GDP in 1990 to 82.8 % of GDP in 2024.
This page tracks central government debt as a share of GDP in South Africa. Government debt levels set the fiscal space for stimulus and directly price sovereign credit risk.
Data sourced from World Bank via Open Data API. Values use World Bank standardised methodology intended for cross-country comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
This page tracks central government debt as a share of GDP in South Africa. Government debt levels set the fiscal space for stimulus and directly price sovereign credit risk. It is published by World Bank and updated annually.
The most recent observation covers 2024. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1990–2024 (21 observations).
The series is at its highest recorded level, 82.8 % of GDP in 2024, up from a low of 32.4 % of GDP in 1990. The latest change was +3.4pp.