South Africa — Central government debt (% of GDP)

% of GDP · Annual · 1865–2024 · 160 observations

About this series

Central government debt is the stock of outstanding debt liabilities recorded for that reporting perimeter at the reference date. The source series determines the exact instruments and valuation covered. This series expresses that measure as a percentage of GDP for the matching period.

In South Africa, the central government debt reading was 76.4% of GDP in 2024, compared with 73.4% of GDP in 2023. The period change was +2.99 percentage points. The latest reading was above the selected 10-year average of 60.7% of GDP.

0501001501865200020102024% of GDPSubscribe to view

Get the full series

  • Annual data, 1865–2024
  • Quarterly data, 1992–2021
  • All 4 sources, downloadable

Latest observations

2000–2024

PeriodValue
202476.4 % of GDP
202373.4 % of GDP
202270.8 % of GDP
202168.7 % of GDP
202068.9 % of GDP
15 earlier values
201956.1 % of GDP
201851.5 % of GDP
201748.6 % of GDP
201647.1 % of GDP
201545.2 % of GDP
201443.3 % of GDP
201340.4 % of GDP
201237.4 % of GDP
201134.7 % of GDP
201031.2 % of GDP
200927 % of GDP
200824 % of GDP
200724.3 % of GDP
200628 % of GDP
200529.6 % of GDP

Values before 2005, back to 2000, are on the chart — hover to read them.

Data release 2026_08_27_1049, published 30 Sept 2026.