South Africa - General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP) 78.64
World Bank · updated 2026-10-03 · 191 economies tracked
Global rank
#n/a of 191 economies
Share of global total
0.7%
Ranking Race — General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP)
1 = global #1 · lower value ranks higher
South AfricaLiechtensteinBrunei DarussalamTuvaluTurkmenistan
Real annual global ranks, 1990 - 2025. South Africa climbed from #50 to #144 (overtook Denmark). Gaps in a lane = missing data that year.
Key events for South Africa ↓Key Events — South Africa
Auto-detected from rank data + curated milestones
1994Democratic transition curatedSanctions lift; economy reopens to global markets.
2002Climbed 15 places in global rank auto
2006Fell 17 places in global rank auto
2009Global crisis recession curatedFirst recession in 17 years.
2015Credit rating downgrades curatedFiscal and growth concerns trigger rating cuts.
2016Overtook Denmark in global rank auto
2020COVID-19 recession curatedDeepest contraction in a century.
2023Overtook Jamaica in global rank auto
General Government Gross Debt (% of GDP), 2000-2025
World Bank · % of GDP · linear scale · ranking in the race above
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