Fiatmap

MacroSouth Africa

Debt per person in South Africa

How much state debt sits on each resident’s shoulders?

South Africa's debt per person is $5,173 — #57 of 124 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

$5,173

Checked 21 Oct 2026Period 2025

Source: Fiatmap derived metrics (own calculation from separately sourced components)

If the central government's debt were split equally, every resident of South Africa would carry about $5,173 of it.

Among 124 countries

37 of 124 countries between $331 and $3,04822 of 124 countries between $3,048 and $5,7669 of 124 countries between $5,766 and $8,4837 of 124 countries between $8,483 and $11,2018 of 124 countries between $11,201 and $13,9185 of 124 countries between $13,918 and $16,6365 of 124 countries between $16,636 and $19,3532 of 124 countries between $19,353 and $22,0713 of 124 countries between $22,071 and $24,7883 of 124 countries between $24,788 and $27,5062 of 124 countries between $27,506 and $30,2232 of 124 countries between $30,223 and $32,9411 of 124 countries between $32,941 and $35,6582 of 124 countries between $35,658 and $38,3754 of 124 countries between $38,375 and $41,0932 of 124 countries between $43,810 and $46,5283 of 124 countries between $49,245 and $51,9631 of 124 countries between $54,680 and $57,3982 of 124 countries between $57,398 and $60,1154 of 124 countries between $62,833 and $65,550median $6,282South Africa: ahead of 54 % of the 124 countries with a published debt per personSouth Africa $5,173$331$65,550
Half of all 124 countries sit between $2,465 and $19,327. South Africa is ahead of 54 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.
Rank
#57 of 124
lower is better
Ranked behind
54 %
67 of 124 countries
Latest move
▼ $287
since 2024

In Africa: #19 of 21vs median $6,404: −19 % (better)

The neighbourhood

#CountryDebt per personvs South Africa
55 Fiji$5,121−$52
56 Colombia$5,128−$45
57 South Africa$5,173—
58 Thailand$5,213+$40
59 Belize$5,262+$89

General government debt divided down to one resident, in US dollars — our calculation from IMF debt/GDP and World Bank GDP per capita, both dated within two years of each other.

How to read this figure

Our own calculation: central government debt as a share of GDP multiplied by GDP per person, both World Bank figures — the abstract ratio turned into a number a person can feel. It is an accounting split, not a bill anyone receives; the state also holds assets, and general government debt (with local government and social funds) can be higher. We only compute it when both legs exist.

Next, about South Africa

Government debtGDP per capitaInflation rate
Debt per person, all countries ranked →Compare South Africa with another country →Everything about South Africa →
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