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 $5,460 — #49 of 83 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2024.

$5,460

Checked 4 Sept 2026Period 2024

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 $5,460 of it.

Among 83 countries

36 of 83 countries between $293 and $3,41917 of 83 countries between $3,419 and $6,5445 of 83 countries between $6,544 and $9,6701 of 83 countries between $9,670 and $12,7951 of 83 countries between $12,795 and $15,9213 of 83 countries between $15,921 and $19,0462 of 83 countries between $19,046 and $22,1721 of 83 countries between $22,172 and $25,2973 of 83 countries between $25,297 and $28,4231 of 83 countries between $28,423 and $31,5483 of 83 countries between $31,548 and $34,6743 of 83 countries between $34,674 and $37,8002 of 83 countries between $37,800 and $40,9251 of 83 countries between $50,302 and $53,4271 of 83 countries between $56,553 and $59,6783 of 83 countries between $72,180 and $75,306median $4,272South Africa: ahead of 41 % of the 83 countries with a published debt per personSouth Africa $5,460$293$75,306
Half of all 83 countries sit between $1,811 and $17,181. South Africa is ahead of 41 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 3 values beyond it sit in the end bars.
Rank
#49 of 83
lower is better
Ranked behind
41 %
34 of 83 countries

In Africa: #11 of 12vs median $4,272: +28 % (worse)

The neighbourhood

#CountryDebt per personvs South Africa
47 Jordan$5,007−$453
48 Czech Republic$5,027−$433
49 South Africa$5,460—
50 Lebanon$5,754+$294
51 Slovenia$6,069+$609

Central government debt divided down to one resident, in US dollars — our calculation from two World Bank figures (debt/GDP × GDP per capita).

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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