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 $5,186 — #56 of 123 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

$5,186

Checked 22 Sept 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 $5,186 of it.

Among 123 countries

36 of 123 countries between $354 and $3,03024 of 123 countries between $3,030 and $5,7068 of 123 countries between $5,706 and $8,3826 of 123 countries between $8,382 and $11,0587 of 123 countries between $11,058 and $13,7344 of 123 countries between $13,734 and $16,4106 of 123 countries between $16,410 and $19,0862 of 123 countries between $19,086 and $21,7623 of 123 countries between $21,762 and $24,4383 of 123 countries between $24,438 and $27,1143 of 123 countries between $27,114 and $29,7902 of 123 countries between $29,790 and $32,4661 of 123 countries between $32,466 and $35,1421 of 123 countries between $35,142 and $37,8184 of 123 countries between $37,818 and $40,4942 of 123 countries between $40,494 and $43,1702 of 123 countries between $43,170 and $45,8462 of 123 countries between $48,522 and $51,1982 of 123 countries between $56,550 and $59,2261 of 123 countries between $59,226 and $61,9024 of 123 countries between $61,902 and $64,578median $6,376South Africa: ahead of 54 % of the 123 countries with a published debt per personSouth Africa $5,186$354$64,578
Half of all 123 countries sit between $2,477 and $19,482. 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
#56 of 123
lower is better
Ranked behind
54 %
67 of 123 countries
Latest move
▼ $274
since 2024

In Africa: #19 of 20vs median $6,376: −19 % (better)

The neighbourhood

#CountryDebt per personvs South Africa
54 Sri Lanka$5,042−$144
55 Colombia$5,128−$58
56 South Africa$5,186—
57 Thailand$5,213+$27
58 Fiji$5,227+$41

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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