Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate in South Africa

South Africa: Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate was 34.7 cents on the dollar in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
34.7 cents on the dollar
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
93rd
of 191 countries
All-time high
35.7 cents on the dollar
in 2014
All-time low
30.7 cents on the dollar
in 2003
Years of data
17
2003–2019

Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate in South Africa, 2003–2019

0102030402003201120192003: 30.7 cents on the dollar2004: 31.8 cents on the dollar2005: 33.9 cents on the dollar2006: 34.4 cents on the dollar2007: 33.2 cents on the dollar2008: 32.2 cents on the dollar2009: 32.2 cents on the dollar2010: 34.4 cents on the dollar2011: 35.2 cents on the dollar2012: 35.4 cents on the dollar2013: 35.5 cents on the dollar2014: 35.7 cents on the dollar2015: 35.3 cents on the dollar2016: 35.1 cents on the dollar2017: 34.4 cents on the dollar2018: 34.5 cents on the dollar2019: 34.7 cents on the dollar

Source: World Bank. Measured in cents on the dollar.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 34.7 cents on the dollar for resolving insolvency: recovery rate in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, resolving insolvency: recovery rate in South Africa peaked at 35.7 cents on the dollar in 2014 and was at its lowest, 30.7 cents on the dollar, in 2003.

That places South Africa 93rd out of 191 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.

Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) in South Africa, 2003 to 2019.
Year cents on the dollar Change
2003 30.7 cents on the dollar
2004 31.8 cents on the dollar +3.6%
2005 33.9 cents on the dollar +6.6%
2006 34.4 cents on the dollar +1.5%
2007 33.2 cents on the dollar -3.5%
2008 32.2 cents on the dollar -3.0%
2009 32.2 cents on the dollar +0.0%
2010 34.4 cents on the dollar +6.8%
2011 35.2 cents on the dollar +2.3%
2012 35.4 cents on the dollar +0.6%
2013 35.5 cents on the dollar +0.3%
2014 35.7 cents on the dollar +0.6%
2015 35.3 cents on the dollar -1.1%
2016 35.1 cents on the dollar -0.6%
2017 34.4 cents on the dollar -2.0%
2018 34.5 cents on the dollar +0.3%
2019 34.7 cents on the dollar +0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.63 cents on the dollar 30.7 cents on the dollar 34.4 cents on the dollar 7
2010s 35.02 cents on the dollar 34.4 cents on the dollar 35.7 cents on the dollar 10

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 90 Nicaragua 35.7 cents on the dollar compare
  2. 91 Croatia 35.2 cents on the dollar compare
  3. 92 Togo 35.1 cents on the dollar compare
  4. 94 Serbia 34.5 cents on the dollar compare
  5. 95 Romania 34.4 cents on the dollar compare
  6. 95 Uzbekistan 34.4 cents on the dollar compare

See the full ranking of 191 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is resolving insolvency: recovery rate in South Africa?
Resolving insolvency: recovery rate in South Africa was 34.7 cents on the dollar in 2019, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest resolving insolvency: recovery rate recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 35.7 cents on the dollar in 2014.
What is the lowest resolving insolvency: recovery rate recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 30.7 cents on the dollar in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for resolving insolvency: recovery rate?
South Africa ranks 93rd out of 191 countries with data for 2019.
Is resolving insolvency: recovery rate rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate (cents on the dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/resolving-insolvency-recovery-rate-cents-on-the-dollar/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Resolving insolvency: Recovery rate (cents on the dollar)
Unit
cents on the dollar
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
191 places, 3,094 data points, 2003–2019
Last refreshed

The recovery rate is recorded as cents on the dollar recovered by secured creditors through judicial reorganization, liquidation or debt enforcement (foreclosure or receivership) proceedings. The calculation takes into account the outcome: whether the business emerges from the proceedings as a going concern or the assets are sold piecemeal.