# Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)
- The indicator **"Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)"** measures the total amount of money a country pays annually to service its external debt, including both **interest payments** and **principal repayments**.
- The data is expressed in **current US dollars**, reflecting the actual value of debt service payments made each year, without adjusting for inflation.
- The chart shows **South Africa's** total annual payments towards servicing its external debt from **2000 to 2022**, covering a period of **23 years**.
- This indicator is crucial for assessing **South Africa's debt burden** and its **capacity to manage external financial obligations** over time.