Lesotho vs South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows
Foreign direct investment, net inflows over time
- Lesotho
- South Africa
How they compare
Lesotho currently reports -0.2% against -0.5% in South Africa, a difference of 0.3%.
The two have swapped places 11 times across 51 shared years of data; in 1975 it was South Africa ahead.
Lesotho ranks 180th and South Africa ranks 182nd of 200 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Lesotho averaged higher in 5 and South Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Lesotho | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | -0.2% | 0.2% | Lesotho |
| 1980s | 1.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | Lesotho |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 0.5% | 2.1% | Lesotho |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | Lesotho |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.1% | 1.4% | Lesotho |
| 2020s | -0.2% | 2.3% | 2.6% | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher foreign direct investment, net inflows, Lesotho or South Africa?
- Lesotho, at -0.2% against -0.5% in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net inflows between Lesotho and South Africa?
- 0.3%, with Lesotho ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Lesotho and South Africa?
- 51 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2025.
- How do Lesotho and South Africa rank globally for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Lesotho ranks 180th and South Africa ranks 182nd of 200 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.