Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 2,469 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2,469 million current US$
Change on year
down 28.9%
World rank
75th
of 224 countries
All-time high
40,215 million current US$
in 2021
All-time low
-78.46 million current US$
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 2,469 million current US$ for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in 2024.
The figure is down 28.9% on the previous year and down 57.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Africa peaked at 40,215 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -78.46 million current US$, in 1990.
That places South Africa 75th out of 224 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -78.46 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 248.07 million current US$ | -416.2% |
| 1992 | 3.51 million current US$ | -98.6% |
| 1993 | 10.1 million current US$ | +188.0% |
| 1994 | 379.63 million current US$ | +3659.2% |
| 1995 | 1,241 million current US$ | +227.0% |
| 1996 | 817.57 million current US$ | -34.1% |
| 1997 | 3,817 million current US$ | +366.8% |
| 1998 | 561.48 million current US$ | -85.3% |
| 1999 | 1,503 million current US$ | +167.7% |
| 2000 | 887.34 million current US$ | -41.0% |
| 2001 | 6,784 million current US$ | +664.5% |
| 2002 | 1,569 million current US$ | -76.9% |
| 2003 | 733.67 million current US$ | -53.2% |
| 2004 | 798.03 million current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 6,647 million current US$ | +732.9% |
| 2006 | 311.45 million current US$ | -95.3% |
| 2007 | 6,538 million current US$ | +1999.2% |
| 2008 | 9,209 million current US$ | +40.9% |
| 2009 | 7,502 million current US$ | -18.5% |
| 2010 | 3,636 million current US$ | -51.5% |
| 2011 | 4,243 million current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 4,559 million current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 8,300 million current US$ | +82.1% |
| 2014 | 5,771 million current US$ | -30.5% |
| 2015 | 1,729 million current US$ | -70.0% |
| 2016 | 2,235 million current US$ | +29.2% |
| 2017 | 2,008 million current US$ | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 5,450 million current US$ | +171.3% |
| 2019 | 5,125 million current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 3,062 million current US$ | -40.2% |
| 2021 | 40,215 million current US$ | +1213.2% |
| 2022 | 9,280 million current US$ | -76.9% |
| 2023 | 3,475 million current US$ | -62.6% |
| 2024 | 2,469 million current US$ | -28.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2,469 million current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 926.87 million current US$, 2.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2,469 million current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 596.7 million current US$, 4.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +3659.2% | 10.1 million current US$ | 379.63 million current US$ |
| 2007 | +1999.2% | 311.45 million current US$ | 6,538 million current US$ |
| 2021 | +1213.2% | 3,062 million current US$ | 40,215 million current US$ |
| 2005 | +732.9% | 798.03 million current US$ | 6,647 million current US$ |
| 2001 | +664.5% | 887.34 million current US$ | 6,784 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 850.3 million current US$ | -78.46 million current US$ | 3,817 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,098 million current US$ | 311.45 million current US$ | 9,209 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,306 million current US$ | 1,729 million current US$ | 8,300 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,700 million current US$ | 2,469 million current US$ | 40,215 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 108.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Africa was 2,469 million current US$ in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 40,215 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -78.46 million current US$ in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- South Africa ranks 75th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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