Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 5,050 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Southern Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Southern Africa is 5,050 million current US$, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 15.6% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Southern Africa peaked at 40,852 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -134.78 million current US$, in 1993.
That places Southern Africa 31st out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 91.59 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 452.95 million current US$ | +394.6% |
| 1992 | 212.24 million current US$ | -53.1% |
| 1993 | -134.78 million current US$ | -163.5% |
| 1994 | 569.31 million current US$ | -522.4% |
| 1995 | 1,532 million current US$ | +169.0% |
| 1996 | 1,067 million current US$ | -30.3% |
| 1997 | 4,017 million current US$ | +276.4% |
| 1998 | 913.58 million current US$ | -77.3% |
| 1999 | 1,693 million current US$ | +85.3% |
| 2000 | 1,273 million current US$ | -24.8% |
| 2001 | 7,238 million current US$ | +468.5% |
| 2002 | 2,279 million current US$ | -68.5% |
| 2003 | 1,280 million current US$ | -43.8% |
| 2004 | 1,541 million current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2005 | 7,435 million current US$ | +382.5% |
| 2006 | 1,330 million current US$ | -82.1% |
| 2007 | 7,879 million current US$ | +492.5% |
| 2008 | 10,567 million current US$ | +34.1% |
| 2009 | 8,709 million current US$ | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 4,308 million current US$ | -50.5% |
| 2011 | 5,612 million current US$ | +30.2% |
| 2012 | 5,936 million current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 9,345 million current US$ | +57.4% |
| 2014 | 6,913 million current US$ | -26.0% |
| 2015 | 3,244 million current US$ | -53.1% |
| 2016 | 2,835 million current US$ | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 2,535 million current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 6,021 million current US$ | +137.5% |
| 2019 | 5,205 million current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2020 | 3,011 million current US$ | -42.1% |
| 2021 | 40,852 million current US$ | +1256.6% |
| 2022 | 11,066 million current US$ | -72.9% |
| 2023 | 5,980 million current US$ | -46.0% |
| 2024 | 5,050 million current US$ | -15.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Southern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +1256.6% | 3,011 million current US$ | 40,852 million current US$ |
| 1994 | +522.4% | -134.78 million current US$ | 569.31 million current US$ |
| 2007 | +492.5% | 1,330 million current US$ | 7,879 million current US$ |
| 2001 | +468.5% | 1,273 million current US$ | 7,238 million current US$ |
| 1991 | +394.6% | 91.59 million current US$ | 452.95 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,041 million current US$ | -134.78 million current US$ | 4,017 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,953 million current US$ | 1,273 million current US$ | 10,567 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,196 million current US$ | 2,535 million current US$ | 9,345 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,192 million current US$ | 3,011 million current US$ | 40,852 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 28 Portugal 14,059 million current US$ compare
- 29 Japan 13,357 million current US$ compare
- 30 Poland 12,740 million current US$ compare
- 31 Austria 11,535 million current US$ compare
- 32 Argentina 11,431 million current US$ compare
- 33 Chile 11,360 million current US$ compare
- 34 Malaysia 11,259 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Southern Africa
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 1.01 million (2027)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita, 2015 prices -0.7455 % (2024)
- GDP Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 4.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices 6.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, annual growth rate 5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 3.65 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 401,475 million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 5 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Southern Africa?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Southern Africa was 5,050 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 40,852 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -134.78 million current US$ in 1993.
- How does Southern Africa rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Southern Africa ranks 31st out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Southern 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.
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