Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 5,050 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Southern Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Southern Africa is 5,050, 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 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -134.78, in 1993.
That places Southern Africa 31st out of 36 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 in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 91.59 | — |
| 1991 | 452.95 | +394.6% |
| 1992 | 212.24 | -53.1% |
| 1993 | -134.78 | -163.5% |
| 1994 | 569.31 | -522.4% |
| 1995 | 1,532 | +169.0% |
| 1996 | 1,067 | -30.3% |
| 1997 | 4,017 | +276.4% |
| 1998 | 913.58 | -77.3% |
| 1999 | 1,693 | +85.3% |
| 2000 | 1,273 | -24.8% |
| 2001 | 7,238 | +468.5% |
| 2002 | 2,279 | -68.5% |
| 2003 | 1,280 | -43.8% |
| 2004 | 1,541 | +20.4% |
| 2005 | 7,435 | +382.5% |
| 2006 | 1,330 | -82.1% |
| 2007 | 7,879 | +492.5% |
| 2008 | 10,567 | +34.1% |
| 2009 | 8,709 | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 4,308 | -50.5% |
| 2011 | 5,612 | +30.2% |
| 2012 | 5,936 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 9,345 | +57.4% |
| 2014 | 6,913 | -26.0% |
| 2015 | 3,244 | -53.1% |
| 2016 | 2,835 | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 2,535 | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 6,021 | +137.5% |
| 2019 | 5,205 | -13.5% |
| 2020 | 3,011 | -42.1% |
| 2021 | 40,852 | +1256.6% |
| 2022 | 11,066 | -72.9% |
| 2023 | 5,980 | -46.0% |
| 2024 | 5,050 | -15.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 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 | 40,852 |
| 1994 | +522.4% | -134.78 | 569.31 |
| 2007 | +492.5% | 1,330 | 7,879 |
| 2001 | +468.5% | 1,273 | 7,238 |
| 1991 | +394.6% | 91.59 | 452.95 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,041 | -134.78 | 4,017 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,953 | 1,273 | 10,567 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,196 | 2,535 | 9,345 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,192 | 3,011 | 40,852 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
More economy & growth data for Southern Africa
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 1.01 million (2027)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$ 68,622 million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ 437,021 million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita 5,975 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita, 2015 prices 5,489 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 401,475 million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 5 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 3.65 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$, 2015 prices 0.5481 % (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth -3.16 % change on previous year (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 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 in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -134.78 in 1993.
- How does Southern Africa rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Southern Africa ranks 31st out of 36 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).