Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate was 48.53 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1986–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at 48.53 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and down 55.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 487.67 % change on previous year in 1989 and was at its lowest, -955.47 % change on previous year, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | -75.71 % change on previous year | — |
| 1987 | 150.1 % change on previous year | -298.3% |
| 1988 | -130.9 % change on previous year | -187.2% |
| 1989 | 487.67 % change on previous year | -472.6% |
| 1990 | -71.5 % change on previous year | -114.7% |
| 1991 | -146 % change on previous year | +104.2% |
| 1993 | -85.5 % change on previous year | -41.4% |
| 1994 | 215.76 % change on previous year | -352.3% |
| 1995 | 40.56 % change on previous year | -81.2% |
| 1996 | -81.41 % change on previous year | -300.7% |
| 1997 | -742.07 % change on previous year | +811.6% |
| 1998 | 172.88 % change on previous year | -123.3% |
| 1999 | -92.54 % change on previous year | -153.5% |
| 2000 | -955.47 % change on previous year | +932.5% |
| 2002 | 82.55 % change on previous year | -108.6% |
| 2003 | 87.75 % change on previous year | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 361.94 % change on previous year | +312.5% |
| 2006 | 194.53 % change on previous year | -46.3% |
| 2007 | -167.94 % change on previous year | -186.3% |
| 2008 | -233.03 % change on previous year | +38.8% |
| 2009 | 47.41 % change on previous year | -120.3% |
| 2010 | 38.94 % change on previous year | -17.9% |
| 2011 | -11.37 % change on previous year | -129.2% |
| 2012 | 59.77 % change on previous year | -625.8% |
| 2013 | 0.8401 % change on previous year | -98.6% |
| 2014 | 210.96 % change on previous year | +25011.6% |
| 2015 | 110.15 % change on previous year | -47.8% |
| 2016 | -43.03 % change on previous year | -139.1% |
| 2017 | 136.93 % change on previous year | -418.2% |
| 2018 | -128.61 % change on previous year | -193.9% |
| 2019 | -28.05 % change on previous year | -78.2% |
| 2020 | -157.67 % change on previous year | +462.1% |
| 2021 | -696.89 % change on previous year | +342.0% |
| 2022 | 83.07 % change on previous year | -111.9% |
| 2023 | 3.03 % change on previous year | -96.4% |
| 2024 | 46 % change on previous year | +1417.3% |
| 2025 | 48.53 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 48.53 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.82 % change on previous year, 26.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 48.53 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -22.82 % change on previous year. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +25011.6% | 0.8401 % change on previous year | 210.96 % change on previous year |
| 2024 | +1417.3% | 3.03 % change on previous year | 46 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 107.79 % change on previous year | -130.9 % change on previous year | 487.67 % change on previous year | 4 |
| 1990s | -87.76 % change on previous year | -742.07 % change on previous year | 215.76 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2000s | -72.78 % change on previous year | -955.47 % change on previous year | 361.94 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 2010s | 34.65 % change on previous year | -128.61 % change on previous year | 210.96 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -112.32 % change on previous year | -696.89 % change on previous year | 83.07 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Barbados 55.1 % change on previous year compare
- 40 Djibouti 50.5 % change on previous year compare
- 41 Kiribati 48.55 % change on previous year compare
- 43 Serbia 47.14 % change on previous year compare
- 44 Nauru 45.06 % change on previous year compare
- 45 Laos 44.51 % change on previous year compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate in South Africa was 48.53 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 487.67 % change on previous year in 1989.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -955.47 % change on previous year in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 195 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net (bop, current us$), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Foreign direct investment, net Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.