Foreign direct investment, net in Namibia
Namibia: Foreign direct investment, net was -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Namibia, 1990–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment, net in Namibia stood at -1.89 billion BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.3% on the previous year and down 346.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Namibia peaked at 201.57 million BoP, current US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, -2.60 billion BoP, current US$, in 2023.
That places Namibia 148th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in Namibia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -28.21 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1991 | -114.08 million BoP, current US$ | +304.3% |
| 1992 | -119.81 million BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 1993 | -46.61 million BoP, current US$ | -61.1% |
| 1994 | -104.09 million BoP, current US$ | +123.3% |
| 1995 | -156.54 million BoP, current US$ | +50.4% |
| 1996 | -150.37 million BoP, current US$ | -3.9% |
| 1997 | -90.32 million BoP, current US$ | -39.9% |
| 1998 | -98.40 million BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1999 | -20.28 million BoP, current US$ | -79.4% |
| 2000 | -184.28 million BoP, current US$ | +808.8% |
| 2001 | -381.65 million BoP, current US$ | +107.1% |
| 2002 | -179.44 million BoP, current US$ | -53.0% |
| 2003 | -157.60 million BoP, current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2004 | -246.10 million BoP, current US$ | +56.2% |
| 2005 | -400.24 million BoP, current US$ | +62.6% |
| 2006 | -403.79 million BoP, current US$ | +0.9% |
| 2007 | -717.83 million BoP, current US$ | +77.8% |
| 2008 | -743.27 million BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2009 | -765.10 million BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2010 | -282.62 million BoP, current US$ | -63.1% |
| 2011 | -790.12 million BoP, current US$ | +179.6% |
| 2012 | -1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.4% |
| 2013 | -771.82 million BoP, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 2014 | -423.36 million BoP, current US$ | -45.1% |
| 2015 | -734.56 million BoP, current US$ | +73.5% |
| 2016 | -366.55 million BoP, current US$ | -50.1% |
| 2017 | -346.96 million BoP, current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2018 | -137.55 million BoP, current US$ | -60.4% |
| 2019 | 185.46 million BoP, current US$ | -234.8% |
| 2020 | 201.57 million BoP, current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2021 | -822.44 million BoP, current US$ | -508.0% |
| 2022 | -1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2023 | -2.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +148.9% |
| 2024 | -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.3% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -582.76 million BoP, current US$, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -396.63 million BoP, current US$, 4.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net in Namibia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -808.8% | -20.28 million BoP, current US$ | -184.28 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2021 | -508.0% | 201.57 million BoP, current US$ | -822.44 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -92.87 million BoP, current US$ | -156.54 million BoP, current US$ | -20.28 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -417.93 million BoP, current US$ | -765.10 million BoP, current US$ | -157.60 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -469.85 million BoP, current US$ | -1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 185.46 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 201.57 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 145 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 146 Ghana -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 147 Czechia -1.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 149 Suriname -2.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 150 Zambia -2.05 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 151 Bahrain -2.43 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Namibia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.64 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 44.40 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0033 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.65 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -15.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1418 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 638.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -7.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Namibia?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Namibia was -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 201.57 million BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.60 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- How does Namibia rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Namibia ranks 148th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 346.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.