Foreign direct investment, net in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net was -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net in South Africa stood at -1.85 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is up 48.5% on the previous year and down 146.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in South Africa peaked at 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, -40.56 billion BoP, current US$, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 143rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 500.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1986 | 121.47 million BoP, current US$ | -75.7% |
| 1987 | 303.79 million BoP, current US$ | +150.1% |
| 1988 | -93.87 million BoP, current US$ | -130.9% |
| 1989 | 363.91 million BoP, current US$ | -487.7% |
| 1990 | 103.70 million BoP, current US$ | -71.5% |
| 1991 | -47.70 million BoP, current US$ | -146.0% |
| 1992 | 1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -4158.4% |
| 1993 | 280.62 million BoP, current US$ | -85.5% |
| 1994 | 886.10 million BoP, current US$ | +215.8% |
| 1995 | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.6% |
| 1996 | 231.59 million BoP, current US$ | -81.4% |
| 1997 | -1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -742.1% |
| 1998 | 1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -172.9% |
| 1999 | 80.85 million BoP, current US$ | -92.5% |
| 2000 | -691.65 million BoP, current US$ | -955.5% |
| 2001 | -10.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +1459.3% |
| 2002 | -1.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -82.5% |
| 2003 | -230.59 million BoP, current US$ | -87.7% |
| 2004 | 604.00 million BoP, current US$ | -361.9% |
| 2005 | -5.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -1029.2% |
| 2006 | 5.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -194.5% |
| 2007 | -3.60 billion BoP, current US$ | -167.9% |
| 2008 | -12.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +233.0% |
| 2009 | -6.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -47.4% |
| 2010 | -3.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.9% |
| 2011 | -4.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2012 | -1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.8% |
| 2013 | -1.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -211.0% |
| 2015 | 3.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +110.2% |
| 2016 | 2.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.0% |
| 2017 | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +136.9% |
| 2018 | -1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -128.6% |
| 2019 | -1.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2020 | -5.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +157.7% |
| 2021 | -40.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +696.9% |
| 2022 | -6.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -83.1% |
| 2023 | -6.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2024 | -3.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -46.0% |
| 2025 | -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 239.06 million BoP, current US$ | -93.87 million BoP, current US$ | 500.00 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1990s | 431.30 million BoP, current US$ | -1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -154.47 million BoP, current US$ | -4.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -10.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 140 Croatia -1.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 141 Panama -1.81 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 142 Bangladesh -1.84 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 144 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 145 Ghana -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 146 Czechia -1.88 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 1.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7819 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 5,158 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), annual growth 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant LCU), per unit of 9.97 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net in South Africa was -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.56 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- South Africa ranks 143rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 146.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.