Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in South Africa is 0.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.6% on the previous year and down 61.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in South Africa peaked at 9.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2006.
South Africa ranks 166th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.6% | — |
| 2001 | 5.4% | +740.9% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | -78.6% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | -65.3% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -31.0% |
| 2005 | 2.3% | +723.4% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -90.9% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | +864.1% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +58.1% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | -26.1% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -61.7% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +17.9% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +92.8% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | -26.0% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -71.1% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | +56.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -21.2% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | +154.7% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -29.0% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | +937.5% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -76.6% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | -55.3% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | -42.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.5%, 24% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.5%, 24% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +937.5% | 0.9% | 9.7% |
| 2007 | +864.1% | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| 2001 | +740.9% | 0.6% | 5.4% |
| 2005 | +723.4% | 0.3% | 2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.8% | 0.2% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 0.6% | 9.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 163 Kazakhstan 0.7% compare
- 164 New Zealand 0.7% compare
- 165 Marshall Islands 0.6% compare
- 167 Armenia 0.5% compare
- 168 Comoros 0.5% compare
- 169 Algeria 0.5% 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 inflows, as a proportion of gdp in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in South Africa was 0.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 166th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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