Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) was 1.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Southern Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa is 1.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa peaked at 9.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2004.
That places Southern Africa 27th out of 36 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.8% | — |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +542.8% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | -70.8% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -61.8% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -11.0% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | +350.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -75.7% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | +285.2% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | +50.5% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | -61.1% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | +12.8% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | +15.0% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +68.6% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -22.1% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -53.8% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -22.1% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | +124.5% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -12.2% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -31.3% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | +973.4% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -72.7% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | -33.2% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -33.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) 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 | +973.4% | 0.8% | 9.0% |
| 2001 | +542.8% | 0.8% | 5.3% |
| 2005 | +350.0% | 0.5% | 2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.0% | 0.5% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.6% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 0.8% | 9.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 24 Dominica 8.7% compare
- 25 New Caledonia 8.5% compare
- 26 United Arab Emirates 8.3% compare
- 27 Iceland 8.1% compare
- 28 Kosovo 7.7% compare
- 29 Saint Lucia 7.3% compare
- 30 Montenegro 7.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Southern Africa
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 1.01 million (2027)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita, 2015 prices -0.7455 % (2024)
- GDP Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 4.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices 6.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, annual growth rate 5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 0.548 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 3.65 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 401,475 million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 5 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Southern Africa was 1.1% 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2004.
- How does Southern Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
- Southern Africa ranks 27th out of 36 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. 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, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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