Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Eswatini
Eswatini: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.6%
Change on year
up 155.3%
World rank
119th
of 198 countries
All-time high
13.5%
in 1979
All-time low
-2.8%
in 2003
Years of data
53
1972–2024
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Eswatini, 1972–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Eswatini stood at 1.6%.
The figure is up 155.3% on the previous year and up 158.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Eswatini peaked at 13.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 2003.
Eswatini ranks 119th of 198 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 inflows as share of GDP in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.5% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | -94.1% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | +4842.4% |
| 1975 | 5.0% | +275.6% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | -46.2% |
| 1977 | 6.6% | +143.7% |
| 1978 | 6.4% | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 13.5% | +110.9% |
| 1980 | 4.9% | -63.7% |
| 1981 | 6.5% | +33.0% |
| 1982 | -2.5% | -139.1% |
| 1983 | -1.0% | -59.8% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | -199.6% |
| 1985 | 3.2% | +218.2% |
| 1986 | 6.9% | +114.7% |
| 1987 | 9.6% | +39.1% |
| 1988 | 7.3% | -24.1% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | +31.9% |
| 1990 | 2.7% | -72.0% |
| 1991 | 7.1% | +163.0% |
| 1992 | 6.8% | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | -22.0% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | -15.9% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -31.7% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -55.5% |
| 1997 | -0.9% | -165.8% |
| 1998 | 9.7% | -1185.7% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | -34.4% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | -15.9% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -63.5% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | +241.7% |
| 2003 | -2.8% | -142.0% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -191.7% |
| 2005 | -1.5% | -157.6% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -354.3% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -70.6% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | +195.5% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -43.0% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | +66.9% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | -32.8% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -73.3% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | +228.6% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -67.2% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +33.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -10.5% |
| 2017 | -1.3% | -279.1% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -151.9% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | +313.5% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | -66.2% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | +150.3% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -88.0% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | +116.4% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | +155.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.5% | 0.0% | 13.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 4.6% | -2.5% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | -0.9% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | -2.8% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | -1.3% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 0.3% | 2.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More economy & growth data for Eswatini
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 17,289 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 2.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.3358 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 1,380 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 0.2707 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 6.01 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 24,679 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.349 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,434 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Eswatini?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Eswatini was 1.6% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 1979.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 2003.
- How does Eswatini rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Eswatini ranks 119th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 158.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.