Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current) … inflows annual in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current) … inflows annual was -192.73 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -192.73 % change on previous year for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual in 2025.
The figure is down 385.7% on the previous year and down 161.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa peaked at 956.77 % change on previous year in 2007 and was at its lowest, -762.5 % change on previous year, in 1977.
South Africa ranks 197th of 202 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 (BoP, current) … inflows annual in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -22.28 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | -55.98 % change on previous year | +151.3% |
| 1973 | -76.08 % change on previous year | +35.9% |
| 1975 | -73 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 1976 | -90.21 % change on previous year | +23.6% |
| 1977 | -762.5 % change on previous year | +745.2% |
| 1978 | 10.38 % change on previous year | -101.4% |
| 1979 | -343.52 % change on previous year | -3410.3% |
| 1980 | 97.87 % change on previous year | -128.5% |
| 1981 | 731.07 % change on previous year | +646.9% |
| 1982 | 407.23 % change on previous year | -44.3% |
| 1983 | -78.5 % change on previous year | -119.3% |
| 1984 | 491.68 % change on previous year | -726.4% |
| 1985 | -207.9 % change on previous year | -142.3% |
| 1986 | 88.85 % change on previous year | -142.7% |
| 1987 | -279.64 % change on previous year | -414.7% |
| 1988 | 182.66 % change on previous year | -165.3% |
| 1989 | -227 % change on previous year | -224.3% |
| 1990 | 62.37 % change on previous year | -127.5% |
| 1991 | 435.61 % change on previous year | +598.5% |
| 1992 | -98.68 % change on previous year | -122.7% |
| 1993 | 236.22 % change on previous year | -339.4% |
| 1995 | 233.44 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 1996 | -34.61 % change on previous year | -114.8% |
| 1997 | 366.75 % change on previous year | -1159.8% |
| 1998 | -85.56 % change on previous year | -123.3% |
| 1999 | 173.16 % change on previous year | -302.4% |
| 2000 | -35.55 % change on previous year | -120.5% |
| 2001 | 650.42 % change on previous year | -1929.4% |
| 2002 | -79.65 % change on previous year | -112.2% |
| 2003 | -47.08 % change on previous year | -40.9% |
| 2004 | -10.43 % change on previous year | -77.8% |
| 2005 | 829.84 % change on previous year | -8053.1% |
| 2006 | -90.44 % change on previous year | -110.9% |
| 2007 | 956.77 % change on previous year | -1157.9% |
| 2008 | 50.07 % change on previous year | -94.8% |
| 2009 | -22.87 % change on previous year | -145.7% |
| 2010 | -51.56 % change on previous year | +125.5% |
| 2011 | 12.08 % change on previous year | -123.4% |
| 2012 | 11.76 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 77.96 % change on previous year | +563.0% |
| 2014 | -29.65 % change on previous year | -138.0% |
| 2015 | -73.74 % change on previous year | +148.7% |
| 2016 | 45.63 % change on previous year | -161.9% |
| 2017 | -7.07 % change on previous year | -115.5% |
| 2018 | 170.55 % change on previous year | -2510.6% |
| 2019 | -8.14 % change on previous year | -104.8% |
| 2020 | -38.36 % change on previous year | +371.3% |
| 2022 | -77.28 % change on previous year | +101.4% |
| 2023 | -58.19 % change on previous year | -24.7% |
| 2024 | -39.68 % change on previous year | -31.8% |
| 2025 | -192.73 % change on previous year | +385.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -192.73 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.95 % change on previous year. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -192.73 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.46 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current) … inflows annual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +8053.1% | -10.43 % change on previous year | 829.84 % change on previous year |
| 1979 | -3410.3% | 10.38 % change on previous year | -343.52 % change on previous year |
| 2018 | +2510.6% | -7.07 % change on previous year | 170.55 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | +1929.4% | -35.55 % change on previous year | 650.42 % change on previous year |
| 1997 | +1159.8% | -34.61 % change on previous year | 366.75 % change on previous year |
| 2007 | +1157.9% | -90.44 % change on previous year | 956.77 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -176.65 % change on previous year | -762.5 % change on previous year | 10.38 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1980s | 120.63 % change on previous year | -279.64 % change on previous year | 731.07 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 143.19 % change on previous year | -98.68 % change on previous year | 435.61 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2000s | 220.11 % change on previous year | -90.44 % change on previous year | 956.77 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.78 % change on previous year | -73.74 % change on previous year | 170.55 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -81.25 % change on previous year | -192.73 % change on previous year | -38.36 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 194 Norway -164.45 % change on previous year compare
- 195 Austria -185.54 % change on previous year compare
- 196 Luxembourg -188.59 % change on previous year compare
- 198 Burkina Faso -284.78 % change on previous year compare
- 199 Liechtenstein -323.62 % change on previous year compare
- 200 Nauru -504.22 % change on previous year 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa was -192.73 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 956.77 % change on previous year in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -762.5 % change on previous year in 1977.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual?
- South Africa ranks 197th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), annual rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 161.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.