Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square was 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 58.2%
World rank
123rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
in 2021
All-time low
-399.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
in 1979
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in BoP, current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in South Africa stood at 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre.
The figure is down 58.2% on the previous year and down 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in South Africa peaked at 33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, -399.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, in 1979.
That places South Africa 123rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, 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 (BoP, current US$), per square in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 275.82 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1971 | 214.38 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -22.3% |
| 1972 | 94.37 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -56.0% |
| 1973 | 22.57 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -76.1% |
| 1974 | 573.84 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +2442.5% |
| 1975 | 154.95 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -73.0% |
| 1976 | 15.17 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -90.2% |
| 1977 | -100.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -762.5% |
| 1978 | -90.06 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -10.4% |
| 1979 | -399.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +343.5% |
| 1980 | -8.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -97.9% |
| 1981 | 53.58 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -731.1% |
| 1982 | 271.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +407.2% |
| 1983 | 58.45 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -78.5% |
| 1984 | 345.81 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +491.7% |
| 1985 | -373.13 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -207.9% |
| 1986 | -41.62 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -88.8% |
| 1987 | -158 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +279.6% |
| 1988 | 130.61 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -182.7% |
| 1989 | -165.86 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -227.0% |
| 1990 | -62.42 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -62.4% |
| 1991 | 209.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -435.6% |
| 1992 | 2.77 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -98.7% |
| 1993 | 9.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +236.2% |
| 1994 | 308.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +3216.2% |
| 1995 | 1,029 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +233.4% |
| 1996 | 672.98 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -34.6% |
| 1997 | 3,141 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +366.8% |
| 1998 | 453.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -85.6% |
| 1999 | 1,239 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +173.2% |
| 2000 | 798.65 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -35.6% |
| 2001 | 5,993 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +650.4% |
| 2002 | 1,220 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -79.6% |
| 2003 | 645.57 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -47.1% |
| 2004 | 578.21 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -10.4% |
| 2005 | 5,376 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +829.8% |
| 2006 | 513.8 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -90.4% |
| 2007 | 5,430 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +956.8% |
| 2008 | 8,149 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +50.1% |
| 2009 | 6,285 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -22.9% |
| 2010 | 3,045 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -51.6% |
| 2011 | 3,412 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +12.1% |
| 2012 | 3,813 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 6,786 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +78.0% |
| 2014 | 4,774 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -29.6% |
| 2015 | 1,254 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -73.7% |
| 2016 | 1,826 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +45.6% |
| 2017 | 1,697 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 4,591 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +170.5% |
| 2019 | 4,217 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 2,600 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -38.4% |
| 2021 | 33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +1189.3% |
| 2022 | 7,616 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -77.3% |
| 2023 | 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -58.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11,455 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, 28% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,786 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +3216.2% | 9.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 308.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 1974 | +2442.5% | 22.57 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 573.84 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 2021 | +1189.3% | 2,600 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 2007 | +956.8% | 513.8 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 5,430 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 2005 | +829.8% | 578.21 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 5,376 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 1977 | -762.5% | 15.17 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -100.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 76.11 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -399.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 573.84 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -373.13 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 345.81 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 700.4 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -62.42 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 3,141 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,499 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 513.8 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 8,149 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,542 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1,254 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 6,786 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,729 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 2,600 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 120 Peru 3,441 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 121 Mozambique 3,412 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 122 Liberia 3,242 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 124 Azerbaijan 3,059 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 125 Suriname 3,017 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 126 Turkmenistan 2,933 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in South Africa was 3,184 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33,517 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -399.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 1979.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square?
- South Africa ranks 123rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.1%. 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$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.