Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 25.38 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1970–2025
Source: 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. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at 25.38 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -12.31 million BoP, current US$, in 1979.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 39th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 421.71 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 326.49 million BoP, current US$ | -22.6% |
| 1972 | 218.89 million BoP, current US$ | -33.0% |
| 1973 | 176.56 million BoP, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1974 | 898.52 million BoP, current US$ | +408.9% |
| 1975 | 316.83 million BoP, current US$ | -64.7% |
| 1976 | 411.26 million BoP, current US$ | +29.8% |
| 1977 | 67.10 million BoP, current US$ | -83.7% |
| 1978 | 168.44 million BoP, current US$ | +151.0% |
| 1979 | -12.31 million BoP, current US$ | -107.3% |
| 1980 | 483.62 million BoP, current US$ | -4027.9% |
| 1981 | 372.13 million BoP, current US$ | -23.1% |
| 1982 | 581.70 million BoP, current US$ | +56.3% |
| 1983 | 86.25 million BoP, current US$ | -85.2% |
| 1984 | 598.86 million BoP, current US$ | +594.4% |
| 1985 | 106.43 million BoP, current US$ | -82.2% |
| 1986 | 411.05 million BoP, current US$ | +286.2% |
| 1987 | 279.81 million BoP, current US$ | -31.9% |
| 1988 | 536.60 million BoP, current US$ | +91.8% |
| 1989 | 400.49 million BoP, current US$ | -25.4% |
| 1990 | 100.67 million BoP, current US$ | -74.9% |
| 1991 | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +1139.6% |
| 1992 | 652.33 million BoP, current US$ | -47.7% |
| 1993 | 839.51 million BoP, current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1994 | 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.5% |
| 1995 | 2.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +124.2% |
| 1996 | 2.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.6% |
| 1997 | 5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +175.8% |
| 1998 | 4.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.4% |
| 1999 | 6.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.6% |
| 2000 | 4.27 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.7% |
| 2001 | 12.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +185.1% |
| 2002 | 6.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -47.2% |
| 2003 | 8.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.5% |
| 2004 | 7.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 10.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.1% |
| 2006 | 7.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.1% |
| 2007 | 16.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +123.2% |
| 2008 | 22.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.4% |
| 2009 | 18.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.2% |
| 2010 | 13.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2011 | 17.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.4% |
| 2012 | 24.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.5% |
| 2013 | 21.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.6% |
| 2014 | 27.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.7% |
| 2015 | 28.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 16.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.8% |
| 2017 | 10.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.6% |
| 2018 | 13.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.5% |
| 2019 | 14.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2020 | 13.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.7% |
| 2021 | 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +309.1% |
| 2022 | 21.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -61.0% |
| 2023 | 23.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2024 | 26.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2025 | 25.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +4027.9% | -12.31 million BoP, current US$ | 483.62 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1991 | +1139.6% | 100.67 million BoP, current US$ | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1984 | +594.4% | 86.25 million BoP, current US$ | 598.86 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1974 | +408.9% | 176.56 million BoP, current US$ | 898.52 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 299.35 million BoP, current US$ | -12.31 million BoP, current US$ | 898.52 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 385.69 million BoP, current US$ | 86.25 million BoP, current US$ | 598.86 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 100.67 million BoP, current US$ | 6.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 28.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 36 Cyprus 11.16 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 37 Russia 11.14 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 38 Czechia 10.50 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 39 Peru 10.35 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 40 Romania 9.37 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Guyana 8.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Philippines 8.12 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1313 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -4.92 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,159 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6726 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 885.91 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 226.14 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 8.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0007 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Africa Eastern and Southern was 25.38 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to 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.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.31 million BoP, current US$ in 1979.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from 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, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.