Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Eswatini
Eswatini: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 53.07 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini, 1972–2025
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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini stood at 53.07 million BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of down 60.8% on the previous year and up 68.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini peaked at 152.72 million BoP, current US$ in 1998 and was at its lowest, -60.19 million BoP, current US$, in 2003.
Eswatini ranks 160th of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 670,000 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1973 | 60,000 BoP, current US$ | -91.0% |
| 1974 | 3.53 million BoP, current US$ | +5786.9% |
| 1975 | 14.47 million BoP, current US$ | +309.6% |
| 1976 | 7.36 million BoP, current US$ | -49.1% |
| 1977 | 20.01 million BoP, current US$ | +171.9% |
| 1978 | 21.73 million BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 1979 | 55.46 million BoP, current US$ | +155.2% |
| 1980 | 26.45 million BoP, current US$ | -52.3% |
| 1981 | 37.03 million BoP, current US$ | +40.0% |
| 1982 | -13.63 million BoP, current US$ | -136.8% |
| 1983 | -5.65 million BoP, current US$ | -58.5% |
| 1984 | 5.02 million BoP, current US$ | -188.7% |
| 1985 | 11.62 million BoP, current US$ | +131.7% |
| 1986 | 31.12 million BoP, current US$ | +167.7% |
| 1987 | 56.29 million BoP, current US$ | +80.9% |
| 1988 | 50.58 million BoP, current US$ | -10.1% |
| 1989 | 67.18 million BoP, current US$ | +32.8% |
| 1990 | 30.11 million BoP, current US$ | -55.2% |
| 1991 | 82.13 million BoP, current US$ | +172.8% |
| 1992 | 87.31 million BoP, current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 71.92 million BoP, current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1994 | 63.26 million BoP, current US$ | -12.0% |
| 1995 | 51.76 million BoP, current US$ | -18.2% |
| 1996 | 21.72 million BoP, current US$ | -58.0% |
| 1997 | -15.31 million BoP, current US$ | -170.5% |
| 1998 | 152.72 million BoP, current US$ | -1097.3% |
| 1999 | 98.27 million BoP, current US$ | -35.7% |
| 2000 | 90.66 million BoP, current US$ | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 29.33 million BoP, current US$ | -67.6% |
| 2002 | 92.95 million BoP, current US$ | +216.9% |
| 2003 | -60.19 million BoP, current US$ | -164.8% |
| 2004 | 69.58 million BoP, current US$ | -215.6% |
| 2005 | -45.85 million BoP, current US$ | -165.9% |
| 2006 | 121.03 million BoP, current US$ | -364.0% |
| 2007 | 37.49 million BoP, current US$ | -69.0% |
| 2008 | 105.73 million BoP, current US$ | +182.0% |
| 2009 | 65.71 million BoP, current US$ | -37.9% |
| 2010 | 135.66 million BoP, current US$ | +106.5% |
| 2011 | 98.71 million BoP, current US$ | -27.2% |
| 2012 | 26.48 million BoP, current US$ | -73.2% |
| 2013 | 81.79 million BoP, current US$ | +208.9% |
| 2014 | 25.78 million BoP, current US$ | -68.5% |
| 2015 | 31.50 million BoP, current US$ | +22.2% |
| 2016 | 26.85 million BoP, current US$ | -14.8% |
| 2017 | -57.65 million BoP, current US$ | -314.7% |
| 2018 | 31.13 million BoP, current US$ | -154.0% |
| 2019 | 127.97 million BoP, current US$ | +311.1% |
| 2020 | 38.79 million BoP, current US$ | -69.7% |
| 2021 | 112.86 million BoP, current US$ | +191.0% |
| 2022 | 13.35 million BoP, current US$ | -88.2% |
| 2023 | 28.13 million BoP, current US$ | +110.7% |
| 2024 | 135.53 million BoP, current US$ | +381.8% |
| 2025 | 53.07 million BoP, current US$ | -60.8% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 53.07 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 642.40 million BoP, current US$, 8% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 53.07 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 490.83 million BoP, current US$, 11% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Eswatini 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +5786.9% | 60,000 BoP, current US$ | 3.53 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1998 | +1097.3% | -15.31 million BoP, current US$ | 152.72 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.41 million BoP, current US$ | 60,000 BoP, current US$ | 55.46 million BoP, current US$ | 8 |
| 1980s | 26.60 million BoP, current US$ | -13.63 million BoP, current US$ | 67.18 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 64.39 million BoP, current US$ | -15.31 million BoP, current US$ | 152.72 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.64 million BoP, current US$ | -60.19 million BoP, current US$ | 121.03 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.82 million BoP, current US$ | -57.65 million BoP, current US$ | 135.66 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.62 million BoP, current US$ | 13.35 million BoP, current US$ | 135.53 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
- 157 Solomon Islands 67.27 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 158 Brunei 61.81 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 159 Palau 57.12 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 161 Dominica 49.48 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 162 Central African Republic 43.82 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 163 Nepal 43.55 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Eswatini
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -56.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 3.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -58.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 2.4 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -25.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0191 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 78.44 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -29.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini was 53.07 million 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 152.72 million BoP, current US$ in 1998.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was -60.19 million BoP, current US$ in 2003.
- How does Eswatini rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Eswatini ranks 160th out of 204 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.