Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini

Eswatini: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.6%
Change on year
up 155.3%
World rank
121st
of 200 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 in Eswatini, 1972–2024

-5051015197219982024

Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

Eswatini recorded 1.6% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.

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 in Eswatini peaked at 13.5% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -2.8%, in 2003.

Eswatini ranks 121st of 200 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 in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Eswatini, 1972 to 2024.
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 118 Djibouti 1.6% compare
  2. 119 Guatemala 1.6% compare
  3. 120 Philippines 1.6% compare
  4. 122 Indonesia 1.5% compare
  5. 123 Bahamas 1.5% compare
  6. 124 Myanmar 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More economy & growth data for Eswatini

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini?
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini was 1.6% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Eswatini?
The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 1979.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Eswatini?
The lowest recorded value was -2.8% in 2003.
How does Eswatini rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
Eswatini ranks 121st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
Is foreign direct investment, net inflows 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 International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-percent-of-gdp/eswatini/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 11,875 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.