Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual was -217.34 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -217.34 % change on previous year for foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual in 2025.
The figure is down 496.9% on the previous year and down 667.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa peaked at 839.28 % change on previous year in 1992 and was at its lowest, -217.63 % change on previous year, in 2023.
That places South Africa 176th out of 180 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 74.77 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | -33.54 % change on previous year | -144.9% |
| 1973 | 165.85 % change on previous year | -594.5% |
| 1974 | 121.28 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 1975 | 9.55 % change on previous year | -92.1% |
| 1976 | -74.4 % change on previous year | -878.9% |
| 1977 | 110.71 % change on previous year | -248.8% |
| 1978 | 250.85 % change on previous year | +126.6% |
| 1979 | -95.51 % change on previous year | -138.1% |
| 1981 | -14.72 % change on previous year | -84.6% |
| 1982 | -100.85 % change on previous year | +585.4% |
| 1984 | 23.62 % change on previous year | -123.4% |
| 1985 | -75.48 % change on previous year | -419.5% |
| 1986 | 49.88 % change on previous year | -166.1% |
| 1987 | 57.97 % change on previous year | +16.2% |
| 1988 | -42.42 % change on previous year | -173.2% |
| 1989 | 151.99 % change on previous year | -458.3% |
| 1990 | -82.81 % change on previous year | -154.5% |
| 1991 | 637.96 % change on previous year | -870.4% |
| 1992 | 839.28 % change on previous year | +31.6% |
| 1993 | -84.95 % change on previous year | -110.1% |
| 1994 | 331.81 % change on previous year | -490.6% |
| 1995 | 97.85 % change on previous year | -70.5% |
| 1996 | -57.98 % change on previous year | -159.3% |
| 1997 | 121.72 % change on previous year | -309.9% |
| 1998 | -29.68 % change on previous year | -124.4% |
| 1999 | -3.05 % change on previous year | -89.7% |
| 2000 | -82.5 % change on previous year | +2605.4% |
| 2002 | 88.56 % change on previous year | -207.3% |
| 2003 | 237.36 % change on previous year | +168.0% |
| 2004 | 136.26 % change on previous year | -42.6% |
| 2005 | -30.34 % change on previous year | -122.3% |
| 2006 | 551.94 % change on previous year | -1919.4% |
| 2007 | -49.7 % change on previous year | -109.0% |
| 2008 | -171.08 % change on previous year | +244.2% |
| 2009 | 161.87 % change on previous year | -194.6% |
| 2010 | -112.3 % change on previous year | -169.4% |
| 2011 | 4.89 % change on previous year | -104.4% |
| 2013 | 124.91 % change on previous year | +2451.9% |
| 2014 | 17.98 % change on previous year | -85.6% |
| 2015 | -28.3 % change on previous year | -257.4% |
| 2016 | -18.58 % change on previous year | -34.4% |
| 2017 | 65.89 % change on previous year | -454.7% |
| 2018 | -45.94 % change on previous year | -169.7% |
| 2019 | -22 % change on previous year | -52.1% |
| 2020 | -161.63 % change on previous year | +634.6% |
| 2021 | 105.25 % change on previous year | -165.1% |
| 2023 | -217.63 % change on previous year | -306.8% |
| 2024 | 54.75 % change on previous year | -125.2% |
| 2025 | -217.34 % change on previous year | -496.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -217.34 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.87 % change on previous year. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -217.34 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.66 % change on previous year. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -2605.4% | -3.05 % change on previous year | -82.5 % change on previous year |
| 2013 | +2451.9% | 4.89 % change on previous year | 124.91 % change on previous year |
| 2006 | +1919.4% | -30.34 % change on previous year | 551.94 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 58.84 % change on previous year | -95.51 % change on previous year | 250.85 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.25 % change on previous year | -100.85 % change on previous year | 151.99 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 1990s | 177.02 % change on previous year | -84.95 % change on previous year | 839.28 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 93.59 % change on previous year | -171.08 % change on previous year | 551.94 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2010s | -1.49 % change on previous year | -112.3 % change on previous year | 124.91 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2020s | -87.32 % change on previous year | -217.63 % change on previous year | 105.25 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 173 Austria -143.99 % change on previous year compare
- 174 Trinidad and Tobago -174.08 % change on previous year compare
- 175 Dominica -200 % change on previous year compare
- 177 Cayman Islands -258.64 % change on previous year compare
- 178 Iceland -384.16 % change on previous year compare
- 179 Belgium -509.71 % change on previous year compare
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), 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$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual in South Africa was -217.34 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 839.28 % change on previous year in 1992.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -217.63 % change on previous year in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual?
- South Africa ranks 176th out of 180 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows (bop, current us$), annual rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 667.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 50 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 outflows (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.