Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was -2.94 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows 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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Africa Eastern and Southern stood at -2.94 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of down 1,464.1% on the previous year and down 151.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 9.94 billion BoP, current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, -3.14 billion BoP, current US$, in 2001.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16.80 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 29.36 million BoP, current US$ | +74.8% |
| 1972 | 19.51 million BoP, current US$ | -33.5% |
| 1973 | 51.88 million BoP, current US$ | +165.9% |
| 1974 | 114.79 million BoP, current US$ | +121.3% |
| 1975 | 127.12 million BoP, current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1976 | 38.19 million BoP, current US$ | -70.0% |
| 1977 | 72.25 million BoP, current US$ | +89.2% |
| 1978 | 242.89 million BoP, current US$ | +236.2% |
| 1979 | 17.17 million BoP, current US$ | -92.9% |
| 1980 | 771.20 million BoP, current US$ | +4391.1% |
| 1981 | 656.30 million BoP, current US$ | -14.9% |
| 1982 | 8.77 million BoP, current US$ | -98.7% |
| 1983 | 179.46 million BoP, current US$ | +1945.5% |
| 1984 | 208.81 million BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1985 | 66.78 million BoP, current US$ | -68.0% |
| 1986 | 86.20 million BoP, current US$ | +29.1% |
| 1987 | 195.23 million BoP, current US$ | +126.5% |
| 1988 | 55.01 million BoP, current US$ | -71.8% |
| 1989 | 182.64 million BoP, current US$ | +232.0% |
| 1990 | 66.25 million BoP, current US$ | -63.7% |
| 1991 | 269.95 million BoP, current US$ | +307.5% |
| 1992 | 2.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +652.5% |
| 1993 | 389.57 million BoP, current US$ | -80.8% |
| 1994 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +246.7% |
| 1995 | 2.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +92.7% |
| 1996 | 1.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -58.0% |
| 1997 | 2.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +118.6% |
| 1998 | 1.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.2% |
| 1999 | 1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 296.66 million BoP, current US$ | -81.4% |
| 2001 | -3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -1157.6% |
| 2002 | -236.58 million BoP, current US$ | -92.5% |
| 2003 | 810.50 million BoP, current US$ | -442.6% |
| 2004 | 2.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +153.4% |
| 2005 | 1.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.0% |
| 2006 | 6.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +409.0% |
| 2007 | 4.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.5% |
| 2008 | 642.71 million BoP, current US$ | -84.4% |
| 2009 | 1.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +192.3% |
| 2010 | 2.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.7% |
| 2011 | 2.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.8% |
| 2012 | 4.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.3% |
| 2013 | 9.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +117.0% |
| 2014 | 8.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 5.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.1% |
| 2016 | 5.60 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 9.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +77.4% |
| 2018 | 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.3% |
| 2019 | 1.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.2% |
| 2020 | -1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -166.4% |
| 2021 | 189.86 million BoP, current US$ | -115.8% |
| 2022 | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +2031.5% |
| 2023 | -1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -146.8% |
| 2024 | 215.32 million BoP, current US$ | -111.4% |
| 2025 | -2.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -1464.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Africa Eastern and Southern changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +4391.1% | 17.17 million BoP, current US$ | 771.20 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2022 | +2031.5% | 189.86 million BoP, current US$ | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1983 | +1945.5% | 8.77 million BoP, current US$ | 179.46 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2025 | -1464.1% | 215.32 million BoP, current US$ | -2.94 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2001 | -1157.6% | 296.66 million BoP, current US$ | -3.14 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 73.00 million BoP, current US$ | 16.80 million BoP, current US$ | 242.89 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 241.04 million BoP, current US$ | 8.77 million BoP, current US$ | 771.20 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 66.25 million BoP, current US$ | 2.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -263.58 million BoP, current US$ | -2.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 43 Guatemala 2.34 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 44 Slovak Republic 1.86 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 45 Philippines 1.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 46 Cyprus 1.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 47 Bulgaria 1.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 48 Peru 1.42 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 49 Uruguay 1.41 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 255.93 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1313 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 226.14 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6726 current US$ per US$ of GDP (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)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1486 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Africa Eastern and Southern was -2.94 billion BoP, current US$ 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 outflows recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 9.94 billion BoP, current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2001.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 151.1%. 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 outflows (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 an 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. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.