Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa is -4.01 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 217.3% on the previous year and down 172.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa peaked at 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, -4.01 billion BoP, current US$, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 188th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in South Africa, 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 | 125.76 million BoP, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 32.20 million BoP, current US$ | -74.4% |
| 1977 | 67.85 million BoP, current US$ | +110.7% |
| 1978 | 238.05 million BoP, current US$ | +250.8% |
| 1979 | 10.69 million BoP, current US$ | -95.5% |
| 1980 | 755.00 million BoP, current US$ | +6963.7% |
| 1981 | 643.90 million BoP, current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1982 | -5.50 million BoP, current US$ | -100.9% |
| 1983 | 156.20 million BoP, current US$ | -2940.0% |
| 1984 | 193.10 million BoP, current US$ | +23.6% |
| 1985 | 47.36 million BoP, current US$ | -75.5% |
| 1986 | 70.98 million BoP, current US$ | +49.9% |
| 1987 | 112.12 million BoP, current US$ | +58.0% |
| 1988 | 64.57 million BoP, current US$ | -42.4% |
| 1989 | 162.70 million BoP, current US$ | +152.0% |
| 1990 | 27.97 million BoP, current US$ | -82.8% |
| 1991 | 206.44 million BoP, current US$ | +638.0% |
| 1992 | 1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +839.3% |
| 1993 | 291.91 million BoP, current US$ | -84.9% |
| 1994 | 1.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +331.8% |
| 1995 | 2.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +97.8% |
| 1996 | 1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -58.0% |
| 1997 | 2.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.7% |
| 1998 | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.7% |
| 1999 | 1.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 277.18 million BoP, current US$ | -82.5% |
| 2001 | -3.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -1368.0% |
| 2002 | -402.26 million BoP, current US$ | -88.6% |
| 2003 | 552.54 million BoP, current US$ | -237.4% |
| 2004 | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +136.3% |
| 2005 | 909.41 million BoP, current US$ | -30.3% |
| 2006 | 5.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +551.9% |
| 2007 | 2.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -49.7% |
| 2008 | -2.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -171.1% |
| 2009 | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -161.9% |
| 2010 | -161.29 million BoP, current US$ | -112.3% |
| 2011 | -153.40 million BoP, current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 2.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -1989.8% |
| 2013 | 6.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +124.9% |
| 2014 | 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2015 | 5.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.3% |
| 2016 | 4.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2017 | 7.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +65.9% |
| 2018 | 4.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -45.9% |
| 2019 | 3.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.0% |
| 2020 | -1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -161.6% |
| 2021 | 101.58 million BoP, current US$ | -105.2% |
| 2022 | 2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +2237.8% |
| 2023 | -2.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -217.6% |
| 2024 | -1.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.8% |
| 2025 | -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +217.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.60 million BoP, current US$. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.73 million BoP, current US$. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +6963.7% | 10.69 million BoP, current US$ | 755.00 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1983 | +2940.0% | -5.50 million BoP, current US$ | 156.20 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2022 | +2237.8% | 101.58 million BoP, current US$ | 2.37 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2012 | +1989.8% | -153.40 million BoP, current US$ | 2.90 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2001 | -1368.0% | 277.18 million BoP, current US$ | -3.51 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70.69 million BoP, current US$ | 10.69 million BoP, current US$ | 238.05 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 220.04 million BoP, current US$ | -5.50 million BoP, current US$ | 755.00 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 27.97 million BoP, current US$ | 2.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 723.02 million BoP, current US$ | -3.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -161.29 million BoP, current US$ | 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 185 Croatia -416.34 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 186 Iceland -658.51 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 187 Panama -870.79 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 189 Russia -5.46 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 190 Austria -6.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 191 Australia -6.75 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0145 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 95.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0106 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 69.91 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -28.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0077 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa was -4.01 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- South Africa ranks 188th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 172.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.