Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was -0.9% 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -0.9% for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
The figure is down 198.0% on the previous year and down 159.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa peaked at 2.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, -2.6%, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 181st of 191 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 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | 0.1% | +58.4% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | -36.5% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | +95.9% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | +77.8% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -73.3% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | +91.3% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | +208.2% |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -96.3% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | +4880.1% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -18.1% |
| 1982 | -0.0% | -100.9% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -2635.9% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +40.1% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -67.7% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | +31.7% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +20.0% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -46.5% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | +142.5% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -85.3% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +588.0% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +764.2% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -85.0% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | +314.0% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | +76.9% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -55.8% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +114.2% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -22.3% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -82.5% |
| 2001 | -2.6% | -1520.9% |
| 2002 | -0.3% | -88.0% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -190.0% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | +82.0% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -38.3% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | +519.8% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -54.1% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | -174.9% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -159.3% |
| 2010 | -0.0% | -109.7% |
| 2011 | -0.0% | -13.4% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -2093.3% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | +143.7% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | +24.1% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | -21.2% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | +40.7% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | -49.1% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | -0.6% | -171.0% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -104.2% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | +2308.8% |
| 2023 | -0.7% | -225.7% |
| 2024 | -0.3% | -57.0% |
| 2025 | -0.9% | +198.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | -2.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | -0.0% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -0.9% | 0.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 in South Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Africa was -0.9% 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 2.0% in 2014.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.6% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- South Africa ranks 181st out of 191 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 159.0%. 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 (% of GDP). 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, and is divided by GDP.