Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Africa
South Africa: Net primary income (Net income from abroad) was -146.54 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-146.54 billion current LCU
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
151st
of 209 countries
All-time high
-231.00 million current LCU
in 1962
All-time low
-149.78 billion current LCU
in 2018
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -146.54 billion current LCU for net primary income (net income from abroad) in 2025.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Africa peaked at -231.00 million current LCU in 1962 and was at its lowest, -149.78 billion current LCU, in 2018.
That places South Africa 151st out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -236.00 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | -266.00 million current LCU | +12.7% |
| 1962 | -231.00 million current LCU | -13.2% |
| 1963 | -231.00 million current LCU | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -268.00 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1965 | -297.00 million current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1966 | -310.00 million current LCU | +4.4% |
| 1967 | -321.00 million current LCU | +3.5% |
| 1968 | -369.00 million current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1969 | -428.00 million current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1970 | -474.00 million current LCU | +10.7% |
| 1971 | -469.00 million current LCU | -1.1% |
| 1972 | -540.00 million current LCU | +15.1% |
| 1973 | -642.00 million current LCU | +18.9% |
| 1974 | -849.00 million current LCU | +32.2% |
| 1975 | -1.14 billion current LCU | +34.0% |
| 1976 | -1.31 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 1977 | -1.51 billion current LCU | +15.7% |
| 1978 | -1.70 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 1979 | -1.97 billion current LCU | +16.0% |
| 1980 | -2.59 billion current LCU | +31.5% |
| 1981 | -3.14 billion current LCU | +21.3% |
| 1982 | -3.40 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 1983 | -3.74 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 1984 | -4.42 billion current LCU | +18.1% |
| 1985 | -5.73 billion current LCU | +29.7% |
| 1986 | -6.73 billion current LCU | +17.5% |
| 1987 | -6.35 billion current LCU | -5.7% |
| 1988 | -7.21 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 1989 | -8.84 billion current LCU | +22.5% |
| 1990 | -11.04 billion current LCU | +24.9% |
| 1991 | -8.86 billion current LCU | -19.8% |
| 1992 | -8.40 billion current LCU | -5.2% |
| 1993 | -8.70 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1994 | -8.60 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 1995 | -10.43 billion current LCU | +21.3% |
| 1996 | -13.38 billion current LCU | +28.3% |
| 1997 | -14.84 billion current LCU | +10.9% |
| 1998 | -17.49 billion current LCU | +17.8% |
| 1999 | -19.60 billion current LCU | +12.1% |
| 2000 | -22.02 billion current LCU | +12.4% |
| 2001 | -32.18 billion current LCU | +46.1% |
| 2002 | -29.40 billion current LCU | -8.6% |
| 2003 | -34.87 billion current LCU | +18.6% |
| 2004 | -27.85 billion current LCU | -20.1% |
| 2005 | -31.43 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 2006 | -34.77 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2007 | -68.82 billion current LCU | +97.9% |
| 2008 | -73.88 billion current LCU | +7.3% |
| 2009 | -56.16 billion current LCU | -24.0% |
| 2010 | -59.53 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2011 | -77.84 billion current LCU | +30.8% |
| 2012 | -89.36 billion current LCU | +14.8% |
| 2013 | -93.52 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2014 | -102.52 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
| 2015 | -101.28 billion current LCU | -1.2% |
| 2016 | -121.96 billion current LCU | +20.4% |
| 2017 | -140.79 billion current LCU | +15.4% |
| 2018 | -149.78 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2019 | -140.41 billion current LCU | -6.3% |
| 2020 | -92.60 billion current LCU | -34.1% |
| 2021 | -118.57 billion current LCU | +28.1% |
| 2022 | -138.44 billion current LCU | +16.8% |
| 2023 | -94.78 billion current LCU | -31.5% |
| 2024 | -144.56 billion current LCU | +52.5% |
| 2025 | -146.54 billion current LCU | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -295.70 million current LCU | -428.00 million current LCU | -231.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.06 billion current LCU | -1.97 billion current LCU | -469.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -5.21 billion current LCU | -8.84 billion current LCU | -2.59 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -12.13 billion current LCU | -19.60 billion current LCU | -8.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -41.14 billion current LCU | -73.88 billion current LCU | -22.02 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -107.70 billion current LCU | -149.78 billion current LCU | -59.53 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -122.58 billion current LCU | -146.54 billion current LCU | -92.60 billion current LCU | 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.7139 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1196 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 789.38 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.295 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 1,946 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Africa?
- Net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Africa was -146.54 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest net primary income (net income from abroad) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was -231.00 million current LCU in 1962.
- What is the lowest net primary income (net income from abroad) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -149.78 billion current LCU in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for net primary income (net income from abroad)?
- South Africa ranks 151st out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net primary income (net income from abroad) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net primary income includes the net labor income and net property and entrepreneurial income components of the SNA. Labor income covers compensation of employees paid to nonresident workers. Property and entrepreneurial income covers investment income from the ownership of foreign financial claims (interest, dividends, rent, etc.) and nonfinancial property income (patents, copyrights, etc.). This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.