Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Africa
South Africa: Net primary income (Net income from abroad) was -8.19 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-8.19 billion current US$
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
177th
of 209 countries
All-time high
-323.40 million current US$
in 1962
All-time low
-11.32 billion current US$
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 US$.
Analysis
In 2025, net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Africa stood at -8.19 billion current US$.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net primary income (net income from abroad) in South Africa peaked at -323.40 million current US$ in 1962 and was at its lowest, -11.32 billion current US$, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 177th of 209 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -330.40 million current US$ | — |
| 1961 | -372.40 million current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1962 | -323.40 million current US$ | -13.2% |
| 1963 | -323.40 million current US$ | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -375.20 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1965 | -415.80 million current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1966 | -434.00 million current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1967 | -449.40 million current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1968 | -516.60 million current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1969 | -599.20 million current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1970 | -663.60 million current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1971 | -655.75 million current US$ | -1.2% |
| 1972 | -702.46 million current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1973 | -925.13 million current US$ | +31.7% |
| 1974 | -1.25 billion current US$ | +35.1% |
| 1975 | -1.54 billion current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1976 | -1.50 billion current US$ | -2.4% |
| 1977 | -1.74 billion current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1978 | -1.95 billion current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1979 | -2.34 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1980 | -3.33 billion current US$ | +42.1% |
| 1981 | -3.58 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1982 | -3.13 billion current US$ | -12.6% |
| 1983 | -3.36 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1984 | -2.99 billion current US$ | -10.8% |
| 1985 | -2.57 billion current US$ | -14.1% |
| 1986 | -2.95 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1987 | -3.12 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1988 | -3.17 billion current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1989 | -3.37 billion current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1990 | -4.27 billion current US$ | +26.6% |
| 1991 | -3.21 billion current US$ | -24.8% |
| 1992 | -2.95 billion current US$ | -8.2% |
| 1993 | -2.66 billion current US$ | -9.6% |
| 1994 | -2.42 billion current US$ | -9.0% |
| 1995 | -2.87 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1996 | -3.11 billion current US$ | +8.3% |
| 1997 | -3.22 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 1998 | -3.16 billion current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1999 | -3.21 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
| 2000 | -3.17 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2001 | -3.74 billion current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2002 | -2.79 billion current US$ | -25.4% |
| 2003 | -4.61 billion current US$ | +65.3% |
| 2004 | -4.31 billion current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2005 | -4.94 billion current US$ | +14.6% |
| 2006 | -5.14 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2007 | -9.77 billion current US$ | +90.2% |
| 2008 | -8.94 billion current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2009 | -6.63 billion current US$ | -25.9% |
| 2010 | -8.13 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2011 | -10.72 billion current US$ | +31.8% |
| 2012 | -10.88 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
| 2013 | -9.69 billion current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2014 | -9.45 billion current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2015 | -7.94 billion current US$ | -16.0% |
| 2016 | -8.29 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2017 | -10.58 billion current US$ | +27.6% |
| 2018 | -11.32 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2019 | -9.72 billion current US$ | -14.1% |
| 2020 | -5.63 billion current US$ | -42.1% |
| 2021 | -8.02 billion current US$ | +42.6% |
| 2022 | -8.46 billion current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2023 | -5.14 billion current US$ | -39.3% |
| 2024 | -7.89 billion current US$ | +53.5% |
| 2025 | -8.19 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -413.98 million current US$ | -599.20 million current US$ | -323.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.33 billion current US$ | -2.34 billion current US$ | -655.75 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.16 billion current US$ | -3.58 billion current US$ | -2.57 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.11 billion current US$ | -4.27 billion current US$ | -2.42 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.40 billion current US$ | -9.77 billion current US$ | -2.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -9.67 billion current US$ | -11.32 billion current US$ | -7.94 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -7.22 billion current US$ | -8.46 billion current US$ | -5.14 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 174 Greece -7.29 billion current US$ compare
- 175 Dominican Republic -7.74 billion current US$ compare
- 176 Colombia -7.93 billion current US$ compare
- 178 Israel -8.20 billion current US$ compare
- 179 United States of America -8.27 billion current US$ compare
- 180 Nigeria -9.09 billion 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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.244 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,610 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 4.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 2.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.5058 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 3,337 current LCU per person (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 -8.19 billion current US$ 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 -323.40 million current US$ in 1962.
- What is the lowest net primary income (net income from abroad) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.32 billion current US$ in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for net primary income (net income from abroad)?
- South Africa ranks 177th 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 3.1%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.