Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in South Africa
South Africa: Total FDI inflows — Value US$ was 5,233 million USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million USD.
Analysis
In 2023, total fdi inflows — value us$ in South Africa stood at 5,233 million USD.
That represents a change of down 43.3% on the previous year and down 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fdi inflows — value us$ in South Africa peaked at 40,215 million USD in 2021 and was at its lowest, -78.46 million USD, in 1990.
That places South Africa 45th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in South Africa, year by year
| Year | million USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -78.46 million USD | — |
| 1991 | 248.07 million USD | -416.2% |
| 1992 | 3.51 million USD | -98.6% |
| 1993 | 10.1 million USD | +188.0% |
| 1994 | 379.63 million USD | +3659.2% |
| 1995 | 1,241 million USD | +227.0% |
| 1996 | 817.57 million USD | -34.1% |
| 1997 | 3,817 million USD | +366.8% |
| 1998 | 561.48 million USD | -85.3% |
| 1999 | 1,503 million USD | +167.7% |
| 2000 | 887.34 million USD | -41.0% |
| 2001 | 6,784 million USD | +664.5% |
| 2002 | 1,569 million USD | -76.9% |
| 2003 | 733.67 million USD | -53.2% |
| 2004 | 798.03 million USD | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 6,647 million USD | +732.9% |
| 2006 | 311.45 million USD | -95.3% |
| 2007 | 6,538 million USD | +1999.2% |
| 2008 | 9,209 million USD | +40.9% |
| 2009 | 7,502 million USD | -18.5% |
| 2010 | 3,636 million USD | -51.5% |
| 2011 | 4,243 million USD | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 4,559 million USD | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 8,300 million USD | +82.1% |
| 2014 | 5,771 million USD | -30.5% |
| 2015 | 1,729 million USD | -70.0% |
| 2016 | 2,235 million USD | +29.2% |
| 2017 | 2,008 million USD | -10.1% |
| 2018 | 5,450 million USD | +171.3% |
| 2019 | 5,125 million USD | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 3,062 million USD | -40.2% |
| 2021 | 40,215 million USD | +1213.2% |
| 2022 | 9,231 million USD | -77.0% |
| 2023 | 5,233 million USD | -43.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 850.3 million USD | -78.46 million USD | 3,817 million USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,098 million USD | 311.45 million USD | 9,209 million USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,306 million USD | 1,729 million USD | 8,300 million USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,435 million USD | 3,062 million USD | 40,215 million USD | 4 |
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)
- GNI (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per unit of GDP 17.55 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per capita 115,762 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$), annual -3.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current LCU), annual -1.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), annual growth rate 7.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1002 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per capita 660.86 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fdi inflows — value us$ in South Africa?
- Total fdi inflows — value us$ in South Africa was 5,233 million USD in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest total fdi inflows — value us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 40,215 million USD in 2021.
- What is the lowest total fdi inflows — value us$ recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -78.46 million USD in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for total fdi inflows — value us$?
- South Africa ranks 45th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total fdi inflows — value us$ rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Total FDI inflows — Value US$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
FDI is an investment which aims to acquire a lasting management influence (10 percent or more of the voting stock) in an enterprise operating in a foreign economy. FDI may be undertaken by individuals, as well as business entities. The foreign direct investor most often is aiming to gain access to natural resources, to markets, to labour supply, to technology, to ensure security of supplies or to control the quality of a certain product. FDI can be decomposed into two types of investments: mergers and acquisitions (MA) and greenfield investments. The latter type results in the creation of new entities and the setting up of offices, buildings, plants or factories from scratch in a foreign economy. FDI is the sum of equity capital, reinvested earnings and other FDI capital. Equity capital comprises equity in branches, all shares in subsidiaries and associates (except non-participating, preferred shares that are treated as debt securities and are included under other FDI capital) and other contributions such as the provision of machinery. Reinvested earnings consist of the direct investor's share (in proportion to equity participation) of earnings not distributed by the direct investment enterprise. Other FDI capital (loans) includes the borrowing and lending of funds, including debt securities and trade credits between direct investors and direct investment enterprises. FDI inflows and outflows are important for tracking the direct investment conditions each year. Outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions from the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises resident abroad. Whereas, Inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions received by the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises of a specific industry resident in the reporting economy.