Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South Africa

South Africa: Total FDI outflows — Value US$ was -2,811 million USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
-2,811 million USD
Change on year
down 230.1%
World rank
165th
of 168 countries
All-time high
7,669 million USD
in 2014
All-time low
-3,178 million USD
in 2001
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South Africa, 1990–2023

-2.5k02.5k5.0k7.5k1990200620231990: 27.4 million USD1991: 207.9 million USD1992: 1.9k million USD1993: 298.1 million USD1994: 1.2k million USD1995: 2.5k million USD1996: 1.0k million USD1997: 2.4k million USD1998: 1.8k million USD1999: 1.6k million USD2000: 270.6 million USD2001: -3.2k million USD2002: -398 million USD2003: 565.1 million USD2004: 1.4k million USD2005: 930.3 million USD2006: 6.1k million USD2007: 3.0k million USD2008: -3.1k million USD2009: 1.2k million USD2010: -75.7 million USD2011: -256.8 million USD2012: 3.0k million USD2013: 6.6k million USD2014: 7.7k million USD2015: 5.7k million USD2016: 4.5k million USD2017: 7.4k million USD2018: 4.1k million USD2019: 3.1k million USD2020: -2.0k million USD2021: 138.9 million USD2022: 2.2k million USD2023: -2.8k million USD

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million USD.

Analysis

In 2023, total fdi outflows — value us$ in South Africa stood at -2,811 million USD.

That represents a change of down 230.1% on the previous year and down 142.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total fdi outflows — value us$ in South Africa peaked at 7,669 million USD in 2014 and was at its lowest, -3,178 million USD, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 165th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year million USD Change
1990 27.44 million USD
1991 207.87 million USD +657.5%
1992 1,937 million USD +831.8%
1993 298.06 million USD -84.6%
1994 1,236 million USD +314.6%
1995 2,498 million USD +102.1%
1996 1,043 million USD -58.2%
1997 2,350 million USD +125.3%
1998 1,780 million USD -24.3%
1999 1,581 million USD -11.2%
2000 270.61 million USD -82.9%
2001 -3,178 million USD -1274.3%
2002 -397.98 million USD -87.5%
2003 565.12 million USD -242.0%
2004 1,350 million USD +138.9%
2005 930.29 million USD -31.1%
2006 6,063 million USD +551.8%
2007 2,966 million USD -51.1%
2008 -3,134 million USD -205.7%
2009 1,151 million USD -136.7%
2010 -75.67 million USD -106.6%
2011 -256.85 million USD +239.4%
2012 2,988 million USD -1263.2%
2013 6,649 million USD +122.6%
2014 7,669 million USD +15.3%
2015 5,744 million USD -25.1%
2016 4,474 million USD -22.1%
2017 7,371 million USD +64.7%
2018 4,076 million USD -44.7%
2019 3,147 million USD -22.8%
2020 -1,951 million USD -162.0%
2021 138.92 million USD -107.1%
2022 2,162 million USD +1456.0%
2023 -2,811 million USD -230.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1,296 million USD 27.44 million USD 2,498 million USD 10
2000s 658.72 million USD -3,178 million USD 6,063 million USD 10
2010s 4,179 million USD -256.85 million USD 7,669 million USD 10
2020s -615.42 million USD -2,811 million USD 2,162 million USD 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 162 New Zealand -807.52 million USD compare
  2. 163 Uruguay -812.19 million USD compare
  3. 164 Cyprus -1,833 million USD compare
  4. 166 Ireland -6,595 million USD compare
  5. 167 Luxembourg -23,679 million USD compare
  6. 168 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) -142,185 million USD compare

See the full ranking of 214 places →

More economy & growth data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is total fdi outflows — value us$ in South Africa?
Total fdi outflows — value us$ in South Africa was -2,811 million USD in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 7,669 million USD in 2014.
What is the lowest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -3,178 million USD in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for total fdi outflows — value us$?
South Africa ranks 165th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
Is total fdi outflows — value us$ rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 142.3%. 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 outflows — Value US$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/total-fdi-outflows-value-us/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Total FDI outflows — Value US$
Unit
million USD
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
214 places, 6,077 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

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.