Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Africa
South Africa: Direct investment, Debt instruments was 11.37 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
11.37 billion US dollar
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
45th
of 149 countries
All-time high
15.82 billion US dollar
in 2017
All-time low
122.38 million US dollar
in 1956
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for direct investment, debt instruments in South Africa is 11.37 billion US dollar, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment, debt instruments in South Africa peaked at 15.82 billion US dollar in 2017 and was at its lowest, 122.38 million US dollar, in 1956.
South Africa ranks 45th of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment, Debt instruments in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 122.38 million US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 141.53 million US dollar | +15.6% |
| 1958 | 159.53 million US dollar | +12.7% |
| 1959 | 155.19 million US dollar | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 147.00 million US dollar | -5.3% |
| 1961 | 168.23 million US dollar | +14.4% |
| 1962 | 177.72 million US dollar | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 170.34 million US dollar | -4.2% |
| 1964 | 181.11 million US dollar | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 180.57 million US dollar | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 172.76 million US dollar | -4.3% |
| 1967 | 186.43 million US dollar | +7.9% |
| 1968 | 193.18 million US dollar | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 180.44 million US dollar | -6.6% |
| 1970 | 192.41 million US dollar | +6.6% |
| 1971 | 209.08 million US dollar | +8.7% |
| 1972 | 235.03 million US dollar | +12.4% |
| 1973 | 572.14 million US dollar | +143.4% |
| 1974 | 681.52 million US dollar | +19.1% |
| 1975 | 616.40 million US dollar | -9.6% |
| 1976 | 680.80 million US dollar | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 564.65 million US dollar | -17.1% |
| 1978 | 734.85 million US dollar | +30.1% |
| 1979 | 823.60 million US dollar | +12.1% |
| 1980 | 1.46 billion US dollar | +77.1% |
| 1981 | 1.34 billion US dollar | -7.8% |
| 1982 | 1.04 billion US dollar | -22.7% |
| 1983 | 879.78 million US dollar | -15.4% |
| 1984 | 711.37 million US dollar | -19.1% |
| 1985 | 679.95 million US dollar | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 733.72 million US dollar | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 733.70 million US dollar | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 515.20 million US dollar | -29.8% |
| 1989 | 521.29 million US dollar | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 503.02 million US dollar | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 506.37 million US dollar | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 1.06 billion US dollar | +110.0% |
| 1993 | 1.31 billion US dollar | +23.5% |
| 1994 | 2.08 billion US dollar | +58.6% |
| 1995 | 2.20 billion US dollar | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 1.45 billion US dollar | -34.3% |
| 1997 | 1.11 billion US dollar | -23.1% |
| 1998 | 566.89 million US dollar | -49.1% |
| 1999 | 1.06 billion US dollar | +86.6% |
| 2000 | 1.25 billion US dollar | +17.9% |
| 2001 | 1.26 billion US dollar | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 1.95 billion US dollar | +54.7% |
| 2003 | 2.01 billion US dollar | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 2.78 billion US dollar | +37.9% |
| 2005 | 2.73 billion US dollar | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 6.54 billion US dollar | +140.1% |
| 2007 | 6.60 billion US dollar | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 4.20 billion US dollar | -36.4% |
| 2009 | 5.71 billion US dollar | +35.9% |
| 2010 | 7.00 billion US dollar | +22.7% |
| 2011 | 8.47 billion US dollar | +20.9% |
| 2012 | 7.60 billion US dollar | -10.3% |
| 2013 | 7.25 billion US dollar | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 7.18 billion US dollar | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 7.17 billion US dollar | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 11.30 billion US dollar | +57.5% |
| 2017 | 15.82 billion US dollar | +40.0% |
| 2018 | 15.21 billion US dollar | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 12.42 billion US dollar | -18.3% |
| 2020 | 11.71 billion US dollar | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 11.33 billion US dollar | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 9.49 billion US dollar | -16.3% |
| 2023 | 9.28 billion US dollar | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 11.52 billion US dollar | +24.2% |
| 2025 | 11.37 billion US dollar | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 144.66 million US dollar | 122.38 million US dollar | 159.53 million US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 175.78 million US dollar | 147.00 million US dollar | 193.18 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 531.05 million US dollar | 192.41 million US dollar | 823.60 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 861.74 million US dollar | 515.20 million US dollar | 1.46 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.19 billion US dollar | 503.02 million US dollar | 2.20 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.50 billion US dollar | 1.25 billion US dollar | 6.60 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.94 billion US dollar | 7.00 billion US dollar | 15.82 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.78 billion US dollar | 9.28 billion US dollar | 11.71 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More external debt data for South Africa
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -15.41 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -0.2407 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 444.22 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 2.3% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD 910.75 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 6.5% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD (NFL, current US$), annual growth rate -109.7 % change on previous year (2023)
- Other investment, Debt instruments 53.54 billion US dollar (2025)
- Use of IMF credit 7.63 billion DOD, current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct investment, debt instruments in South Africa?
- Direct investment, debt instruments in South Africa was 11.37 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.82 billion US dollar in 2017.
- What is the lowest direct investment, debt instruments recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 122.38 million US dollar in 1956.
- How does South Africa rank for direct investment, debt instruments?
- South Africa ranks 45th out of 149 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct investment, debt instruments rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Direct investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.