Direct investment, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Direct investment, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP was -0.7 in 2027. ◆ Volatile
Direct investment, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP in South Africa, 2000–2027
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2027, direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp in South Africa stood at -0.7.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.0% on the previous year and down 149.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp in South Africa peaked at 1.89 in 2006 and was at its lowest, -9.54, in 2021.
That places South Africa 6th out of 45 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct investment, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | -0.4064 | — |
| 2001 | -7.36 | +1709.9% |
| 2002 | -1.52 | -79.3% |
| 2003 | -0.0855 | -94.4% |
| 2004 | 0.2158 | -352.3% |
| 2005 | -1.98 | -1017.0% |
| 2006 | 1.89 | -195.7% |
| 2007 | -1.07 | -156.7% |
| 2008 | -3.9 | +264.1% |
| 2009 | -1.93 | -50.7% |
| 2010 | -0.8892 | -53.8% |
| 2011 | -0.982 | +10.4% |
| 2012 | -0.3617 | -63.2% |
| 2013 | -0.4121 | +13.9% |
| 2014 | 0.4985 | -221.0% |
| 2015 | 1.16 | +132.4% |
| 2016 | 0.6921 | -40.3% |
| 2017 | 1.41 | +103.3% |
| 2018 | -0.3389 | -124.1% |
| 2019 | -0.5081 | +49.9% |
| 2020 | -1.48 | +191.9% |
| 2021 | -9.54 | +543.3% |
| 2022 | -1.69 | -82.2% |
| 2023 | -1.75 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | -0.8924 | -49.1% |
| 2025 | -0.2 | -77.6% |
| 2026 | -0.5 | +150.0% |
| 2027 | -0.7 | +40.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -0.7 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -2.02, 35% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -0.7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.77, 40% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Direct investment, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -1709.9% | -0.4064 | -7.36 |
| 2005 | -1017.0% | 0.2158 | -1.98 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -1.61 | -7.36 | 1.89 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0264 | -0.982 | 1.41 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.1 | -9.54 | -0.2 | 8 |
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, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp in South Africa?
- Direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp in South Africa was -0.7 in 2027, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.89 in 2006.
- What is the lowest direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.54 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 45 countries with data for 2027.
- Is direct investment, net (assets less liabilities), percent of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 149.7%. 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, Net (assets less liabilities), Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.