Net (assets less liabilities), Net foreign assets (OFCS) in South Africa
South Africa: Net (assets less liabilities), Net foreign assets (OFCS) was 4.08 trillion in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net (assets less liabilities), Net foreign assets (OFCS) in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2024, net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) in South Africa stood at 4.08 trillion. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 14.4% on the previous year and up 378.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) in South Africa peaked at 4.08 trillion in 2024 and was at its lowest, 148.24 billion, in 2003.
South Africa ranks 9th of 66 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net (assets less liabilities), Net foreign assets (OFCS) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 215.01 billion | — |
| 2002 | 169.01 billion | -21.4% |
| 2003 | 148.24 billion | -12.3% |
| 2004 | 155.07 billion | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 192.14 billion | +23.9% |
| 2006 | 210.17 billion | +9.4% |
| 2007 | 171.94 billion | -18.2% |
| 2008 | 197.49 billion | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 321.91 billion | +63.0% |
| 2010 | 341.68 billion | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 447.09 billion | +30.9% |
| 2012 | 555.72 billion | +24.3% |
| 2013 | 782.88 billion | +40.9% |
| 2014 | 853.78 billion | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 1.03 trillion | +20.6% |
| 2016 | 987.62 billion | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 1.09 trillion | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 1.06 trillion | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 1.24 trillion | +17.3% |
| 2020 | 1.68 trillion | +35.4% |
| 2021 | 3.05 trillion | +81.3% |
| 2022 | 3.00 trillion | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 3.57 trillion | +19.1% |
| 2024 | 4.08 trillion | +14.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 197.89 billion | 148.24 billion | 321.91 billion | 9 |
| 2010s | 839.43 billion | 341.68 billion | 1.24 trillion | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.08 trillion | 1.68 trillion | 4.08 trillion | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 6 Kazakhstan 8.60 trillion compare
- 7 Russian Federation 5.57 trillion compare
- 8 Argentina 4.18 trillion compare
- 10 Thailand 2.82 trillion compare
- 11 Costa Rica 2.49 trillion compare
- 12 Norway 1.32 trillion compare
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 net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) in South Africa?
- Net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) in South Africa was 4.08 trillion in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.08 trillion in 2024.
- What is the lowest net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 148.24 billion in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs)?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 66 countries with data for 2024.
- Is net (assets less liabilities), net foreign assets (ofcs) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 378.3%. 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 Net (assets less liabilities), Net foreign assets (OFCS) (Domestic currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Monetary and Financial Statistics (MFS), Other Financial Corporations (OFCs) dataset presents the balance sheet of OFCs highlighting their financial linkages with other economic sectors and nonresidents.