Portfolio investment, Debt securities in South Africa
South Africa: Portfolio investment, Debt securities was 17.72 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
17.72 billion US dollar
Change on year
up 16.1%
World rank
55th
of 161 countries
All-time high
17.72 billion US dollar
in 2025
All-time low
28.10 million US dollar
in 1972
Years of data
70
1956–2025
Portfolio investment, Debt securities in South Africa, 1956–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 17.72 billion US dollar for portfolio investment, debt securities in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
The figure is up 16.1% on the previous year and up 110.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, portfolio investment, debt securities in South Africa peaked at 17.72 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 28.10 million US dollar, in 1972.
That places South Africa 55th out of 161 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Portfolio investment, Debt securities in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 40.33 million US dollar | — |
| 1957 | 39.23 million US dollar | -2.7% |
| 1958 | 30.79 million US dollar | -21.5% |
| 1959 | 36.35 million US dollar | +18.1% |
| 1960 | 36.40 million US dollar | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 33.65 million US dollar | -7.6% |
| 1962 | 36.38 million US dollar | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 43.28 million US dollar | +19.0% |
| 1964 | 39.01 million US dollar | -9.9% |
| 1965 | 39.19 million US dollar | +0.5% |
| 1966 | 33.44 million US dollar | -14.7% |
| 1967 | 29.44 million US dollar | -12.0% |
| 1968 | 29.18 million US dollar | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 30.77 million US dollar | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 32.07 million US dollar | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 28.75 million US dollar | -10.4% |
| 1972 | 28.10 million US dollar | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 38.74 million US dollar | +37.9% |
| 1974 | 49.30 million US dollar | +27.3% |
| 1975 | 50.60 million US dollar | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 57.50 million US dollar | +13.6% |
| 1977 | 70.15 million US dollar | +22.0% |
| 1978 | 79.35 million US dollar | +13.1% |
| 1979 | 107.64 million US dollar | +35.6% |
| 1980 | 123.43 million US dollar | +14.7% |
| 1981 | 93.04 million US dollar | -24.6% |
| 1982 | 86.41 million US dollar | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 85.93 million US dollar | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 105.29 million US dollar | +22.5% |
| 1985 | 71.94 million US dollar | -31.7% |
| 1986 | 73.74 million US dollar | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 72.02 million US dollar | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 48.37 million US dollar | -32.8% |
| 1989 | 34.31 million US dollar | -29.1% |
| 1990 | 33.95 million US dollar | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 46.66 million US dollar | +37.4% |
| 1992 | 38.98 million US dollar | -16.5% |
| 1993 | 35.91 million US dollar | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 37.82 million US dollar | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 63.06 million US dollar | +66.7% |
| 1996 | 378.22 million US dollar | +499.8% |
| 1997 | 1.17 billion US dollar | +209.7% |
| 1998 | 2.41 billion US dollar | +105.4% |
| 1999 | 3.66 billion US dollar | +52.1% |
| 2000 | 3.76 billion US dollar | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.84 billion US dollar | -51.0% |
| 2002 | 2.60 billion US dollar | +41.1% |
| 2003 | 2.13 billion US dollar | -18.0% |
| 2004 | 3.32 billion US dollar | +55.8% |
| 2005 | 3.93 billion US dollar | +18.4% |
| 2006 | 4.56 billion US dollar | +15.9% |
| 2007 | 6.04 billion US dollar | +32.5% |
| 2008 | 5.48 billion US dollar | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 5.66 billion US dollar | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 7.78 billion US dollar | +37.3% |
| 2011 | 11.43 billion US dollar | +47.0% |
| 2012 | 13.25 billion US dollar | +15.9% |
| 2013 | 11.68 billion US dollar | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 9.06 billion US dollar | -22.4% |
| 2015 | 8.42 billion US dollar | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 8.10 billion US dollar | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 8.57 billion US dollar | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 9.56 billion US dollar | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 10.62 billion US dollar | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 14.92 billion US dollar | +40.5% |
| 2021 | 15.27 billion US dollar | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 12.23 billion US dollar | -19.9% |
| 2023 | 12.76 billion US dollar | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 15.26 billion US dollar | +19.7% |
| 2025 | 17.72 billion US dollar | +16.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 36.68 million US dollar | 30.79 million US dollar | 40.33 million US dollar | 4 |
| 1960s | 35.07 million US dollar | 29.18 million US dollar | 43.28 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.22 million US dollar | 28.10 million US dollar | 107.64 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 79.45 million US dollar | 34.31 million US dollar | 123.43 million US dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 786.84 million US dollar | 33.95 million US dollar | 3.66 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.93 billion US dollar | 1.84 billion US dollar | 6.04 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.85 billion US dollar | 7.78 billion US dollar | 13.25 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.69 billion US dollar | 12.23 billion US dollar | 17.72 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 portfolio investment, debt securities in South Africa?
- Portfolio investment, debt securities in South Africa was 17.72 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest portfolio investment, debt securities recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.72 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest portfolio investment, debt securities recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.10 million US dollar in 1972.
- How does South Africa rank for portfolio investment, debt securities?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is portfolio investment, debt securities rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 110.5%. 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 Portfolio investment, Debt securities (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.