South Africa FDI Outflows
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as % of GDP BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS
South Africa's fdi outflows was -0.28% in 2025, ranked 153rd globally. This represents a 12.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
South Africa's fdi outflows stood at -0.28% in 2025, a rise of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.28% by 2025. South Africa ranked 153rd globally.
South Africa's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) outflows have experienced significant fluctuations over the past 56 years, with the latest value of -0.28 ranking the country #153 globally. The all-time peak of 2.02 in 2014 stands in stark contrast to the all-time trough of -2.60 in 2001. Compared to its peers, South Africa's FDI outflows have been surpassed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which had a value of -0.26 in 2025. The country's FDI outflows have generally trended downward since the 2014 peak, with some minor fluctuations. This downward trend suggests that South Africa may be experiencing difficulties in attracting foreign investment, which could be due to various factors such as economic instability, lack of investment-friendly policies, or increased competition from other emerging markets. To reverse this trend, the South African government may need to implement policies that boost investor confidence and attract more foreign investment, such as improving the business environment or offering competitive incentives.
Data & projection
| Year | FDI Outflows | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | -0.32% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | -0.30% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.28% | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.28% | +0.04% | #153 |
| 2024 | -0.32% | +0.42% | #13 |
| 2023 | -0.73% | −1.31% | #13 |
| 2022 | 0.58% | +0.56% | #99 |
| 2021 | 0.02% | +0.60% | #44 |
| 2020 | -0.57% | −1.38% | #23 |
| 2019 | 0.81% | −0.19% | #112 |
| 2018 | 0.99% | −0.96% | #128 |
| 2017 | 1.95% | +0.57% | #138 |
| 2016 | 1.39% | −0.20% | #120 |
| 2015 | 1.59% | −0.43% | #131 |
| 2014 | 2.02% | +0.39% | #135 |
| 2013 | 1.63% | +0.96% | #123 |
| 2012 | 0.67% | +0.70% | #95 |
| 2011 | -0.03% | +0.01% | #20 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
South Africa matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1994. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw fdi outflows improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
South Africa's fdi outflows was -0.28% in 2025. Ranked 153rd globally. This represents a 12.7% increase from the previous year.
South Africa's fdi outflows peaked at 2.02% in 2014.
The lowest fdi outflows in South Africa was -2.60% in 2001.
South Africa ranks 153rd globally in fdi outflows as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
South Africa's fdi outflows is projected to reach -0.28% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The fdi outflows of South Africa in 2025 was -0.28%. This ranks 153rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_south-africa_fdi-outflows,
title = {South Africa FDI Outflows},
url = {https://historysaid.com/south-africa/fdi-outflows/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}