Nigeria vs South Africa: Net foreign assets

Nigeria
41.98 billion current US$
in 2011
South Africa
62.00 billion current US$
in 2011
Nigeria rank
3rd
South Africa rank
2nd

Net foreign assets over time

  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
020.0B40.0B60.0B196019852011

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 62.00 billion current US$ against 41.98 billion current US$ in Nigeria, a difference of 20.02 billion current US$.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.5 times Nigeria's.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 46 shared years of data; in 1965 it was South Africa ahead.

Nigeria ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 2nd of 51 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Nigeria averaged higher in 4 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Nigeria South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 147.39 million current US$ 866.57 million current US$ 719.18 million current US$ South Africa
1970s 3.08 billion current US$ 1.00 billion current US$ 2.08 billion current US$ Nigeria
1980s 2.74 billion current US$ 1.08 billion current US$ 1.66 billion current US$ Nigeria
1990s 4.60 billion current US$ -3.91 billion current US$ 8.51 billion current US$ Nigeria
2000s 31.59 billion current US$ 25.78 billion current US$ 5.81 billion current US$ Nigeria
2010s 41.68 billion current US$ 56.47 billion current US$ 14.79 billion current US$ South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher net foreign assets, Nigeria or South Africa?
South Africa, at 62.00 billion current US$ against 41.98 billion current US$ in Nigeria as of 2011.
What is the difference in net foreign assets between Nigeria and South Africa?
20.02 billion current US$, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?
46 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2011.
How do Nigeria and South Africa rank globally for net foreign assets?
Nigeria ranks 3rd and South Africa ranks 2nd of 51 countries.
Where does this data come from?
International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files, published as Net foreign assets (current US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs South Africa: Net foreign assets. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://financial-sector.statizoid.com/compare/net-foreign-assets-current-us/nigeria/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Net foreign assets (current US$)
Unit
current US$
Source
International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
51 places, 2,026 data points, 1960–2011
Last refreshed

Net foreign assets are the sum of foreign assets held by monetary authorities and deposit money banks, less their foreign liabilities. Data are in current U.S. dollars.