Foreign Assets, Net Foreign Assets in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign Assets, Net Foreign Assets was 387.44 billion in 2008. ◆ Volatile
Foreign Assets, Net Foreign Assets in South Africa, 1965–2008
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
In 2008, foreign assets, net foreign assets in South Africa stood at 387.44 billion. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.2% on the previous year and up 1,328.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign assets, net foreign assets in South Africa peaked at 387.44 billion in 2008 and was at its lowest, -31.53 billion, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 61st of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign Assets, Net Foreign Assets in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 353.89 million | — |
| 1966 | 457.93 million | +29.4% |
| 1967 | 470.57 million | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 910.97 million | +93.6% |
| 1969 | 910.70 million | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 593.55 million | -34.8% |
| 1971 | 412.36 million | -30.5% |
| 1972 | 927.24 million | +124.9% |
| 1973 | 794.67 million | -14.3% |
| 1974 | 673.60 million | -15.2% |
| 1975 | 205.50 million | -69.5% |
| 1976 | -580.30 million | -382.4% |
| 1977 | -544.08 million | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 1.41 billion | -359.0% |
| 1979 | 3.95 billion | +180.1% |
| 1980 | 5.57 billion | +41.2% |
| 1981 | 2.30 billion | -58.7% |
| 1982 | 924.57 million | -59.9% |
| 1983 | 156.57 million | -83.1% |
| 1984 | -1.41 billion | -1000.7% |
| 1985 | -3.82 billion | +171.2% |
| 1986 | -751.36 million | -80.4% |
| 1987 | 3.63 billion | -582.8% |
| 1988 | 1.18 billion | -67.6% |
| 1989 | 258.90 million | -78.0% |
| 1990 | 799.49 million | +208.8% |
| 1992 | -10.61 billion | -1426.9% |
| 1993 | -16.49 billion | +55.5% |
| 1994 | -20.64 billion | +25.2% |
| 1995 | -17.95 billion | -13.0% |
| 1996 | -31.04 billion | +72.9% |
| 1997 | -23.27 billion | -25.0% |
| 1998 | -31.53 billion | +35.5% |
| 1999 | 2.25 billion | -107.2% |
| 2000 | 10.61 billion | +370.4% |
| 2001 | 28.68 billion | +170.4% |
| 2002 | 83.74 billion | +191.9% |
| 2003 | 124.67 billion | +48.9% |
| 2004 | 139.75 billion | +12.1% |
| 2005 | 193.31 billion | +38.3% |
| 2006 | 271.46 billion | +40.4% |
| 2007 | 302.18 billion | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 387.44 billion | +28.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 620.81 million | 353.89 million | 910.97 million | 5 |
| 1970s | 783.83 million | -580.30 million | 3.95 billion | 10 |
| 1980s | 803.34 million | -3.82 billion | 5.57 billion | 10 |
| 1990s | -16.50 billion | -31.53 billion | 2.25 billion | 9 |
| 2000s | 171.32 billion | 10.61 billion | 387.44 billion | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 10.08 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0021 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 13.81 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0.0607 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign assets, net foreign assets in South Africa?
- Foreign assets, net foreign assets in South Africa was 387.44 billion in 2008, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest foreign assets, net foreign assets recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 387.44 billion in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign assets, net foreign assets recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -31.53 billion in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign assets, net foreign assets?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 178 countries with data for 2008.
- Is foreign assets, net foreign assets rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,328.7%. 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 Foreign Assets, Net Foreign Assets (Depository Corporations Survey, Domestic currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Monetary and Financial Statistics (MFS), Non-standard dataset provides discontinued, vintage country-reported financial data that are not harmonized and use country-specific terms.