Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate was -4.33 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-4.33 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 211.2%
World rank
152nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
582.81 % change on previous year
in 1987
All-time low
-382.39 % change on previous year
in 1976
Years of data
57
1966–2025
Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa stood at -4.33 % change on previous year.
That represents a change of down 211.2% on the previous year and down 114.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 582.81 % change on previous year in 1987 and was at its lowest, -382.39 % change on previous year, in 1976.
South Africa ranks 152nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 29.4 % change on previous year | — |
| 1967 | 2.76 % change on previous year | -90.6% |
| 1968 | 93.59 % change on previous year | +3290.0% |
| 1969 | -0.0297 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1970 | -34.82 % change on previous year | +116964.4% |
| 1971 | -30.53 % change on previous year | -12.3% |
| 1972 | 124.86 % change on previous year | -509.0% |
| 1973 | -14.3 % change on previous year | -111.5% |
| 1974 | -15.23 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 1975 | -69.49 % change on previous year | +356.1% |
| 1976 | -382.39 % change on previous year | +450.3% |
| 1977 | 6.24 % change on previous year | -101.6% |
| 1978 | 358.96 % change on previous year | +5650.9% |
| 1979 | 180.13 % change on previous year | -49.8% |
| 1980 | 41.18 % change on previous year | -77.1% |
| 1981 | -58.67 % change on previous year | -242.5% |
| 1982 | -59.86 % change on previous year | +2.0% |
| 1983 | -83.07 % change on previous year | +38.8% |
| 1985 | -171.18 % change on previous year | +106.1% |
| 1986 | 80.35 % change on previous year | -146.9% |
| 1987 | 582.81 % change on previous year | +625.3% |
| 1988 | -67.57 % change on previous year | -111.6% |
| 1989 | -77.99 % change on previous year | +15.4% |
| 1990 | 208.8 % change on previous year | -367.7% |
| 1993 | -55.47 % change on previous year | -126.6% |
| 1994 | -25.16 % change on previous year | -54.7% |
| 1995 | 13.02 % change on previous year | -151.8% |
| 1996 | -72.87 % change on previous year | -659.7% |
| 1997 | 25.03 % change on previous year | -134.3% |
| 1998 | -35.51 % change on previous year | -241.9% |
| 1999 | 107.15 % change on previous year | -401.8% |
| 2000 | 370.39 % change on previous year | +245.7% |
| 2001 | 202.1 % change on previous year | -45.4% |
| 2002 | 169.43 % change on previous year | -16.2% |
| 2003 | 46.92 % change on previous year | -72.3% |
| 2004 | 11.7 % change on previous year | -75.1% |
| 2005 | 37.85 % change on previous year | +223.6% |
| 2006 | 40.17 % change on previous year | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 11.39 % change on previous year | -71.6% |
| 2008 | 28.09 % change on previous year | +146.6% |
| 2009 | -9.33 % change on previous year | -133.2% |
| 2010 | 0.5218 % change on previous year | -105.6% |
| 2011 | 47.81 % change on previous year | +9062.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2275 % change on previous year | -99.5% |
| 2013 | 27.08 % change on previous year | +11804.9% |
| 2014 | -5.98 % change on previous year | -122.1% |
| 2015 | 30.75 % change on previous year | -614.6% |
| 2016 | -10.62 % change on previous year | -134.5% |
| 2017 | -0.8982 % change on previous year | -91.5% |
| 2018 | 9.03 % change on previous year | -1104.8% |
| 2019 | 10.08 % change on previous year | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 36.16 % change on previous year | +258.6% |
| 2021 | 12.06 % change on previous year | -66.7% |
| 2022 | -0.6652 % change on previous year | -105.5% |
| 2023 | 8.15 % change on previous year | -1325.0% |
| 2024 | 3.89 % change on previous year | -52.2% |
| 2025 | -4.33 % change on previous year | -211.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -4.33 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.89 % change on previous year. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -4.33 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.73 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -116964.4% | -0.0297 % change on previous year | -34.82 % change on previous year |
| 2013 | +11804.9% | 0.2275 % change on previous year | 27.08 % change on previous year |
| 2011 | +9062.5% | 0.5218 % change on previous year | 47.81 % change on previous year |
| 1978 | +5650.9% | 6.24 % change on previous year | 358.96 % change on previous year |
| 1968 | +3290.0% | 2.76 % change on previous year | 93.59 % change on previous year |
| 2023 | +1325.0% | -0.6652 % change on previous year | 8.15 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31.43 % change on previous year | -0.0297 % change on previous year | 93.59 % change on previous year | 4 |
| 1970s | 12.34 % change on previous year | -382.39 % change on previous year | 358.96 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.67 % change on previous year | -171.18 % change on previous year | 582.81 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1990s | 20.62 % change on previous year | -72.87 % change on previous year | 208.8 % change on previous year | 8 |
| 2000s | 90.87 % change on previous year | -9.33 % change on previous year | 370.39 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8 % change on previous year | -10.62 % change on previous year | 47.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.21 % change on previous year | -4.33 % change on previous year | 36.16 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 149 Serbia -4.15 % change on previous year compare
- 150 New Zealand -4.22 % change on previous year compare
- 151 Trinidad and Tobago -4.25 % change on previous year compare
- 153 Namibia -4.41 % change on previous year compare
- 154 Mexico -4.55 % change on previous year compare
- 155 Azerbaijan -4.9 % change on previous year compare
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 net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate in South Africa was -4.33 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 582.81 % change on previous year in 1987.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -382.39 % change on previous year in 1976.
- How does South Africa rank for net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 152nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net foreign assets (current lcu), annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 114.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Net foreign assets (current LCU), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Net foreign assets (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Net foreign assets International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Net foreign assets (current LCU). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.