Net foreign assets (current LCU), per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets (current LCU), per capita was 22,040 current LCU per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
22,040 current LCU per person
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
96th
of 186 countries
All-time high
23,303 current LCU per person
in 2024
All-time low
-687.85 current LCU per person
in 1996
Years of data
60
1965–2025
Net foreign assets (current LCU), per capita in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current LCU per person.
Analysis
In 2025, net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita in South Africa stood at 22,040 current LCU per person.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 51.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita in South Africa peaked at 23,303 current LCU per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, -687.85 current LCU per person, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 96th of 186 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.
Net foreign assets (current LCU), per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 18.54 current LCU per person | — |
| 1966 | 23.26 current LCU per person | +25.5% |
| 1967 | 23.16 current LCU per person | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 43.47 current LCU per person | +87.6% |
| 1969 | 42.13 current LCU per person | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 26.64 current LCU per person | -36.8% |
| 1971 | 17.97 current LCU per person | -32.5% |
| 1972 | 39.27 current LCU per person | +118.5% |
| 1973 | 32.71 current LCU per person | -16.7% |
| 1974 | 26.96 current LCU per person | -17.6% |
| 1975 | 8 current LCU per person | -70.3% |
| 1976 | -21.98 current LCU per person | -374.8% |
| 1977 | -20.06 current LCU per person | -8.7% |
| 1978 | 50.55 current LCU per person | -352.0% |
| 1979 | 137.84 current LCU per person | +172.6% |
| 1980 | 188.77 current LCU per person | +36.9% |
| 1981 | 75.41 current LCU per person | -60.1% |
| 1982 | 29.24 current LCU per person | -61.2% |
| 1983 | 4.78 current LCU per person | -83.6% |
| 1984 | -41.61 current LCU per person | -970.1% |
| 1985 | -109.13 current LCU per person | +162.3% |
| 1986 | -20.77 current LCU per person | -81.0% |
| 1987 | 97.19 current LCU per person | -568.0% |
| 1988 | 30.57 current LCU per person | -68.5% |
| 1989 | 6.53 current LCU per person | -78.6% |
| 1990 | 19.62 current LCU per person | +200.3% |
| 1992 | -249.94 current LCU per person | -1373.8% |
| 1993 | -380.92 current LCU per person | +52.4% |
| 1994 | -469.09 current LCU per person | +23.1% |
| 1995 | -403.09 current LCU per person | -14.1% |
| 1996 | -687.85 current LCU per person | +70.6% |
| 1997 | -509.57 current LCU per person | -25.9% |
| 1998 | -682.19 current LCU per person | +33.9% |
| 1999 | 48.25 current LCU per person | -107.1% |
| 2000 | 224.91 current LCU per person | +366.1% |
| 2001 | 673.63 current LCU per person | +199.5% |
| 2002 | 1,798 current LCU per person | +166.9% |
| 2003 | 2,615 current LCU per person | +45.5% |
| 2004 | 2,892 current LCU per person | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 3,946 current LCU per person | +36.5% |
| 2006 | 5,476 current LCU per person | +38.7% |
| 2007 | 6,035 current LCU per person | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 7,642 current LCU per person | +26.6% |
| 2009 | 6,847 current LCU per person | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 6,801 current LCU per person | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 9,930 current LCU per person | +46.0% |
| 2012 | 9,806 current LCU per person | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 12,258 current LCU per person | +25.0% |
| 2014 | 11,336 current LCU per person | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 14,526 current LCU per person | +28.1% |
| 2016 | 12,862 current LCU per person | -11.5% |
| 2017 | 12,663 current LCU per person | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 13,576 current LCU per person | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 14,700 current LCU per person | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 19,693 current LCU per person | +34.0% |
| 2021 | 21,729 current LCU per person | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 21,282 current LCU per person | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 22,712 current LCU per person | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 23,303 current LCU per person | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 22,040 current LCU per person | -5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.11 current LCU per person | 18.54 current LCU per person | 43.47 current LCU per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 29.79 current LCU per person | -21.98 current LCU per person | 137.84 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.1 current LCU per person | -109.13 current LCU per person | 188.77 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 1990s | -368.31 current LCU per person | -687.85 current LCU per person | 48.25 current LCU per person | 9 |
| 2000s | 3,815 current LCU per person | 224.91 current LCU per person | 7,642 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,846 current LCU per person | 6,801 current LCU per person | 14,700 current LCU per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,793 current LCU per person | 19,693 current LCU per person | 23,303 current LCU per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 93 Poland 22,702 current LCU per person compare
- 94 Syrian Arab Republic 22,460 current LCU per person compare
- 95 Afghanistan 22,311 current LCU per person compare
- 97 Grenada 21,712 current LCU per person compare
- 98 China 21,482 current LCU per person compare
- 99 Romania 20,044 current LCU per person compare
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per unit of GDP 0.0877 SDR per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange (SDR), per capita 578.61 SDR per person (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold (SDR), per capita 658.6 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), annual growth rate 10.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) (SDR), per capita 857.36 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), annual growth rate 10.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 855.88 SDR per person (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) 55.42 billion SDR (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita in South Africa?
- Net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita in South Africa was 22,040 current LCU per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23,303 current LCU per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -687.85 current LCU per person in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita?
- South Africa ranks 96th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net foreign assets (current lcu), per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.7%. 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), per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Net foreign assets (current LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Net foreign assets (current LCU) ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Net foreign assets International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
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
Net foreign assets (current LCU) divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.