Net foreign assets (current LCU), per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets (current LCU), per square kilometre was 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre
Change on year
up 8.1%
World rank
106th
of 185 countries
All-time high
1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
-25,994 current LCU per square kilometre
in 1998
Years of data
58
1965–2023
Net foreign assets (current LCU), per square kilometre in South Africa, 1965–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current LCU per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa is 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 58 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.1% on the previous year and up 114.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, -25,994 current LCU per square kilometre, in 1998.
That places South Africa 106th out of 185 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 291.73 current LCU per square kilometre | — |
| 1966 | 377.49 current LCU per square kilometre | +29.4% |
| 1967 | 387.91 current LCU per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 750.95 current LCU per square kilometre | +93.6% |
| 1969 | 750.73 current LCU per square kilometre | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 489.29 current LCU per square kilometre | -34.8% |
| 1971 | 339.92 current LCU per square kilometre | -30.5% |
| 1972 | 764.36 current LCU per square kilometre | +124.9% |
| 1973 | 655.08 current LCU per square kilometre | -14.3% |
| 1974 | 555.27 current LCU per square kilometre | -15.2% |
| 1975 | 169.4 current LCU per square kilometre | -69.5% |
| 1976 | -478.37 current LCU per square kilometre | -382.4% |
| 1977 | -448.51 current LCU per square kilometre | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 1,161 current LCU per square kilometre | -359.0% |
| 1979 | 3,254 current LCU per square kilometre | +180.1% |
| 1980 | 4,593 current LCU per square kilometre | +41.2% |
| 1981 | 1,899 current LCU per square kilometre | -58.7% |
| 1982 | 762.16 current LCU per square kilometre | -59.9% |
| 1983 | 129.07 current LCU per square kilometre | -83.1% |
| 1984 | -1,163 current LCU per square kilometre | -1000.7% |
| 1985 | -3,152 current LCU per square kilometre | +171.2% |
| 1986 | -619.38 current LCU per square kilometre | -80.4% |
| 1987 | 2,990 current LCU per square kilometre | -582.8% |
| 1988 | 969.77 current LCU per square kilometre | -67.6% |
| 1989 | 213.42 current LCU per square kilometre | -78.0% |
| 1990 | 659.05 current LCU per square kilometre | +208.8% |
| 1992 | -8,745 current LCU per square kilometre | -1426.9% |
| 1993 | -13,596 current LCU per square kilometre | +55.5% |
| 1994 | -17,016 current LCU per square kilometre | +25.2% |
| 1995 | -14,800 current LCU per square kilometre | -13.0% |
| 1996 | -25,586 current LCU per square kilometre | +72.9% |
| 1997 | -19,183 current LCU per square kilometre | -25.0% |
| 1998 | -25,994 current LCU per square kilometre | +35.5% |
| 1999 | 1,859 current LCU per square kilometre | -107.2% |
| 2000 | 8,744 current LCU per square kilometre | +370.4% |
| 2001 | 26,414 current LCU per square kilometre | +202.1% |
| 2002 | 71,167 current LCU per square kilometre | +169.4% |
| 2003 | 104,559 current LCU per square kilometre | +46.9% |
| 2004 | 116,792 current LCU per square kilometre | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 161,001 current LCU per square kilometre | +37.9% |
| 2006 | 225,680 current LCU per square kilometre | +40.2% |
| 2007 | 251,384 current LCU per square kilometre | +11.4% |
| 2008 | 321,988 current LCU per square kilometre | +28.1% |
| 2009 | 291,954 current LCU per square kilometre | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 293,478 current LCU per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 433,786 current LCU per square kilometre | +47.8% |
| 2012 | 434,773 current LCU per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 552,510 current LCU per square kilometre | +27.1% |
| 2014 | 519,496 current LCU per square kilometre | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 679,241 current LCU per square kilometre | +30.7% |
| 2016 | 607,090 current LCU per square kilometre | -10.6% |
| 2017 | 601,637 current LCU per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 655,937 current LCU per square kilometre | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 722,064 current LCU per square kilometre | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 983,134 current LCU per square kilometre | +36.2% |
| 2021 | 1.10 million current LCU per square kilometre | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 1.09 million current LCU per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre | +8.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.01 million current LCU per square kilometre, 59% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.50 million current LCU per square kilometre, 79% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets (current LCU), per square kilometre 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -1426.9% | 659.05 current LCU per square kilometre | -8,745 current LCU per square kilometre |
| 1984 | -1000.7% | 129.07 current LCU per square kilometre | -1,163 current LCU per square kilometre |
| 1987 | +582.8% | -619.38 current LCU per square kilometre | 2,990 current LCU per square kilometre |
| 1976 | -382.4% | 169.4 current LCU per square kilometre | -478.37 current LCU per square kilometre |
| 2000 | +370.4% | 1,859 current LCU per square kilometre | 8,744 current LCU per square kilometre |
| 1978 | +359.0% | -448.51 current LCU per square kilometre | 1,161 current LCU per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 511.76 current LCU per square kilometre | 291.73 current LCU per square kilometre | 750.95 current LCU per square kilometre | 5 |
| 1970s | 646.14 current LCU per square kilometre | -478.37 current LCU per square kilometre | 3,254 current LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 662.23 current LCU per square kilometre | -3,152 current LCU per square kilometre | 4,593 current LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | -13,600 current LCU per square kilometre | -25,994 current LCU per square kilometre | 1,859 current LCU per square kilometre | 9 |
| 2000s | 157,968 current LCU per square kilometre | 8,744 current LCU per square kilometre | 321,988 current LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 550,001 current LCU per square kilometre | 293,478 current LCU per square kilometre | 722,064 current LCU per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.09 million current LCU per square kilometre | 983,134 current LCU per square kilometre | 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 103 Afghanistan 1.34 million current LCU per square kilometre compare
- 104 Palestine 1.29 million current LCU per square kilometre compare
- 105 Micronesia (country) 1.28 million current LCU per square kilometre compare
- 107 Nicaragua 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre compare
- 108 Tonga 1.16 million current LCU per square kilometre compare
- 109 Dominica 1.15 million current LCU per square kilometre 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), per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre in South Africa was 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.18 million current LCU per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -25,994 current LCU per square kilometre in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 106th out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net foreign assets (current lcu), per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 114.2%. 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 square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Net foreign assets (current LCU) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Net foreign assets International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.