Net foreign assets in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets was 62.00 billion current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Net foreign assets in South Africa, 1965–2011
Source: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2011, net foreign assets in South Africa stood at 62.00 billion current US$. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of up 21.7% on the previous year and up 2,520.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets in South Africa peaked at 62.00 billion current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -6.63 billion current US$, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 51 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 866.57 million current US$ | 495.36 million current US$ | 1.27 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.00 billion current US$ | -667.35 million current US$ | 4.77 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.08 billion current US$ | -1.50 billion current US$ | 7.48 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.91 billion current US$ | -6.63 billion current US$ | 366.38 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.78 billion current US$ | 1.40 billion current US$ | 45.19 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.47 billion current US$ | 50.94 billion current US$ | 62.00 billion current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 59.2% (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 6.22 (2025)
- Net domestic credit 6.17 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Net foreign assets 1.43 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 59.2% (2025)
- Broad money 76.9% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 6.3% (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector 89.4% (2024)
- Official exchange rate 17.89 LCU per US$, period average (2025)
- Net migration 146,370 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net foreign assets in South Africa?
- Net foreign assets in South Africa was 62.00 billion current US$ in 2011, according to International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.
- What is the highest net foreign assets recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 62.00 billion current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.63 billion current US$ in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for net foreign assets?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 51 countries with data for 2011.
- Is net foreign assets rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,520.9%. 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, International Financial Statistics and data files, published as part of Net foreign assets (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.