Net foreign assets (current US$) in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets (current US$) was 62.00 billion current US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
62.00 billion current US$
Change on year
up 21.7%
World rank
2nd
of 51 countries
All-time high
62.00 billion current US$
in 2011
All-time low
-6.63 billion current US$
in 1996
Years of data
46
1965–2011
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$, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 51 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets (current US$) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 495.36 million current US$ | — |
| 1966 | 638.01 million current US$ | +28.8% |
| 1967 | 659.62 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 1.27 billion current US$ | +91.9% |
| 1969 | 1.27 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 827.56 million current US$ | -35.0% |
| 1971 | 538.85 million current US$ | -34.9% |
| 1972 | 1.18 billion current US$ | +119.8% |
| 1973 | 1.18 billion current US$ | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 976.75 million current US$ | -17.5% |
| 1975 | 236.32 million current US$ | -75.8% |
| 1976 | -667.35 million current US$ | -382.4% |
| 1977 | -625.70 million current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1978 | 1.62 billion current US$ | -359.0% |
| 1979 | 4.77 billion current US$ | +194.6% |
| 1980 | 7.48 billion current US$ | +56.6% |
| 1981 | 2.41 billion current US$ | -67.8% |
| 1982 | 859.01 million current US$ | -64.3% |
| 1983 | 128.14 million current US$ | -85.1% |
| 1984 | -710.47 million current US$ | -654.5% |
| 1985 | -1.50 billion current US$ | +110.5% |
| 1986 | -344.12 million current US$ | -77.0% |
| 1987 | 1.88 billion current US$ | -646.2% |
| 1988 | 494.77 million current US$ | -73.7% |
| 1989 | 102.09 million current US$ | -79.4% |
| 1990 | 311.99 million current US$ | +205.6% |
| 1992 | -3.47 billion current US$ | -1213.7% |
| 1993 | -4.85 billion current US$ | +39.7% |
| 1994 | -5.83 billion current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1995 | -4.92 billion current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1996 | -6.63 billion current US$ | +34.7% |
| 1997 | -4.78 billion current US$ | -27.9% |
| 1998 | -5.38 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1999 | 366.38 million current US$ | -106.8% |
| 2000 | 1.40 billion current US$ | +282.5% |
| 2001 | 2.37 billion current US$ | +68.8% |
| 2002 | 9.69 billion current US$ | +309.8% |
| 2003 | 18.77 billion current US$ | +93.7% |
| 2004 | 24.82 billion current US$ | +32.2% |
| 2005 | 30.56 billion current US$ | +23.1% |
| 2006 | 38.95 billion current US$ | +27.4% |
| 2007 | 44.43 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2008 | 41.64 billion current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 45.19 billion current US$ | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 50.94 billion current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 62.00 billion current US$ | +21.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 62.00 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.45 billion current US$, 7.3× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 62.00 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.19 billion current US$, 52.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets (current US$) 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 | -1213.7% | 311.99 million current US$ | -3.47 billion current US$ |
| 1984 | -654.5% | 128.14 million current US$ | -710.47 million current US$ |
| 1987 | +646.2% | -344.12 million current US$ | 1.88 billion current US$ |
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
- 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 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.