Net foreign assets, flow (current LCU) in South Africa
South Africa: Net foreign assets, flow (current LCU) was 167.04 billion current LCU in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
167.04 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 3,810.8%
World rank
13th
of 52 countries
All-time high
167.04 billion current LCU
in 2011
All-time low
-53.93 billion current LCU
in 2009
Years of data
44
1966–2011
Net foreign assets, flow in South Africa, 1966–2011
Source: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2011, net foreign assets, flow in South Africa stood at 167.04 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3,810.8% on the previous year and up 824.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets, flow in South Africa peaked at 167.04 billion current LCU in 2011 and was at its lowest, -53.93 billion current LCU, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 13th of 52 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets, flow (current LCU) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 104.04 million current LCU | — |
| 1967 | 12.64 million current LCU | -87.8% |
| 1968 | 440.40 million current LCU | +3383.4% |
| 1969 | -271,402 current LCU | -100.1% |
| 1970 | -317.15 million current LCU | +116756.2% |
| 1971 | -181.19 million current LCU | -42.9% |
| 1972 | 514.88 million current LCU | -384.2% |
| 1973 | -132.57 million current LCU | -125.7% |
| 1974 | -121.07 million current LCU | -8.7% |
| 1975 | -468.10 million current LCU | +286.6% |
| 1976 | -785.80 million current LCU | +67.9% |
| 1977 | 36.22 million current LCU | -104.6% |
| 1978 | 1.95 billion current LCU | +5291.9% |
| 1979 | 2.54 billion current LCU | +29.9% |
| 1980 | 1.63 billion current LCU | -36.0% |
| 1981 | -3.27 billion current LCU | -301.1% |
| 1982 | -1.38 billion current LCU | -57.8% |
| 1983 | -768.00 million current LCU | -44.3% |
| 1984 | -1.57 billion current LCU | +104.0% |
| 1985 | -2.41 billion current LCU | +54.1% |
| 1986 | 3.07 billion current LCU | -227.3% |
| 1987 | 4.38 billion current LCU | +42.5% |
| 1988 | -2.45 billion current LCU | -156.0% |
| 1989 | -917.52 million current LCU | -62.6% |
| 1990 | 540.59 million current LCU | -158.9% |
| 1993 | -5.88 billion current LCU | -1188.6% |
| 1994 | -4.15 billion current LCU | -29.5% |
| 1995 | 2.69 billion current LCU | -164.8% |
| 1996 | -13.08 billion current LCU | -586.8% |
| 1997 | 7.77 billion current LCU | -159.4% |
| 1998 | -8.26 billion current LCU | -206.4% |
| 1999 | 33.79 billion current LCU | -508.9% |
| 2000 | 8.35 billion current LCU | -75.3% |
| 2001 | 18.08 billion current LCU | +116.5% |
| 2002 | 55.06 billion current LCU | +204.6% |
| 2003 | 40.92 billion current LCU | -25.7% |
| 2004 | 15.09 billion current LCU | -63.1% |
| 2005 | 53.56 billion current LCU | +255.0% |
| 2006 | 78.14 billion current LCU | +45.9% |
| 2007 | 31.12 billion current LCU | -60.2% |
| 2008 | 84.86 billion current LCU | +172.7% |
| 2009 | -53.93 billion current LCU | -163.6% |
| 2010 | 4.27 billion current LCU | -107.9% |
| 2011 | 167.04 billion current LCU | +3810.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 167.04 billion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 80.58 billion current LCU, 2.1× the median. (8 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 167.04 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.14 billion current LCU, 53.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets, flow (current LCU) 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 | -116756.2% | -271,402 current LCU | -317.15 million current LCU |
| 1978 | +5291.9% | 36.22 million current LCU | 1.95 billion current LCU |
| 2011 | +3810.8% | 4.27 billion current LCU | 167.04 billion current LCU |
| 1968 | +3383.4% | 12.64 million current LCU | 440.40 million current LCU |
| 1993 | -1188.6% | 540.59 million current LCU | -5.88 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 139.20 million current LCU | -271,402 current LCU | 440.40 million current LCU | 4 |
| 1970s | 303.61 million current LCU | -785.80 million current LCU | 2.54 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -368.80 million current LCU | -3.27 billion current LCU | 4.38 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.68 billion current LCU | -13.08 billion current LCU | 33.79 billion current LCU | 8 |
| 2000s | 33.13 billion current LCU | -53.93 billion current LCU | 84.86 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.66 billion current LCU | 4.27 billion current LCU | 167.04 billion current LCU | 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, flow in South Africa?
- Net foreign assets, flow in South Africa was 167.04 billion current LCU in 2011, according to International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.
- What is the highest net foreign assets, flow recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 167.04 billion current LCU in 2011.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets, flow recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -53.93 billion current LCU in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for net foreign assets, flow?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 52 countries with data for 2011.
- Is net foreign assets, flow rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 824.0%. 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, flow (current LCU). 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 local currency.