South Africa: Net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, South Africa's net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$) rose US$329.51 million on 2023 (from US$92.59 million to US$422.1 million).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2000 to 2023), the average change was +US$6.6 million and a typical year strayed about US$296.42 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was US$637.76 million in 2012 and the biggest yearly fall was US$669.86 million in 2013. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 5% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, South Africa had the 12th highest value of the 77 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2024 ranking

• Philippines — 8th of 77: US$725.09 million
• Nigeria — 9th of 77: US$494.77 million
• Paraguay — 10th of 77: US$434.56 million
• Tanzania — 12th of 77: US$276.61 million
• Tunisia — 13th of 77: US$229.9 million
• Côte d'Ivoire — 14th of 77: US$223.06 million

What this measures

Net financial flows received by the borrower during the year are disbursements of loans and credits less repayments of principal. Nonconcessional financial flows cover all disbursements except those made through concessional lending facilities. Regional development banks are the African Development Bank, in Tunis, Tunisia, which serves all of Africa, including North Africa; the Asian Development Bank, in Manila, Philippines, which serves South and Central Asia and East Asia and Pacific; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in London, United Kingdom, which serves Europe and Central Asia; and the Inter-American Development Bank, in Washington, D.C., which serves the Americas. Aggregates include amounts for economies not specified elsewhere. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 25 values

Net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$) in nearby economies

• Angola — US$121.27 million (2024)
• Benin — US$31.29 million (2024)
• Botswana — US$69.29 million (2024)
• Burkina Faso — US$10.08 million (2024)
• Cabo Verde — US$15.2 million (2024)
• Cameroon — US$84.38 million (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — −US$43.36 million (2023)
• Congo, Rep. — US$1.1 million (2024)
• Côte d'Ivoire — US$223.06 million (2024)

More economic policy & debt data for South Africa

• Trade in services (% of GDP) — 9.32% (2025)
• Communications, computer, etc. (% of service imports, BoP) — 44.9% (2025)
• Primary income payments (BoP, current US$) — US$20.32 billion (2025)
• Imports of goods and services (current US$, BoP) — US$126.24 billion (2025)
• Insurance and financial services (% of service imports, BoP) — 5.58% (2025)
• Goods imports (current US$, BoP) — US$104.47 billion (2025)
• Service imports (current US$, BoP) — US$21.77 billion (2025)
• Charges for the use of intellectual property, payments (BoP, current US$) — US$1.74 billion (2025)
• Imports of goods, services and primary income (current US$, BoP)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is South Africa's net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$)?

US$422.1 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1999?

It is up 1,048% from US$36.77 million in 1999 (10.26% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$886.44 million in 2012 and the lowest −US$162.07 million in 2022.

How does South Africa rank?

12th highest of 77 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$) unusual for South Africa?

In 2024, South Africa's net financial flows, RDB nonconcessional (NFL, current US$) rose US$329.51 million on 2023 (from US$92.59 million to US$422.1 million). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2000 to 2023), the average change was +US$6.6 million and a typical year strayed about US$296.42 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator DT.NFL.RDBN.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), uri: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/debt-statistics Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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