Foreign aid received in South Africa
South Africa: Foreign aid received was 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
1.61 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
29th
of 178 countries
All-time high
1.75 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2015
All-time low
473.15 million constant 2024 US$
in 1993
Years of data
32
1993–2024
Foreign aid received in South Africa, 1993–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ for foreign aid received in 2024.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign aid received in South Africa peaked at 1.75 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 473.15 million constant 2024 US$, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 29th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Foreign aid received in South Africa, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 473.15 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1994 | 498.63 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 611.95 million constant 2024 US$ | +22.7% |
| 1996 | 556.03 million constant 2024 US$ | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 788.61 million constant 2024 US$ | +41.8% |
| 1998 | 823.78 million constant 2024 US$ | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 884.00 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 858.22 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 768.91 million constant 2024 US$ | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 867.89 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.9% |
| 2003 | 927.28 million constant 2024 US$ | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 830.59 million constant 2024 US$ | -10.4% |
| 2005 | 879.93 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 907.49 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 956.60 million constant 2024 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 1.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | +36.7% |
| 2009 | 1.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ | +26.3% |
| 2012 | 1.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | -20.1% |
| 2013 | 1.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 1.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | -14.4% |
| 2015 | 1.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | +39.7% |
| 2016 | 1.47 billion constant 2024 US$ | -16.1% |
| 2017 | 1.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | -15.5% |
| 2018 | 1.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | -11.7% |
| 2019 | 1.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | +23.3% |
| 2021 | 1.15 billion constant 2024 US$ | -18.1% |
| 2022 | 1.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 1.55 billion constant 2024 US$ | +40.1% |
| 2024 | 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 207.35 million constant 2024 US$, 7.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 933.00 million constant 2024 US$, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 662.31 million constant 2024 US$ | 473.15 million constant 2024 US$ | 884.00 million constant 2024 US$ | 7 |
| 2000s | 964.71 million constant 2024 US$ | 768.91 million constant 2024 US$ | 1.34 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.75 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 26 South Sudan 1.73 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 27 Lebanon 1.72 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 28 Cambodia 1.64 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 30 Malawi 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 31 Rwanda 1.55 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
- 32 Burkina Faso 1.49 billion constant 2024 US$ compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign aid received in South Africa?
- Foreign aid received in South Africa was 1.61 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign aid received recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.75 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign aid received recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 473.15 million constant 2024 US$ in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for foreign aid received?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign aid received rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Official development assistance (ODA) is defined as government aid designed to promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Monetary aid is estimated as net disbursements. This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation.