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Economy, investment and finance

Data insights

Economic, investment and financial data provide vital measurements of economies' health, overall development and capacity for growth. This collection of thematic insights explores critical dimensions of national accounts, economic potential and price signals.

African, Latin American and Eastern European economies among those with highest foreign direct investment inflows as a ratio to gross fixed capital formation

Foreign direct investment inflows as a ratio to gross fixed capital formation, percentage, 2023

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

See metadata.

In 2023, global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows decreased marginally by 2 per cent to $1.33 trillion. While flows to developed economies increased by 9 per cent to $464 billion, flows to developing economies fell by 7 per cent to $867 billion, largely because FDI inflows in developing Asia fell by 8 per cent to $621 billion. FDI flows to developing Africa declined by 3 per cent to $53 billion. FDI to developing Americas was almost stable, decreasing by 1 per cent to $193 billion. FDI inflows to least developed countries rose by 17 per cent, reaching $31 billion.

In 2023, the United States of America remained the largest destination economy for FDI. It was followed by China, Singapore, Hong Kong (China) and Brazil. Eleven of the top 20 destination economies were developing economies.

Data updated on 30 Oct 2024

In 2023, foreign direct investment hit a fourteen-year low (excluding the pandemic year)

World foreign direct investment inflows, billions of United States dollars

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Excluding financial centers in the Caribbean.

See metadata.

In 2023, global foreign direct investment inflows dropped to $1.33 trillion. Excluding the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 and the financial crisis of 2009, this is the lowest value observed since 2005 in value terms, and since 1996 as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP). The 2023 value as GDP percentage, 1.3 per cent, is less than a third of the share in 2000.

Data updated on 30 Oct 2024

In 2023, Developing Asia and Oceania accounted for almost half of global foreign direct investment inflows and remained the largest recipient of FDI

Foreign direct investment inflows and outflows, billions of United States dollars, 2023

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Excluding financial centers in the Caribbean.

See metadata.

In 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows from developed economies increased by 4 per cent to $1.06 trillion. The value of FDI outflows from developing economies decreased by 11 per cent to $491 billion. Flows from developing Asia fell by 6 per cent.

The top 5 economies for FDI outflows in 2023 were the United States of America, Japan, China, Switzerland and Hong Kong (China). The share of developed economies in global outward FDI remained stable, accounting for 68 per cent. Flows from developing Asia and Oceania remained an important source of investment, accounting for 28 per cent of global FDI.

Data updated on 30 Oct 2024

In 2023, the share of developed economies in global outward foreign direct investment remained stable, at two thirds of the global total

Selected foreign direct investment flows, percentage of world total

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Excluding financial centers in the Caribbean.

See metadata.

In 2023, developing Asia and Oceania remained the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 47 per cent of global inflows. Developing Africa, meanwhile, accounted for 4 per cent of global FDI, and developing Americas for 15 per cent. The share received by least developed countries grew to 2.4 per cent.

Data updated on 30 Oct 2024

Metadata

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is defined as an investment reflecting a lasting interest and control by a foreign direct investor, resident in one economy, in an enterprise resident in another economy (foreign affiliate). FDI inflows comprise capital provided by a foreign direct investor to a foreign affiliate, or capital received by a foreign direct investor from a foreign affiliate. FDI outflows represent the same flows from the perspective of the other economy. 

FDI flows are presented on a net basis, i.e., as credits less debits. Thus, in cases of reverse investment or disinvestment, FDI may be negative. 

FDI stock is the value of capital and reserves attributable to a non-resident parent enterprise, plus the net indebtedness of foreign affiliates to parent enterprises.

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for Foreign direct investment.

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