China vs United States: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows

China
116,238
in 2024
United States
278,848
in 2024
China rank
3rd
United States rank
1st

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows over time

  • China
  • United States
0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k199020072024

How they compare

United States currently reports 278,848 against 116,238 in China, a difference of 162,610.

That makes United States's figure about 2.4 times China's.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1990 it was United States ahead.

China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 222 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United States Difference Ahead
1990s 29,043 89,064 60,021 United States
2000s 68,548 174,473 105,924 United States
2010s 129,734 269,924 140,190 United States
2020s 159,784 261,664 101,879 United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows, China or United States?
United States, at 278,848 against 116,238 in China as of 2024.
What is the difference in foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows between China and United States?
162,610, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
35 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2024.
How do China and United States rank globally for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
China ranks 3rd and United States ranks 1st of 222 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United States: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/foreign-direct-investment-fdi-inflows-millions-of-united-states-dollars/china/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
258 places, 8,418 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed