Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 20.6 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
20.6
Change on year
up 58.8%
World rank
189th
of 222 countries
All-time high
271
in 2005
All-time low
-1.46
in 1997
Years of data
32
1990–2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Afghanistan, 1990–2021

01002003001990200520211990: 01991: -0.281992: 0.361993: -0.021994: 0.021995: -0.0931996: 0.691997: -1.51998: -0.011999: 62000: 0.172001: 0.682002: 502003: 57.82004: 186.92005: 2712006: 2382007: 188.72008: 462009: 197.52010: 54.22011: 57.62012: 40.92013: 48.32014: 432015: 169.12016: 93.62017: 51.52018: 119.42019: 23.42020: 132021: 20.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan is 20.6, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 58.8% on the previous year and down 64.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan peaked at 271 in 2005 and was at its lowest, -1.46, in 1997.

Afghanistan ranks 189th of 222 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars) in Afghanistan, 1990 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1990 0
1991 -0.28 -2800100.0%
1992 0.36 -228.6%
1993 -0.02 -105.6%
1994 0.02 -200.0%
1995 -0.0933 -566.6%
1996 0.69 -839.3%
1997 -1.46 -311.6%
1998 -0.01 -99.3%
1999 6.04 -60500.0%
2000 0.17 -97.2%
2001 0.68 +300.0%
2002 50 +7252.9%
2003 57.8 +15.6%
2004 186.9 +223.4%
2005 271 +45.0%
2006 238 -12.2%
2007 188.69 -20.7%
2008 46.03 -75.6%
2009 197.51 +329.1%
2010 54.2 -72.6%
2011 57.62 +6.3%
2012 40.86 -29.1%
2013 48.31 +18.2%
2014 42.98 -11.0%
2015 169.15 +293.6%
2016 93.59 -44.7%
2017 51.53 -44.9%
2018 119.44 +131.8%
2019 23.4 -80.4%
2020 12.97 -44.6%
2021 20.6 +58.8%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 20.6 is below the median for low income countries, which is 274, 8% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 20.6 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635, 1% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Afghanistan 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.

YearChange FromTo
1991 -2800100.0% 0 -0.28
1999 +60500.0% -0.01 6.04
2002 +7252.9% 0.68 50
1996 +839.3% -0.0933 0.69

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 0.5247 -1.46 6.04 10
2000s 123.68 0.17 271 10
2010s 70.11 23.4 169.15 10
2020s 16.79 12.97 20.6 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 187 Anguilla 22.98 compare
  2. 188 Sao Tome and Principe 21.87 compare
  3. 190 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 18.9 compare
  4. 191 Comoros 7.1 compare
  5. 192 Montserrat 3.93 compare

See the full ranking of 258 places →

More economy & growth data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan?
Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan was 20.6 in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 271 in 2005.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was -1.46 in 1997.
How does Afghanistan rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
Afghanistan ranks 189th out of 222 countries with data for 2021.
Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 64.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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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