Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 20.6 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
20.6 million current US$
Change on year
up 58.8%
World rank
190th
of 224 countries
All-time high
271 million current US$
in 2005
All-time low
-1.46 million current US$
in 1997
Years of data
32
1990–2021
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Afghanistan, 1990–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan is 20.6 million current US$, 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 million current US$ in 2005 and was at its lowest, -1.46 million current US$, in 1997.
Afghanistan ranks 190th of 224 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | -0.28 million current US$ | -2800100.0% |
| 1992 | 0.36 million current US$ | -228.6% |
| 1993 | -0.02 million current US$ | -105.6% |
| 1994 | 0.02 million current US$ | -200.0% |
| 1995 | -0.0933 million current US$ | -566.6% |
| 1996 | 0.69 million current US$ | -839.3% |
| 1997 | -1.46 million current US$ | -311.6% |
| 1998 | -0.01 million current US$ | -99.3% |
| 1999 | 6.04 million current US$ | -60500.0% |
| 2000 | 0.17 million current US$ | -97.2% |
| 2001 | 0.68 million current US$ | +300.0% |
| 2002 | 50 million current US$ | +7252.9% |
| 2003 | 57.8 million current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2004 | 186.9 million current US$ | +223.4% |
| 2005 | 271 million current US$ | +45.0% |
| 2006 | 238 million current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2007 | 188.69 million current US$ | -20.7% |
| 2008 | 46.03 million current US$ | -75.6% |
| 2009 | 197.51 million current US$ | +329.1% |
| 2010 | 54.2 million current US$ | -72.6% |
| 2011 | 57.62 million current US$ | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 40.86 million current US$ | -29.1% |
| 2013 | 48.31 million current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2014 | 42.98 million current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 169.15 million current US$ | +293.6% |
| 2016 | 93.59 million current US$ | -44.7% |
| 2017 | 51.53 million current US$ | -44.9% |
| 2018 | 119.44 million current US$ | +131.8% |
| 2019 | 23.4 million current US$ | -80.4% |
| 2020 | 12.97 million current US$ | -44.6% |
| 2021 | 20.6 million current US$ | +58.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 20.6 million current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 274 million current US$, 8% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 20.6 million current US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635 million current US$, 1% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -2800100.0% | 0 million current US$ | -0.28 million current US$ |
| 1999 | +60500.0% | -0.01 million current US$ | 6.04 million current US$ |
| 2002 | +7252.9% | 0.68 million current US$ | 50 million current US$ |
| 1996 | +839.3% | -0.0933 million current US$ | 0.69 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.5247 million current US$ | -1.46 million current US$ | 6.04 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 123.68 million current US$ | 0.17 million current US$ | 271 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.11 million current US$ | 23.4 million current US$ | 169.15 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.79 million current US$ | 12.97 million current US$ | 20.6 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 188 Anguilla 22.98 million current US$ compare
- 189 Sao Tome and Principe 21.87 million current US$ compare
- 191 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 18.9 million current US$ compare
- 192 Comoros 7.1 million current US$ compare
- 193 Montserrat 3.93 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 60.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0237 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 9.26 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -8.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0182 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 6.76 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Afghanistan was 20.6 million current US$ 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 million current US$ in 2005.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.46 million current US$ in 1997.
- How does Afghanistan rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Afghanistan ranks 190th out of 224 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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