Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in South Korea
South Korea: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 15,226 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
15,226 million current US$
Change on year
down 20.0%
World rank
25th
of 224 countries
All-time high
25,045 million current US$
in 2022
All-time low
832.3 million current US$
in 1993
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in South Korea, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Korea stood at 15,226 million current US$.
That represents a change of down 20.0% on the previous year and up 64.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Korea peaked at 25,045 million current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 832.3 million current US$, in 1993.
That places South Korea 25th out of 224 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,046 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 1,455 million current US$ | +39.2% |
| 1992 | 1,002 million current US$ | -31.2% |
| 1993 | 832.3 million current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1994 | 1,137 million current US$ | +36.6% |
| 1995 | 2,487 million current US$ | +118.8% |
| 1996 | 2,783 million current US$ | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 3,301 million current US$ | +18.6% |
| 1998 | 5,989 million current US$ | +81.4% |
| 1999 | 10,726 million current US$ | +79.1% |
| 2000 | 11,509 million current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 6,522 million current US$ | -43.3% |
| 2002 | 5,475 million current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2003 | 7,010 million current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 13,294 million current US$ | +89.6% |
| 2005 | 13,643 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 9,162 million current US$ | -32.8% |
| 2007 | 8,827 million current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 11,188 million current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2009 | 9,022 million current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2010 | 9,497 million current US$ | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 9,773 million current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 9,496 million current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 12,767 million current US$ | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 9,274 million current US$ | -27.4% |
| 2015 | 4,104 million current US$ | -55.7% |
| 2016 | 12,104 million current US$ | +194.9% |
| 2017 | 17,913 million current US$ | +48.0% |
| 2018 | 12,183 million current US$ | -32.0% |
| 2019 | 9,634 million current US$ | -20.9% |
| 2020 | 8,765 million current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 22,060 million current US$ | +151.7% |
| 2022 | 25,045 million current US$ | +13.5% |
| 2023 | 19,042 million current US$ | -24.0% |
| 2024 | 15,226 million current US$ | -20.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15,226 million current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309 million current US$, 4.6× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15,226 million current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 857.11 million current US$, 17.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,076 million current US$ | 832.3 million current US$ | 10,726 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,565 million current US$ | 5,475 million current US$ | 13,643 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,674 million current US$ | 4,104 million current US$ | 17,913 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,028 million current US$ | 8,765 million current US$ | 25,045 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -49.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0085 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 307.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0062 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 224.29 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0047 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 168.75 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Korea?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Korea was 15,226 million current US$ in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25,045 million current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 832.3 million current US$ in 1993.
- How does South Korea rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- South Korea ranks 25th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
Download this data
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