Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in South Korea
South Korea: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 15,226 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
15,226
Change on year
down 20.0%
World rank
25th
of 222 countries
All-time high
25,045
in 2022
All-time low
832.3
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.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in South Korea stood at 15,226.
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 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 832.3, in 1993.
That places South Korea 25th out of 222 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 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,046 | — |
| 1991 | 1,455 | +39.2% |
| 1992 | 1,002 | -31.2% |
| 1993 | 832.3 | -16.9% |
| 1994 | 1,137 | +36.6% |
| 1995 | 2,487 | +118.8% |
| 1996 | 2,783 | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 3,301 | +18.6% |
| 1998 | 5,989 | +81.4% |
| 1999 | 10,726 | +79.1% |
| 2000 | 11,509 | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 6,522 | -43.3% |
| 2002 | 5,475 | -16.1% |
| 2003 | 7,010 | +28.0% |
| 2004 | 13,294 | +89.6% |
| 2005 | 13,643 | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 9,162 | -32.8% |
| 2007 | 8,827 | -3.7% |
| 2008 | 11,188 | +26.7% |
| 2009 | 9,022 | -19.4% |
| 2010 | 9,497 | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 9,773 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 9,496 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 12,767 | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 9,274 | -27.4% |
| 2015 | 4,104 | -55.7% |
| 2016 | 12,104 | +194.9% |
| 2017 | 17,913 | +48.0% |
| 2018 | 12,183 | -32.0% |
| 2019 | 9,634 | -20.9% |
| 2020 | 8,765 | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 22,060 | +151.7% |
| 2022 | 25,045 | +13.5% |
| 2023 | 19,042 | -24.0% |
| 2024 | 15,226 | -20.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15,226 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309, 4.6× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15,226 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 857.11, 17.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,076 | 832.3 | 10,726 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,565 | 5,475 | 13,643 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,674 | 4,104 | 17,913 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,028 | 8,765 | 25,045 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ 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 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 in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 832.3 in 1993.
- How does South Korea rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- South Korea ranks 25th out of 222 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.
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