Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 15,738 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
15,738 million current US$
Change on year
down 31.0%
World rank
24th
of 224 countries
All-time high
28,350 million current US$
in 2021
All-time low
57 million current US$
in 1997
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 15,738 million current US$ for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in 2024.
The figure is down 31.0% on the previous year and up 942.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Saudi Arabia peaked at 28,350 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 57 million current US$, in 1997.
Saudi Arabia ranks 24th of 224 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 312 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 165 million current US$ | -47.1% |
| 1992 | 250 million current US$ | +51.5% |
| 1993 | 180 million current US$ | -28.0% |
| 1994 | 690 million current US$ | +283.3% |
| 1995 | 578 million current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1996 | 64 million current US$ | -88.9% |
| 1997 | 57 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1998 | 94 million current US$ | +64.9% |
| 1999 | 123 million current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2000 | 183 million current US$ | +48.8% |
| 2001 | 504 million current US$ | +175.4% |
| 2002 | 453 million current US$ | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 778.46 million current US$ | +71.8% |
| 2004 | 1,942 million current US$ | +149.5% |
| 2005 | 12,097 million current US$ | +522.9% |
| 2006 | 5,976 million current US$ | -50.6% |
| 2007 | 6,175 million current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 5,506 million current US$ | -10.8% |
| 2009 | 436.35 million current US$ | -92.1% |
| 2010 | 4,879 million current US$ | +1018.1% |
| 2011 | 4,684 million current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 5,035 million current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 3,371 million current US$ | -33.0% |
| 2014 | 1,509 million current US$ | -55.2% |
| 2015 | 3,971 million current US$ | +163.1% |
| 2016 | 21,955 million current US$ | +452.9% |
| 2017 | 1,014 million current US$ | -95.4% |
| 2018 | 12,141 million current US$ | +1097.3% |
| 2019 | 3,079 million current US$ | -74.6% |
| 2020 | 1,621 million current US$ | -47.3% |
| 2021 | 28,350 million current US$ | +1648.7% |
| 2022 | 26,710 million current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 22,804 million current US$ | -14.6% |
| 2024 | 15,738 million current US$ | -31.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 15,738 million current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309 million current US$, 4.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 15,738 million current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635 million current US$, 9.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +1648.7% | 1,621 million current US$ | 28,350 million current US$ |
| 2018 | +1097.3% | 1,014 million current US$ | 12,141 million current US$ |
| 2010 | +1018.1% | 436.35 million current US$ | 4,879 million current US$ |
| 2005 | +522.9% | 1,942 million current US$ | 12,097 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 251.3 million current US$ | 57 million current US$ | 690 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,405 million current US$ | 183 million current US$ | 12,097 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,164 million current US$ | 1,014 million current US$ | 21,955 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,045 million current US$ | 1,621 million current US$ | 28,350 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 22 Sweden 18,288 million current US$ compare
- 23 Israel 16,808 million current US$ compare
- 25 Republic of Korea 15,226 million current US$ compare
- 25 South Korea 15,226 million current US$ compare
- 27 Colombia 14,234 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 69.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Saudi Arabia?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Saudi Arabia was 15,738 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 28,350 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57 million current US$ in 1997.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 24th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 942.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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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