Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 15,738 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 15,738 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 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 57, in 1997.
Saudi Arabia ranks 24th of 222 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 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 312 | — |
| 1991 | 165 | -47.1% |
| 1992 | 250 | +51.5% |
| 1993 | 180 | -28.0% |
| 1994 | 690 | +283.3% |
| 1995 | 578 | -16.2% |
| 1996 | 64 | -88.9% |
| 1997 | 57 | -10.9% |
| 1998 | 94 | +64.9% |
| 1999 | 123 | +30.9% |
| 2000 | 183 | +48.8% |
| 2001 | 504 | +175.4% |
| 2002 | 453 | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 778.46 | +71.8% |
| 2004 | 1,942 | +149.5% |
| 2005 | 12,097 | +522.9% |
| 2006 | 5,976 | -50.6% |
| 2007 | 6,175 | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 5,506 | -10.8% |
| 2009 | 436.35 | -92.1% |
| 2010 | 4,879 | +1018.1% |
| 2011 | 4,684 | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 5,035 | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 3,371 | -33.0% |
| 2014 | 1,509 | -55.2% |
| 2015 | 3,971 | +163.1% |
| 2016 | 21,955 | +452.9% |
| 2017 | 1,014 | -95.4% |
| 2018 | 12,141 | +1097.3% |
| 2019 | 3,079 | -74.6% |
| 2020 | 1,621 | -47.3% |
| 2021 | 28,350 | +1648.7% |
| 2022 | 26,710 | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 22,804 | -14.6% |
| 2024 | 15,738 | -31.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 15,738 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,309, 4.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 15,738 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,635, 9.6× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 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 | 28,350 |
| 2018 | +1097.3% | 1,014 | 12,141 |
| 2010 | +1018.1% | 436.35 | 4,879 |
| 2005 | +522.9% | 1,942 | 12,097 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 251.3 | 57 | 690 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,405 | 183 | 12,097 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,164 | 1,014 | 21,955 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,045 | 1,621 | 28,350 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 22 Sweden 18,288 compare
- 23 Israel 16,808 compare
- 25 Republic of Korea 15,226 compare
- 25 South Korea 15,226 compare
- 27 Colombia 14,234 compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % 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 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 in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57 in 1997.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 24th out of 222 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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