Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 46,440 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
46,440
Change on year
up 10.6%
Rank
21st
of 36 groups
All-time high
72,760
in 2021
All-time low
1,690
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 46,440.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.6% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 72,760 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,690, in 1990.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 21st of 36 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,690 | — |
| 1991 | 2,629 | +55.6% |
| 1992 | 2,244 | -14.7% |
| 1993 | 3,032 | +35.1% |
| 1994 | 3,827 | +26.2% |
| 1995 | 4,437 | +15.9% |
| 1996 | 4,580 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 8,283 | +80.9% |
| 1998 | 6,999 | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 8,546 | +22.1% |
| 2000 | 7,132 | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 14,615 | +104.9% |
| 2002 | 10,890 | -25.5% |
| 2003 | 12,891 | +18.4% |
| 2004 | 11,203 | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 17,795 | +58.8% |
| 2006 | 12,798 | -28.1% |
| 2007 | 28,256 | +120.8% |
| 2008 | 36,961 | +30.8% |
| 2009 | 39,248 | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 32,164 | -18.0% |
| 2011 | 40,050 | +24.5% |
| 2012 | 42,348 | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 38,309 | -9.5% |
| 2014 | 42,774 | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 46,118 | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 33,895 | -26.5% |
| 2017 | 27,324 | -19.4% |
| 2018 | 28,025 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 32,881 | +17.3% |
| 2020 | 31,164 | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 72,760 | +133.5% |
| 2022 | 39,365 | -45.9% |
| 2023 | 41,983 | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 46,440 | +10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,627 | 1,690 | 8,546 | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,179 | 7,132 | 39,248 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,389 | 27,324 | 46,118 | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,343 | 31,164 | 72,760 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 466.42 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2516 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa was 46,440 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 72,760 in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,690 in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 21st out of 36 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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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