Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 46,440 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
46,440 million current US$
Change on year
up 10.6%
Rank
21st
of 35 groups
All-time high
72,760 million current US$
in 2021
All-time low
1,690 million current US$
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. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 46,440 million current US$.
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 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,690 million current US$, in 1990.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 21st of 35 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,690 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 2,629 million current US$ | +55.6% |
| 1992 | 2,244 million current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1993 | 3,032 million current US$ | +35.1% |
| 1994 | 3,827 million current US$ | +26.2% |
| 1995 | 4,437 million current US$ | +15.9% |
| 1996 | 4,580 million current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 8,283 million current US$ | +80.9% |
| 1998 | 6,999 million current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 8,546 million current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2000 | 7,132 million current US$ | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 14,615 million current US$ | +104.9% |
| 2002 | 10,890 million current US$ | -25.5% |
| 2003 | 12,891 million current US$ | +18.4% |
| 2004 | 11,203 million current US$ | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 17,795 million current US$ | +58.8% |
| 2006 | 12,798 million current US$ | -28.1% |
| 2007 | 28,256 million current US$ | +120.8% |
| 2008 | 36,961 million current US$ | +30.8% |
| 2009 | 39,248 million current US$ | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 32,164 million current US$ | -18.0% |
| 2011 | 40,050 million current US$ | +24.5% |
| 2012 | 42,348 million current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 38,309 million current US$ | -9.5% |
| 2014 | 42,774 million current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2015 | 46,118 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 33,895 million current US$ | -26.5% |
| 2017 | 27,324 million current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2018 | 28,025 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 32,881 million current US$ | +17.3% |
| 2020 | 31,164 million current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 72,760 million current US$ | +133.5% |
| 2022 | 39,365 million current US$ | -45.9% |
| 2023 | 41,983 million current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 46,440 million current US$ | +10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,627 million current US$ | 1,690 million current US$ | 8,546 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,179 million current US$ | 7,132 million current US$ | 39,248 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,389 million current US$ | 27,324 million current US$ | 46,118 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,343 million current US$ | 31,164 million current US$ | 72,760 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 18 Italy 24,726 million current US$ compare
- 19 Indonesia 24,212 million current US$ compare
- 20 Viet Nam 20,170 million current US$ compare
- 20 Vietnam 20,170 million current US$ compare
- 22 Sweden 18,288 million current US$ compare
- 23 Israel 16,808 million current US$ compare
- 24 Saudi Arabia 15,738 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- SDR Allocation, SDR, per capita 18.87 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0103 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, per capita 17.18 units per person (2025)
- SDR Allocation, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDR Allocation, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0154 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDR Allocation, US dollar, per capita 25.84 units per person (2025)
- SDR Allocation, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDR Allocation, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0113 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF Quota, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0076 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF Quota, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (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 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 72,760 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,690 million current US$ in 1990.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 21st out of 35 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).