Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was -40,003 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-40,003 million current US$
Change on year
down 176.7%
World rank
222nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
258,699 million current US$
in 2016
All-time low
-72,078 million current US$
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in United Kingdom, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Kingdom stood at -40,003 million current US$.
That represents a change of down 176.7% on the previous year and down 262.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Kingdom peaked at 258,699 million current US$ in 2016 and was at its lowest, -72,078 million current US$, in 2021.
United Kingdom ranks 222nd of 224 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30,461 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 14,846 million current US$ | -51.3% |
| 1992 | 17,237 million current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1993 | 16,957 million current US$ | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 10,235 million current US$ | -39.6% |
| 1995 | 23,590 million current US$ | +130.5% |
| 1996 | 28,448 million current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1997 | 33,128 million current US$ | +16.5% |
| 1998 | 65,062 million current US$ | +96.4% |
| 1999 | 90,034 million current US$ | +38.4% |
| 2000 | 115,304 million current US$ | +28.1% |
| 2001 | 35,949 million current US$ | -68.8% |
| 2002 | 19,683 million current US$ | -45.2% |
| 2003 | 16,590 million current US$ | -15.7% |
| 2004 | 61,220 million current US$ | +269.0% |
| 2005 | 182,928 million current US$ | +198.8% |
| 2006 | 147,372 million current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2007 | 176,839 million current US$ | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 92,158 million current US$ | -47.9% |
| 2009 | 89,709 million current US$ | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 58,200 million current US$ | -35.1% |
| 2011 | 42,200 million current US$ | -27.5% |
| 2012 | 55,446 million current US$ | +31.4% |
| 2013 | 51,676 million current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 24,690 million current US$ | -52.2% |
| 2015 | 39,186 million current US$ | +58.7% |
| 2016 | 258,699 million current US$ | +560.2% |
| 2017 | 96,354 million current US$ | -62.8% |
| 2018 | 87,838 million current US$ | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 53,918 million current US$ | -38.6% |
| 2020 | 44,397 million current US$ | -17.7% |
| 2021 | -72,078 million current US$ | -262.3% |
| 2022 | 14,912 million current US$ | -120.7% |
| 2023 | 52,188 million current US$ | +250.0% |
| 2024 | -40,003 million current US$ | -176.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -40,003 million current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,309 million current US$. (68 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -40,003 million current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,342 million current US$. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +560.2% | 39,186 million current US$ | 258,699 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33,000 million current US$ | 10,235 million current US$ | 90,034 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 93,775 million current US$ | 16,590 million current US$ | 182,928 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 76,821 million current US$ | 24,690 million current US$ | 258,699 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -116.76 million current US$ | -72,078 million current US$ | 52,188 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 219 Iraq -7,458 million current US$ compare
- 220 Belgium -26,723 million current US$ compare
- 221 Ireland -38,891 million current US$ compare
- 222 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -40,003 million current US$ compare
- 224 Switzerland -60,708 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Kingdom?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in United Kingdom was -40,003 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 258,699 million current US$ in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -72,078 million current US$ in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- United Kingdom ranks 222nd out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 262.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).