Foreign direct investment, net in Ghana
Ghana: Foreign direct investment, net was -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Ghana, 1975–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Ghana recorded -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net in 2025.
That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and up 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Ghana peaked at 18.26 million BoP, current US$ in 1976 and was at its lowest, -3.47 billion BoP, current US$, in 2016.
That places Ghana 146th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in Ghana, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -70.87 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 18.26 million BoP, current US$ | -125.8% |
| 1977 | -19.22 million BoP, current US$ | -205.2% |
| 1978 | -9.70 million BoP, current US$ | -49.5% |
| 1979 | 2.80 million BoP, current US$ | -128.9% |
| 1980 | -15.60 million BoP, current US$ | -657.1% |
| 1981 | -16.26 million BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1982 | -16.30 million BoP, current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1983 | -2.40 million BoP, current US$ | -85.3% |
| 1984 | -2.00 million BoP, current US$ | -16.7% |
| 1985 | -5.60 million BoP, current US$ | +180.0% |
| 1986 | -4.30 million BoP, current US$ | -23.2% |
| 1987 | -4.70 million BoP, current US$ | +9.3% |
| 1988 | -5.00 million BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1989 | -15.00 million BoP, current US$ | +200.0% |
| 1990 | -14.80 million BoP, current US$ | -1.3% |
| 1991 | -20.00 million BoP, current US$ | +35.1% |
| 1992 | -22.50 million BoP, current US$ | +12.5% |
| 1993 | -125.00 million BoP, current US$ | +455.6% |
| 1994 | -233.00 million BoP, current US$ | +86.4% |
| 1995 | -106.50 million BoP, current US$ | -54.3% |
| 1996 | -120.00 million BoP, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 1997 | -81.80 million BoP, current US$ | -31.8% |
| 1998 | -167.40 million BoP, current US$ | +104.6% |
| 1999 | -243.70 million BoP, current US$ | +45.6% |
| 2000 | -165.90 million BoP, current US$ | -31.9% |
| 2001 | -89.32 million BoP, current US$ | -46.2% |
| 2002 | -58.93 million BoP, current US$ | -34.0% |
| 2003 | -136.75 million BoP, current US$ | +132.1% |
| 2004 | -139.27 million BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2005 | -144.97 million BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2006 | -636.01 million BoP, current US$ | +338.7% |
| 2007 | -1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +117.5% |
| 2008 | -2.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +96.3% |
| 2009 | -2.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2010 | -2.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2011 | -3.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.5% |
| 2012 | -3.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2013 | -3.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2014 | -3.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.0% |
| 2015 | -2.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.5% |
| 2016 | -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2017 | -3.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2018 | -2.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.2% |
| 2019 | -3.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2020 | -1.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.5% |
| 2021 | -2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +81.0% |
| 2022 | -1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -39.0% |
| 2023 | -1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.2% |
| 2024 | -1.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.5% |
| 2025 | -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -582.76 million BoP, current US$, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -396.63 million BoP, current US$, 4.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -657.1% | 2.80 million BoP, current US$ | -15.60 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1993 | -455.6% | -22.50 million BoP, current US$ | -125.00 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2006 | -338.7% | -144.97 million BoP, current US$ | -636.01 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -15.74 million BoP, current US$ | -70.87 million BoP, current US$ | 18.26 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | -8.72 million BoP, current US$ | -16.30 million BoP, current US$ | -2.00 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -113.47 million BoP, current US$ | -243.70 million BoP, current US$ | -14.80 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -783.49 million BoP, current US$ | -2.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -58.93 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 143 Bangladesh -1.84 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 144 South Africa -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 145 Democratic Republic of Congo -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 147 Czechia -1.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 148 Namibia -1.89 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 149 Suriname -2.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Ghana
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.15 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 38.84 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.11 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.91 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0167 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 54.42 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Ghana?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Ghana was -1.87 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 18.26 million BoP, current US$ in 1976.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Ghana ranks 146th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.