Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square was 1,776 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1,776 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
up 15.8%
Rank
34th
of 47 groups
All-time high
2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
in 2021
All-time low
12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
in 1980
Years of data
54
1970–2023

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970–2023

01.0k2.0k3.0k197019962023

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in BoP, current US$ per square kilometre.

Analysis

In 2023, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 1,776 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre.

The figure is up 15.8% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, in 1980.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th of 47 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, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square kilometre in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1970 to 2023.
Year BoP, current US$ per square kilometre Change
1970 41.17 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
1971 35.51 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -13.7%
1972 34.53 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -2.7%
1973 40.66 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +17.7%
1974 70.34 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +73.0%
1975 63.85 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -9.2%
1976 50.48 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -20.9%
1977 42 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -16.8%
1978 45.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +8.7%
1979 38.4 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -15.9%
1980 12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -67.0%
1981 76.71 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +504.6%
1982 72.5 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -5.5%
1983 42.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -41.5%
1984 46.56 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +9.8%
1985 49.65 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +6.6%
1986 30.56 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -38.5%
1987 65.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +114.1%
1988 74.98 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +14.6%
1989 147.45 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +96.6%
1990 58.29 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -60.5%
1991 103.55 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +77.7%
1992 92.7 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -10.5%
1993 122.28 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +31.9%
1994 168.44 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +37.7%
1995 169.88 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +0.9%
1996 153.94 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -9.4%
1997 347.41 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +125.7%
1998 283.39 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -18.4%
1999 407.03 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +43.6%
2000 323.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -20.5%
2001 726.38 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +124.4%
2002 511.86 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -29.5%
2003 650.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +27.1%
2004 590.62 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -9.2%
2005 916.88 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +55.2%
2006 768.44 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -16.2%
2007 1,363 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +77.4%
2008 1,814 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +33.1%
2009 1,713 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -5.6%
2010 1,534 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -10.5%
2011 1,965 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +28.1%
2012 1,907 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -3.0%
2013 1,703 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -10.7%
2014 1,854 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +8.8%
2015 1,893 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +2.1%
2016 1,352 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -28.6%
2017 1,168 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -13.6%
2018 1,179 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +0.9%
2019 1,152 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -2.3%
2020 972.81 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -15.5%
2021 2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +204.6%
2022 1,534 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre -48.2%
2023 1,776 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre +15.8%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.

YearChange FromTo
1981 +504.6% 12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 76.71 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
2021 +204.6% 972.81 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 46.26 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 34.53 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 70.34 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 10
1980s 61.9 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 147.45 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 10
1990s 190.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 58.29 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 407.03 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 10
2000s 937.84 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 323.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 1,814 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 10
2010s 1,571 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 1,152 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 1,965 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 10
2020s 1,812 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 972.81 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

  1. 31 Poland 116,433 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  2. 32 Saint Kitts and Nevis 114,743 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  3. 33 Costa Rica 103,789 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  4. 34 Dominican Republic 98,562 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  5. 35 Spain 93,981 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  6. 36 Naoero 72,314 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
  7. 37 Slovenia 71,898 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 1,776 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The highest recorded value was 2,963 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2021.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 12.69 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 1980.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
Is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries). Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-bop-current-us-per-square-kilometre/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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<a href="https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-bop-current-us-per-square-kilometre/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/">Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square kilometre
Unit
BoP, current US$ per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
247 places, 11,736 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.