Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Benin
Benin: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 481.66 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Benin, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Benin stood at 481.66 million BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 21.5% on the previous year and up 221.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Benin peaked at 481.66 million BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, -40.77 million BoP, current US$, in 2004.
That places Benin 123rd out of 204 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Benin, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6.70 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 2.80 million BoP, current US$ | -58.2% |
| 1972 | 4.80 million BoP, current US$ | +71.4% |
| 1973 | 3.50 million BoP, current US$ | -27.1% |
| 1974 | -2.34 million BoP, current US$ | -166.9% |
| 1975 | 1.89 million BoP, current US$ | -180.7% |
| 1976 | 2.45 million BoP, current US$ | +29.8% |
| 1977 | 3.13 million BoP, current US$ | +27.5% |
| 1978 | 753,360 BoP, current US$ | -75.9% |
| 1979 | 3.57 million BoP, current US$ | +373.6% |
| 1980 | 4.32 million BoP, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1981 | 2.09 million BoP, current US$ | -51.6% |
| 1982 | -12,173 BoP, current US$ | -100.6% |
| 1983 | 10,497 BoP, current US$ | -186.2% |
| 1984 | 11,443 BoP, current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1985 | -90,000 BoP, current US$ | -886.5% |
| 1986 | 1.10 million BoP, current US$ | -1322.2% |
| 1987 | 100,000 BoP, current US$ | -90.9% |
| 1988 | -21.66 million BoP, current US$ | -21762.0% |
| 1989 | -1.12 million BoP, current US$ | -94.8% |
| 1990 | -2.95 million BoP, current US$ | +164.2% |
| 1991 | 393,822 BoP, current US$ | -113.3% |
| 1992 | 954,317 BoP, current US$ | +142.3% |
| 1993 | -21.64 million BoP, current US$ | -2367.2% |
| 1994 | -7.11 million BoP, current US$ | -67.1% |
| 1995 | -7.74 million BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1996 | -14.66 million BoP, current US$ | +89.5% |
| 1997 | 12.18 million BoP, current US$ | -183.1% |
| 1998 | 11.29 million BoP, current US$ | -7.3% |
| 1999 | 9.31 million BoP, current US$ | -17.5% |
| 2000 | -12.79 million BoP, current US$ | -237.4% |
| 2001 | 16.74 million BoP, current US$ | -230.8% |
| 2002 | -19.40 million BoP, current US$ | -215.9% |
| 2003 | 10.64 million BoP, current US$ | -154.8% |
| 2004 | -40.77 million BoP, current US$ | -483.3% |
| 2005 | -8.79 million BoP, current US$ | -78.4% |
| 2006 | -12.36 million BoP, current US$ | +40.7% |
| 2007 | 139.19 million BoP, current US$ | -1225.8% |
| 2008 | 48.21 million BoP, current US$ | -65.4% |
| 2009 | -18.81 million BoP, current US$ | -139.0% |
| 2010 | 53.51 million BoP, current US$ | -384.5% |
| 2011 | 161.30 million BoP, current US$ | +201.5% |
| 2012 | 281.55 million BoP, current US$ | +74.5% |
| 2013 | 360.34 million BoP, current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2014 | 405.74 million BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 149.76 million BoP, current US$ | -63.1% |
| 2016 | 131.79 million BoP, current US$ | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 200.90 million BoP, current US$ | +52.4% |
| 2018 | 194.07 million BoP, current US$ | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 218.21 million BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 174.02 million BoP, current US$ | -20.3% |
| 2021 | 345.99 million BoP, current US$ | +98.8% |
| 2022 | 375.99 million BoP, current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 442.96 million BoP, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2024 | 396.39 million BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2025 | 481.66 million BoP, current US$ | +21.5% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 481.66 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 642.40 million BoP, current US$, 75% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 481.66 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 490.83 million BoP, current US$, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Benin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -21762.0% | 100,000 BoP, current US$ | -21.66 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1993 | -2367.2% | 954,317 BoP, current US$ | -21.64 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1986 | +1322.2% | -90,000 BoP, current US$ | 1.10 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2007 | +1225.8% | -12.36 million BoP, current US$ | 139.19 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1985 | -886.5% | 11,443 BoP, current US$ | -90,000 BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.72 million BoP, current US$ | -2.34 million BoP, current US$ | 6.70 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.53 million BoP, current US$ | -21.66 million BoP, current US$ | 4.32 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.00 million BoP, current US$ | -21.64 million BoP, current US$ | 12.18 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.19 million BoP, current US$ | -40.77 million BoP, current US$ | 139.19 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 215.72 million BoP, current US$ | 53.51 million BoP, current US$ | 405.74 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 369.50 million BoP, current US$ | 174.02 million BoP, current US$ | 481.66 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 120 Malawi 530.14 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 121 Bolivia 526.76 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 122 Liberia 500.00 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 124 Moldova 459.51 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 125 New Caledonia 439.55 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 126 Kuwait 413.09 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Benin
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 17.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -3.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0103 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 17.01 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -8.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0075 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 12.42 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -0.7436 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Benin?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Benin was 481.66 million BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 481.66 million BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was -40.77 million BoP, current US$ in 2004.
- How does Benin rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Benin ranks 123rd out of 204 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 221.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. 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 ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.