Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 46.68 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) is 46.68 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.0% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) peaked at 68.96 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 246.01 million BoP, current US$, in 1980.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 826.97 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 713.36 million BoP, current US$ | -13.7% |
| 1972 | 694.20 million BoP, current US$ | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 813.13 million BoP, current US$ | +17.1% |
| 1974 | 1.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.0% |
| 1975 | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 1976 | 1.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.2% |
| 1977 | 838.83 million BoP, current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1978 | 913.51 million BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1979 | 765.86 million BoP, current US$ | -16.2% |
| 1980 | 246.01 million BoP, current US$ | -67.9% |
| 1981 | 1.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +523.9% |
| 1982 | 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 845.34 million BoP, current US$ | -41.7% |
| 1984 | 928.04 million BoP, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 1985 | 988.41 million BoP, current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 601.28 million BoP, current US$ | -39.2% |
| 1987 | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +115.9% |
| 1988 | 1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1989 | 2.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +98.2% |
| 1990 | 1.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.9% |
| 1991 | 2.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.1% |
| 1992 | 1.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.1% |
| 1993 | 2.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.8% |
| 1994 | 3.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.6% |
| 1995 | 3.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 3.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 7.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +126.0% |
| 1998 | 5.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 1999 | 8.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.5% |
| 2000 | 6.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.9% |
| 2001 | 15.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +125.3% |
| 2002 | 10.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.7% |
| 2003 | 13.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.2% |
| 2004 | 12.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 19.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +55.5% |
| 2006 | 16.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 2007 | 28.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +77.9% |
| 2008 | 38.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.2% |
| 2009 | 36.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 32.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 41.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2012 | 44.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 40.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2014 | 44.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 45.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 31.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.7% |
| 2017 | 20.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -34.9% |
| 2018 | 16.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 25.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.5% |
| 2020 | 21.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2021 | 68.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +224.6% |
| 2022 | 32.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.5% |
| 2023 | 40.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 43.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2025 | 46.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +523.9% | 246.01 million BoP, current US$ | 1.53 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2021 | +224.6% | 21.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 68.96 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 927.26 million BoP, current US$ | 694.20 million BoP, current US$ | 1.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 246.01 million BoP, current US$ | 2.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 38.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 45.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 68.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- 28 South Korea 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 29 Egypt 15.45 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 30 Chile 14.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Malta 14.36 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Greece 13.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 Turkey 12.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 34 Portugal 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 4.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.147 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 245.62 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.8257 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,380 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 8.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,655 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9901 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3.8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) was 46.68 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 68.96 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 246.01 million BoP, current US$ in 1980.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 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.