Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria
Nigeria: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria is 1.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 115.3% on the previous year and up 121.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria peaked at 4.3% in 1989 and was at its lowest, -1.2%, in 1980.
That places Nigeria 132nd out of 200 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 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.6% | — |
| 1971 | 3.1% | +90.6% |
| 1972 | 2.5% | -20.2% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -58.0% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +63.6% |
| 1976 | 0.9% | -44.8% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | +30.9% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -52.8% |
| 1979 | 0.7% | +13.4% |
| 1980 | -1.2% | -275.7% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -128.7% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -8.5% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +24.4% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -31.4% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | +155.8% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -46.5% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | +228.8% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -34.2% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | +461.4% |
| 1990 | 1.1% | -74.6% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +10.0% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | +43.9% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | +37.7% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -90.2% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +12.8% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -13.0% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -41.3% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +1138.8% |
| 2000 | 1.6% | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +21.8% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -27.9% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | +105.5% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | -28.2% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 2.4% | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +20.2% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -43.4% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +29.9% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | -28.6% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -29.8% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -23.6% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -24.0% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +37.3% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -24.7% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -71.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | +87.7% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +15.5% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +36.5% |
| 2022 | -0.0% | -105.3% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -1430.6% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | +66.5% |
| 2025 | 1.4% | +115.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 0.6% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | -1.2% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.1% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.2% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | -0.0% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 129 Qatar 1.4% compare
- 130 Kyrgyzstan 1.4% compare
- 131 Jamaica 1.4% compare
- 133 Sudan 1.4% compare
- 134 New Zealand 1.4% compare
- 135 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 1.4% compare
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 5.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 348.91 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 427,154 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.4555 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 557.59 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) 2.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU), per 209.92 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nigeria was 1.4% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1989.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2% in 1980.
- How does Nigeria rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Nigeria ranks 132nd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 121.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.