Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Saudi Arabia, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 2.6% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
The figure is up 50.2% on the previous year and up 346.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.3% in 1982 and was at its lowest, -8.2%, in 1974.
Saudi Arabia ranks 82nd of 200 countries 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 in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | -1.6% | -1233.2% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -122.5% |
| 1973 | -4.2% | -1298.1% |
| 1974 | -8.2% | +96.3% |
| 1975 | 4.0% | -148.5% |
| 1976 | -0.6% | -115.5% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | -270.3% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | -34.4% |
| 1979 | -1.1% | -264.0% |
| 1980 | -1.9% | +70.8% |
| 1981 | 3.5% | -281.7% |
| 1982 | 7.3% | +106.0% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | -47.3% |
| 1984 | 4.1% | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | -88.3% |
| 1986 | 1.1% | +134.8% |
| 1987 | -1.4% | -223.3% |
| 1988 | -0.4% | -72.9% |
| 1989 | -0.7% | +84.4% |
| 1990 | 1.6% | -330.9% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -92.4% |
| 1992 | -0.1% | -147.6% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | -1885.8% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -74.9% |
| 1995 | -1.3% | -606.1% |
| 1996 | -0.7% | -45.7% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | -357.7% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +59.4% |
| 1999 | -0.5% | -116.5% |
| 2000 | -1.0% | +106.1% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -101.1% |
| 2002 | -0.3% | -3136.8% |
| 2003 | -0.3% | -16.1% |
| 2004 | -0.1% | -52.5% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | -1133.3% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | +18.8% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -28.6% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -90.4% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +808.3% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -25.5% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -34.6% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -56.2% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +198.7% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +456.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -95.7% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | +901.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -74.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -39.1% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +1266.6% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | -25.3% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -13.2% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | -9.1% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | +50.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -0.9% | -8.2% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | -1.9% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | -1.3% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | -1.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.1% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 0.2% | 2.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 1.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 59,827 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3435 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 11,865 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.668 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Saudi Arabia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Saudi Arabia was 2.6% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.3% in 1982.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.2% in 1974.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 82nd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 346.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.