Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 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 201 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 (% of GDP) 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% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.8%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -3136.8% | 0.0% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | +1885.8% | -0.1% | 1.0% |
| 1973 | -1298.1% | 0.3% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | +1266.6% | 0.2% | 2.9% |
| 1971 | -1233.2% | 0.1% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | +1133.3% | -0.1% | 1.3% |
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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.008 units 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 201 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.
Download this data
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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.