Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1970–2024
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 Sub-Saharan Africa is 2.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 11.7% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 3.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1980.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th of 47 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.3% | — |
| 1971 | 1.1% | -12.8% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -18.0% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | -12.9% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | +35.4% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -17.9% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | -24.8% |
| 1977 | 0.5% | -27.6% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | -3.7% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -27.9% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -74.7% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +354.5% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | -34.8% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | +23.5% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +10.6% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -34.5% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | +90.7% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | +93.5% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -66.4% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | +65.6% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | +37.6% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +34.8% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -20.6% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | +114.6% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -18.7% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | +100.9% |
| 2000 | 1.6% | -25.0% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +134.2% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -35.5% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | -26.5% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | +30.4% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -29.1% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +53.1% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +17.2% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -24.0% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +13.4% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -16.0% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -21.2% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -21.0% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -13.5% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +170.4% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | -51.7% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | +25.7% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 1.6% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 1.2% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More economy & growth data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2311 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 407.9 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2438 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 246.12 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 5.43 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 386.71 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 398.55 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.8256 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2382 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.3% in 2024, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1980.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 17th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.