Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Nigeria
Nigeria: Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Nigeria is 0.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 152.3% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Nigeria peaked at 1.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, -0.2%, in 2004.
That places Nigeria 85th out of 189 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 outflows as share of GDP in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -32.5% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -29.5% |
| 1982 | -0.0% | -478.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -104.7% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | +130.3% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | +22.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | +949.9% |
| 1987 | -0.0% | -157.0% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -168.1% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +17684.9% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -57.7% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -9.9% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -27.7% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +88.0% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -56.5% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -66.7% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +136.3% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -84.1% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | +41.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | +301.9% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -16.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -47.7% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +41.9% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -11.8% |
| 2004 | -0.2% | -220.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -104.3% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +1508.9% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +132.6% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | +67.0% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -52.0% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -20.7% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +67.4% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -28.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | +19.1% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -71.5% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | +62.1% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -68.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +476.5% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | +21.2% |
| 2022 | -0.0% | -103.5% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -606.4% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | +208.1% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | +152.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | -0.2% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
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 outflows as share of gdp in Nigeria?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Nigeria was 0.4% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2% in 2004.
- How does Nigeria rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp?
- Nigeria ranks 85th out of 189 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net outflows of foreign direct investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world.