Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1977–2024
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 0.1% for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2024.
The figure is up 225.4% on the previous year and down 89.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 0.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -1.0%, in 2001.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 43rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.1% | — |
| 1978 | 0.2% | +112.8% |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -86.6% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +1761.3% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -49.4% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -73.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | +64.0% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | +28.7% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +13.5% |
| 1986 | -0.1% | -144.4% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -274.2% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | +226.0% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -54.4% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | +107.8% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +144.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | -65.7% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | +66.2% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | +46.0% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -45.7% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +69.3% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -79.9% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | +375.7% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | -36.3% |
| 2001 | -1.0% | -368.7% |
| 2002 | -0.1% | -93.6% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -405.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | +77.6% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +186.4% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -40.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -74.7% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +116.0% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +70.8% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -34.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +71.6% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +35.9% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -21.7% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +24.5% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -60.5% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -30.3% |
| 2020 | -0.0% | -100.7% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | -10374.2% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | +49.7% |
| 2023 | -0.1% | -127.8% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -225.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | -1.0% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.1% | 0.2% | 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 outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sub-Saharan Africa was 0.1% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.0% in 2001.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 43rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 89.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world, and is divided by GDP.