Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Total FDI inflows — Value US$ was 12,319 million USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million USD.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total fdi inflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia is 12,319 million USD, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 56.1% on the previous year and up 265.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fdi inflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia peaked at 38,151 million USD in 2008 and was at its lowest, 57 million USD, in 1997.
That places Saudi Arabia 29th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total FDI inflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | million USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 312 million USD | — |
| 1991 | 165 million USD | -47.1% |
| 1992 | 250 million USD | +51.5% |
| 1993 | 180 million USD | -28.0% |
| 1994 | 690 million USD | +283.3% |
| 1995 | 578 million USD | -16.2% |
| 1996 | 64 million USD | -88.9% |
| 1997 | 57 million USD | -10.9% |
| 1998 | 94 million USD | +64.9% |
| 1999 | 123 million USD | +30.9% |
| 2000 | 183 million USD | +48.8% |
| 2001 | 504 million USD | +175.4% |
| 2002 | 453 million USD | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 778 million USD | +71.7% |
| 2004 | 1,942 million USD | +149.6% |
| 2005 | 12,097 million USD | +522.9% |
| 2006 | 18,293 million USD | +51.2% |
| 2007 | 22,821 million USD | +24.8% |
| 2008 | 38,151 million USD | +67.2% |
| 2009 | 32,100 million USD | -15.9% |
| 2010 | 28,024 million USD | -12.7% |
| 2011 | 4,684 million USD | -83.3% |
| 2012 | 5,035 million USD | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 3,371 million USD | -33.0% |
| 2014 | 1,509 million USD | -55.2% |
| 2015 | 3,971 million USD | +163.1% |
| 2016 | 21,955 million USD | +452.9% |
| 2017 | 1,014 million USD | -95.4% |
| 2018 | 12,141 million USD | +1097.3% |
| 2019 | 3,079 million USD | -74.6% |
| 2020 | 1,621 million USD | -47.3% |
| 2021 | 23,112 million USD | +1325.6% |
| 2022 | 28,055 million USD | +21.4% |
| 2023 | 12,319 million USD | -56.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 12,319 million USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,565 million USD, 2.7× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 12,319 million USD is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,095 million USD, 11.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total FDI inflows — Value US$ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +1325.6% | 1,621 million USD | 23,112 million USD |
| 2018 | +1097.3% | 1,014 million USD | 12,141 million USD |
| 2005 | +522.9% | 1,942 million USD | 12,097 million USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 251.3 million USD | 57 million USD | 690 million USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 12,732 million USD | 183 million USD | 38,151 million USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,478 million USD | 1,014 million USD | 28,024 million USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,277 million USD | 1,621 million USD | 28,055 million USD | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 26 Israel 16,422 million USD compare
- 27 Côte d'Ivoire 1,753 million USD compare
- 27 Republic of Korea 15,178 million USD compare
- 28 Cabo Verde 118.32 million USD compare
- 28 Switzerland 13,507 million USD compare
- 30 Egypt 9,841 million USD compare
- 31 Denmark 8,781 million USD compare
- 32 Malaysia 8,653 million USD compare
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0212 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 731.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 52.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0256 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 882.47 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fdi inflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia?
- Total fdi inflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia was 12,319 million USD in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest total fdi inflows — value us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 38,151 million USD in 2008.
- What is the lowest total fdi inflows — value us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57 million USD in 1997.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for total fdi inflows — value us$?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 29th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total fdi inflows — value us$ rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 265.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Total FDI inflows — Value US$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
FDI is an investment which aims to acquire a lasting management influence (10 percent or more of the voting stock) in an enterprise operating in a foreign economy. FDI may be undertaken by individuals, as well as business entities. The foreign direct investor most often is aiming to gain access to natural resources, to markets, to labour supply, to technology, to ensure security of supplies or to control the quality of a certain product. FDI can be decomposed into two types of investments: mergers and acquisitions (MA) and greenfield investments. The latter type results in the creation of new entities and the setting up of offices, buildings, plants or factories from scratch in a foreign economy. FDI is the sum of equity capital, reinvested earnings and other FDI capital. Equity capital comprises equity in branches, all shares in subsidiaries and associates (except non-participating, preferred shares that are treated as debt securities and are included under other FDI capital) and other contributions such as the provision of machinery. Reinvested earnings consist of the direct investor's share (in proportion to equity participation) of earnings not distributed by the direct investment enterprise. Other FDI capital (loans) includes the borrowing and lending of funds, including debt securities and trade credits between direct investors and direct investment enterprises. FDI inflows and outflows are important for tracking the direct investment conditions each year. Outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions from the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises resident abroad. Whereas, Inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions received by the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises of a specific industry resident in the reporting economy.