Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Total FDI outflows — Value US$ was 16,071 million USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million USD.
Analysis
In 2023, total fdi outflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia stood at 16,071 million USD.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.4% on the previous year and up 225.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fdi outflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia peaked at 26,962 million USD in 2022 and was at its lowest, -638.33 million USD, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 19th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | million USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -638.33 million USD | — |
| 1991 | -127.91 million USD | -80.0% |
| 1992 | 195.27 million USD | -252.7% |
| 1993 | 44.89 million USD | -77.0% |
| 1994 | 286.65 million USD | +538.5% |
| 1995 | 119.57 million USD | -58.3% |
| 1996 | 323.41 million USD | +170.5% |
| 1997 | 325.96 million USD | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 127.9 million USD | -60.8% |
| 1999 | 110.68 million USD | -13.5% |
| 2000 | 1,550 million USD | +1300.4% |
| 2001 | 45.63 million USD | -97.1% |
| 2002 | 2,020 million USD | +4327.1% |
| 2003 | 473 million USD | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 78.73 million USD | -83.4% |
| 2005 | -349.87 million USD | -544.4% |
| 2006 | -38.56 million USD | -89.0% |
| 2007 | -134.83 million USD | +249.7% |
| 2008 | 3,498 million USD | -2694.2% |
| 2009 | 2,177 million USD | -37.7% |
| 2010 | 3,907 million USD | +79.4% |
| 2011 | 3,430 million USD | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 4,402 million USD | +28.3% |
| 2013 | 4,943 million USD | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 5,396 million USD | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 5,390 million USD | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 9,262 million USD | +71.8% |
| 2017 | 8,173 million USD | -11.8% |
| 2018 | 19,252 million USD | +135.5% |
| 2019 | 14,553 million USD | -24.4% |
| 2020 | 5,411 million USD | -62.8% |
| 2021 | 24,674 million USD | +356.0% |
| 2022 | 26,962 million USD | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 16,071 million USD | -40.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 16,071 million USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,178 million USD, 13.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 16,071 million USD is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 124.2 million USD, 129.4× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total FDI outflows — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +4327.1% | 45.63 million USD | 2,020 million USD |
| 2008 | +2694.2% | -134.83 million USD | 3,498 million USD |
| 2000 | +1300.4% | 110.68 million USD | 1,550 million USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.81 million USD | -638.33 million USD | 325.96 million USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 931.9 million USD | -349.87 million USD | 3,498 million USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,871 million USD | 3,430 million USD | 19,252 million USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,279 million USD | 5,411 million USD | 26,962 million USD | 4 |
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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 8.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fdi outflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia?
- Total fdi outflows — value us$ in Saudi Arabia was 16,071 million USD in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 26,962 million USD in 2022.
- What is the lowest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -638.33 million USD in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for total fdi outflows — value us$?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 19th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total fdi outflows — value us$ rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 225.1%. 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 outflows — 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.