Foreign Direct Investment in the Global Economy

Many countries rely on inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) as a key source of aggregate demand and also as a driver of real economic growth. In 2017, total foreign direct investment was $1.43 trillion globally.

Developed economies

• FDI Inflows: $712.4 billion
• FDI Outflows: $1,009.2 billion

Developing economies

• FDI Inflows: $670.7 billion
• FDI Outflows: $380.8 billion

Google public data on net foreign direct investment measured as a % of a nation's GDP (Source, World Bank)

Google public data on net flows of foreign direct investment (measured as a % of GDP)