Foreign direct investment in figures

FDI in 2023

April 2024 update:

Global FDI flows dropped by 7% in 2023, to USD 1 364 billion, continuing on a declining trend and remaining below pre-pandemic levels for the second consecutive year.

Downswings were recorded in 2023 for more than two-thirds of OECD economies and other countries, in particular the People’s Republic of China (hereafter ‘China), who received record-low FDI flows in a general context of ongoing geopolitical tensions and high interest rates.
Overall, FDI flows in non-OECD G20 economies dropped by 46% in 2023.
Despite this general downward trend, the United States, Brazil and Canada were the top three FDI destinations worldwide in 2023.

OECD equity flows remained below any level recorded since 2005, partly reflecting a slowdown in new investment activity.
Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity continued on a downward trend, hitting a ten-year record low in 2023, as the overall economic and geopolitical environment kept deteriorating.
In general, greenfield investment activity stalled in 2023, yet trends diverged between advanced economies (AEs) and emerging and developing economies (EMDEs). Capital expenditures and the number of announced projects dropped by around 20% in advanced economies, while they were up by 21% and 9% in EMDEs, respectively.

Global FDI flows declined in 2023

30/04/2024 - In 2023, global FDI flows dropped by 7%, to USD 1 364 billion, maintaining their downward trajectory and remaining below pre-pandemic levels for the second year in a row.[1] In 2023, FDI inflows decreased in more than two-thirds of OECD economies; nevertheless, significant drops in other economies also played a role in the total downturn.

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[1] _{^{By definition, inward and outward FDI worldwide should be equal but, in practice, there are statistical discrepancies between inward and outward FDI. Unless otherwise specified, references to ‘global FDI flows’ refer to the average of these two figures.}}

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FDI in Figures

Published twice yearly, FDI in Figures provides analysis on key developments and trends in global foreign direct investment flows using the most recent FDI statistics and data on mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

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