What is foreign direct investment?

FDI is investment by a company or individual from one country into business interests in another, averaging about 2.1% of GDP globally.

Which country receives the most FDI?

The United States typically receives the most FDI in absolute terms, followed by China, Singapore, and Brazil.

FDI brings capital, technology, management expertise, and jobs, and is strongly correlated with economic growth in developing countries.

Global Average Foreign Direct Investment

Last updated: February 1, 2026

2.1%

% of GDP

Global FDI inflows average approximately 2.1% of GDP. FDI totaled $1.3 trillion in 2023. The US, China, and Singapore are the largest recipients. FDI brings not just capital but technology transfer and employment.

Why This Average Exists

FDI measures international investment flows and indicates a country's attractiveness for business, reflecting economic stability, market size, and regulatory environment.

Factors That Affect Global Average Foreign Direct Investment

Political stability
Tax incentives
Market size
Labor costs
Infrastructure quality
Regulatory environment

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2023–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.