Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Transactions (ROWFDIQ027S) from Q4 1946 to Q4 2024 about FDI, IMA, transactions, assets, and USA.

Foreign Direct Investment in the United States increased by 76241 USD Million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United States Foreign Direct Investment - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In the last 20 years, the amount of FDI into the United States has more than doubled. In 2000, FDI was 1.26 trillion U.S. dollars, rising to 5.39 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment from a company in one country into a company or entity located in another country. While the United States receives huge amounts of FDI each year, it also invests large amounts in other countries. For example, in 2020 the United States invested over 890 billon U.S. dollars in the United Kingdom and another 843.95 billion U.S. dollars in the Netherlands.

Key information about United States Foreign Direct Investment

• United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 96.6 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with an increase of 120.7 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• US Foreign Direct Investment: USD mn net flows data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 244.5 USD bn in Mar 2015 and a record low of -69.8 USD bn in Mar 2014.

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 310.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 96.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 637.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In 2023, the foreign direct investments from Asia Pacific in the United States amounted to approximately 988.75 billion U.S. dollars. The total foreign direct investments in the U.S. were valued at approximately 5.39 billion U.S. dollars in that year.

Key information about United States Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) registered a growth equal to 1.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with a growth equal to 1.7 % in the previous quarter.
• US Foreign Direct Investment: % of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 6.2 % in Jun 1999 and a record low -1.7 % in Mar 2014.

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 310.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 96.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 96.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 637.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In 2022, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the United States to other countries amounted to 6.58 trillion U.S. dollars. Foreign direct investment reflects the ownership of business from one country in another country. It differs from a traditional investment in companies located abroad by the ownership factor in case of FDI.

Why is FDI important?

FDI has influences in the both the sending and receiving countries. In the recipient countries, FDI can be an important source of capital that might not otherwise be available. This is particularly true in less developed regions, such as in Africa. The countries which received the largest amount of foreign direct investment from the United States in 2019 were the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg.

FDI flows to the United States

On the other hand, the countries that sent the most FDI to the United States in 2017 were Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. There were about 8.7 million jobs offered in the U.S. due to foreign direct investments as of 2019.

United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data was reported at 174.000 USD mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 280.000 USD mn for Mar 2018. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data is updated quarterly, averaging 168.000 USD mn from Mar 1994 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.518 USD bn in Dec 2011 and a record low of -1.629 USD bn in Mar 2010. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O004: Foreign Direct Investment: by Country: Flow.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.: Equity; Asset (Market Value), Transactions (BOGZ1FU263092141A) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, market value, equity, transactions, assets, and USA.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in United States was reported at 1.2582 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The United Kingdom received the most direct investment from the United States in 2022, an amount exceeding one trillion U.S. dollars. This measurement was based on a historical-cost basis, meaning that the original cost of investment has been adjusted for inflation.

What is foreign direct investment?

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the amount that foreign speculators invests in firms in another country. Investors from the United States have trillions of U.S. dollars in FDI invested abroad. This gives firms in those countries access to capital that they might not have otherwise enjoyed, particularly if the firms are in developing regions such as Africa. The United States is also a target country for FDI, with hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars flowing into the United States every year.

Benefits and risks

FDI generally increases the size of both economies. The host country has an inflow in capital, which should lead to a higher number of jobs and increased productivity. The investing company should benefit from the dividends of such investments. However, any investment has default risks. These risks are magnified by the regulatory uncertainty that arises from the fact that two legal systems are involved. This can lead to political pressure, particularly if trade tensions are already high.

Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in United States was reported at 454084000000 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Income: South & Central America: Other Countries data was reported at 59.000 USD mn in Mar 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -38.000 USD mn for Dec 2017. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Income: South & Central America: Other Countries data is updated quarterly, averaging -0.500 USD mn from Mar 1994 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 68 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.000 USD mn in Mar 2018 and a record low of -50.000 USD mn in Mar 2009. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Income: South & Central America: Other Countries data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O002: Foreign Direct Investment: By Country: Income.

U.S. foreign direct investment for 2023 was 348.78 billion US dollars, a 14.72% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>U.S. foreign direct investment for 2022 was <strong>408.98 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>14.04% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>U.S. foreign direct investment for 2021 was <strong>475.81 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>247.14% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>U.S. foreign direct investment for 2020 was <strong>137.07 billion US dollars</strong>, a <strong>56.62% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

United States Foreign Direct Investment: Europe: Netherlands data was reported at 7.501 USD bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.682 USD bn for Sep 2024. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Europe: Netherlands data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.702 USD bn from Mar 1994 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 124 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.482 USD bn in Jun 2018 and a record low of -14.137 USD bn in Dec 2007. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Europe: Netherlands data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.O004: Foreign Direct Investment: by Country and Region: Flow.

United States Foreign Direct Investment Position: Outward: % of Total (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Total: Near and Middle East data was reported at 1.215 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.218 % for 2022. United States Foreign Direct Investment Position: Outward: % of Total (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Total: Near and Middle East data is updated yearly, averaging 1.218 % from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2023, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.345 % in 2020 and a record low of 1.215 % in 2023. United States Foreign Direct Investment Position: Outward: % of Total (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Total: Near and Middle East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.OECD.FDI: Foreign Direct Investment: % of Total FDI: by Region and Country: OECD Member: Annual. Reverse investment:Reverse investment in equity (when a direct investment enterprise acquires less than 10% equity ownership in its parent) cannot be identified but is believed to be extremely rare. Netting of reverse investment in debt (when a direct investment enterprise extends a loan to its parent) is applied in the recording of total inward and outward FDI transactions and positions. Treatment of debt FDI transactions and positions between fellow enterprises: directional basis according to the residency of the direct investor. FDI transactions and positions by partner country and by industry include resident Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), but they are not significant. Valuation method used for listed inward and outward equity positions: Book values. Valuation method used for unlisted inward and outward equity positions: Book value. Valuation method used for inward and outward debt positions: Book value.; FDI statistics are available by geographic allocation, vis-à-vis single partner countries worldwide and geographical and economic zones aggregates. Partner country allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Geographic allocation of inward and outward FDI transactions and positions is according to the immediate counterparty. Inward FDI positions according to the ultimate counterparty (the ultimate investing country) are also available and publishable. In the dataset 'FDI statistics by parner country and by industry - Summary', inward FDI positions are showed according to the UIC. Intercompany debt between related financial intermediaries, including permanent debt, are excluded from FDI transactions and positions. Direct investment relationships are identified according to the criteria of the Participation Multiplication Method (PMM) method. Debt between fellow enterprises are partially covered. Collective investment institutions are partially covered as direct investment enterprises. Non-profit institutions serving households are covered as direct investors. FDI statistics are available by industry sectors according to ISIC4 classification. Industry sector allocation can be subject to confidentiality restrictions. Inward FDI transactions and positions are allocated to the activity of the resident direct investment enterprise. Outward FDI transactions are allocated according to the activity of the resident direct investor. Outward FDI positions are allocated according to the activity of the non resident direct investment enterprise. Statistical unit: Local Enterprise Group.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Europe: Italy data was reported at 29.285 USD bn in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.898 USD bn for 2016. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Europe: Italy data is updated yearly, averaging 4.177 USD bn from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.898 USD bn in 2016 and a record low of 408.000 USD mn in 1980. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Europe: Italy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O005: Foreign Direct Investment: by Country: Stock.

Chinese companies invested 28.04 billion U.S. dollars into firms in the United States in 2023, when measured on a historical-cost basis. The total foreign direct investments in the U.S. were valued at approximately 5.39 trillion U.S. dollars in that year. Sino-American relations FDI flows are even higher from the United States into China than the flows in this statistic. In addition to FDI, the countries are linked by billions of U.S. dollars in trade value, much of which includes integrated supply chains which see intermediate products shipped back and forth before a final product goes to consumers. This close economic relationship does not imply a political partnership, however. In fact, the countries engaged in what most analysts consider a trade war starting in 2018. China’s other options China is expanding its Belt and Road Initiative, producing infrastructure investments abroad in different parts of Asia. However, these outflows do not yet reach the values seen in this statistic, partly due to the smaller size of the target economies. Still, the majority of net overseas direct investment from China goes to Asia. This measure is slightly different because it does not give the total volume of investments, but it underscores the importance of regional ties to Chinese investors.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Mfg: ow: Other Manufacturing data was reported at 10.650 USD bn in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.282 USD bn for Mar 2018. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Mfg: ow: Other Manufacturing data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.423 USD bn from Mar 2002 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 53.385 USD bn in Dec 2008 and a record low of -12.881 USD bn in Sep 2013. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Mfg: ow: Other Manufacturing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.O001: Foreign Direct Investment: by Industry: NAICS: Flow.

In 2023, the European foreign direct investments in the United States amounted to approximately 3.46 trillion U.S. dollars. The total foreign direct investments in the U.S. were valued at approximately 5.39 trillion U.S. dollars in that year.