Foreign Direct Investment in the United States increased by 66726 USD Million in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Foreign Direct Investment - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Historical Cost), Level (BOGZ1FL263092055Q) from Q4 1982 to Q1 2025 about historical cost, FDI, assets, and USA.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Level (ROWFDNA027N) from 1945 to 2024 about FDI, IMA, assets, and USA.

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.

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.

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.

United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data was reported at 74.095 USD bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.189 USD bn for Sep 2024. United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data is updated quarterly, averaging 56.919 USD bn from Mar 1997 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 236.970 USD bn in Mar 2015 and a record low of -74.867 USD bn in Mar 2014. United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

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 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 June of 2025.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in United States was reported at 1.3294 % in 2024, 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 July of 2025.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in United States was reported at 387990000000 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2022, no country had a higher foreign direct investment (FDI) position in the United States than Japan, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada. At that time, Japan had over 711 billion U.S. dollars invested in the United States.

What is FDI?

FDI is an international investment, in this case when a foreign firm or individual invests in a business in the United States. The worldwide value of FDI flows is immense, which is a result of the increasing connectedness of world financial markets. In this statistic, we see countries that are connected to the U.S. for historic and geographic reasons, such as the UK and Canada respectively, investing large sums of money in U.S. enterprises. The countries which received the most FDI from the United States in 2022 were the Netherlands, the UK, and Luxembourg.

The effects of FDI

Foreign direct investment, like any increase in capital, leads to a higher number of jobs. The economy of the target country grows, and the investing country generally earns a good rate of return. Critics of FDI worry that it opens companies to the influence of foreign individuals and firms.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Indonesia was reported at 23666770334 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Indonesia - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

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: 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.

Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) in United States was reported at 105300000000 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.