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.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Level (ROWFDNQ027S) from Q4 1945 to Q4 2024 about FDI, IMA, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in United States was reported at 348784000000 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June 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.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Asia and Pacific: Japan data was reported at 469.047 USD bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 418.331 USD bn for 2016. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Asia and Pacific: Japan data is updated yearly, averaging 157.176 USD bn from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2017, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 469.047 USD bn in 2017 and a record low of 34.421 USD bn in 1987. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Position: Asia and Pacific: Japan 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.

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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Foreign Banking Offices in the U.S.; Foreign Direct Investment in the U.S. (Market Value); Liability, Revaluation (BOGZ1FR753192003A) from 1946 to 2024 about foreign offices, FDI, revaluation, foreign, liabilities, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Security Brokers and Dealers; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S. (Current Cost); Liability (BEA), Transactions (BOGZ1FU663192063A) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, brokers, cost, dealers, transactions, liabilities, securities, and USA.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Nonfinancial Corporate Business; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S. (Market Value); Liability, Market Value Levels (BOGZ1LM103192005Q) from Q4 1945 to Q4 2020 about FDI, market value, nonfinancial, liabilities, business, and USA.

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 May of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Insurance Companies; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Liability, Transactions (BOGZ1FA523192005A) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, transactions, insurance, liabilities, and USA.