Foreign Direct Investment in the United States increased by 82453 USD Million in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Foreign Direct Investment - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Transactions (BOGZ1FU263092001Q) from Q4 1946 to Q2 2025 about FDI, cost, transactions, assets, and USA.

Key information about United States Direct Investment Abroad

• United States Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 96.8 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with a growth of 59.9 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• US Direct Investment Abroad: USD mn data is updated quarterly.
• It is available from Mar 1960 to Sep 2024 and averaged 11.0 USD bn throughout the period.
• The data reached an all-time high of 167.5 USD bn in Mar 2007 and a record low of -126.9 USD bn in Dec 2018.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides quarterly Direct Investment Abroad in USD.


Key information about United States Direct Investment Abroad

• 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 93.6 USD bn in Jun 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 2024, 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 of 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.

This statistic shows the direct investment position of the United States in China from 2000 to 2023, on a historical-cost basis. In 2023, the U.S. investments made in China were valued at 126.91 billion U.S. dollars. Direct investment position of the United States - additional information Foreign direct investment (FDI), simply put, is an investment of one company into another company located in a different country. It differs from a traditional way of investing into shares of foreign companies listed on a stock exchange. The companies which make foreign direct investment usually own a part of the company in which they invest and they have influence on the decision making process. In the United States, FDI is defined as an American investor (called the U.S. parent) owning a minimum of 10 percent of a foreign firm (known as a foreign affiliate). The total direct position of the United States abroad amounted to 6.68 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Although the phenomenon profits greatly from the technological advances of the 21st century, as well as from the cultural flexibility of today’s workforce, FDI has a long history, going back to the colonial empires. Not without critics, FDI is generally believed to bring advantages to the investing company, such as access to new markets and decreased costs of labor, materials and production facilities. The local economy can benefit from an infusion of capital, access to new technologies and engagement of native labor pool. There are three recognized types of foreign direct investment, namely horizontal FDI, platform FDI and vertical FDI, along with various methods of implementing the investment itself. FDI considered by many one of the motors of worldwide economic growth. U.S. foreign investment abroad has seen a dramatic growth in the past decades. Multinational American corporations, especially focused on manufacturing, have largely invested in facilities overseas, due to financial benefits. However, a large share of these corporations focuses toward not only supplying the U.S. market, but also the local markets in which they operate. In 2020, the country that received the largest amount of U.S. foreign investment was the United Kingdom, with a little over one trillion U.S. dollars, followed by the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Overall, the total amount of U.S. dollars invested in European states in 2021 reached 3.98 trillion U.S. dollars compared to 2.25 trillion U.S. dollars a decade prior.

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.

CEIC calculates Foreign Direct Investment as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Foreign Direct Investment and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Foreign Direct Investment in USD and Nominal GDP in USD.


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

• 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.

Graph and download economic data for Domestic Financial Sectors; U.S. Direct Investment Abroad; Asset, Level (FBDIAEQ027S) from Q4 1945 to Q2 2025 about abroad, finance companies, IMA, companies, finance, investment, financial, assets, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Transactions (ROWFDIA027N) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, IMA, transactions, assets, and USA.

In 2023, the U.S. investments made in Europe were valued at approximately 3.95 trillion U.S. dollars. The total direct position of the United States abroad amounted to 6.58 trillion 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.

Related information about United States Foreign Direct Investment

• 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 U.S.-Chartered Depository Institutions; U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (Market Value); Asset, Transactions (BOGZ1FA763092000Q) from Q4 1946 to Q2 2025 about abroad, U.S.-chartered, transactions, investment, 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.

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]

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 September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; U.S. Direct Investment Abroad, Including Netherlands Antillean Financial Subsidiaries; Liability (Historical Cost), Level (BOGZ1FL263192055A) from 1982 to 2024 about historical cost, abroad, Netherlands, liabilities, investment, and USA.

Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) in United States was reported at --8918000000 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

In 2023, the U.S. investments made in Asia Pacific was valued at approximately 1.07 trillion U.S. dollars. U.S. direct investment abroad is defined as ownership by a U.S. investor of at least 10 percent of a foreign business. The direct investor is known as a U.S. parent, and the U.S.-owned foreign business is known as a foreign affiliate. The total direct position of the United States abroad amounted to 6.68 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) in Peru was reported at --5625860695 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Peru - Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) in Chile was reported at --8929504285 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Chile - Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.