Aggregate profile
Sub-Saharan Africa
World Bank region aggregate
Key figures, 2025
FDI inflows 2025
$7.0 bn
Inflows % of GDP
2.3%
FDI outflows
−$2.6 bn
Net FDI
$9.6 bn
FDI % of investment
1.4%
In 2025, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded FDI net inflows of $7.0 bn, down 84% from $43.5 bn in 2024. That is 84% below its 2020–2024 average of $43.3 bn. That is 0.5% of the world total. Inflows peaked at $70.8 bn in 2021 (data begin in 1970). Inflows were equivalent to 2.3% of GDP in 2024 — above the world as a whole (1.4%).
About this summary
Generated automatically from World Bank data. Figures are balance-of-payments net flows in current US$; 2025 is the latest year with broad coverage across economies.Trends
FDI flows over time
Net flows, current US$ (balance-of-payments basis)
- Inflows
- Outflows
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD and BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD.
Sub-Saharan Africa compared with the world
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- World
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicator BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS.
FDI vs remittances, aid and portfolio equity, current US$
- FDI inflows
- Remittances
- Aid (ODA)
- Portfolio equity
FDI is only one of the ways foreign money reaches an economy. For many developing economies, remittances from workers abroad or official aid are larger and more stable; portfolio equity is typically the most volatile.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD, BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, DT.ODA.ODAT.CD, BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD.
Economy at a glance
The economy behind the investment
The macroeconomic, trade and workforce indicators investors and trade officials look at alongside FDI — latest year, 15-year trend and regional and world benchmarks.
Size & growth
GDP
$2.21 tn2025
Real GDP growth
4.1%2025
World 2.9%
GDP per capita
$1,6732025
World $14,406
GNI per capita (PPP)
$5,6162025
World $25,517
Population
1.32 bn2025
Population growth
2.4%2025
World 0.9%
Macro stability
Inflation (annual average)
3.4%2025
World 3.0%
Unemployment rate
5.7%2025
World 4.8%
Trade & structure
Exports of goods & services
$616 bn2025
Imports of goods & services
$616 bn2025
Trade openness (% of GDP)
55.7%2024
World 56.7%
Manufacturing, % of GDP
9.6%2025
World 14.9%
Services, % of GDP
50.2%2025
World 63.3%
High-tech exports, % of manufactured exports
6.0%2024
World 24.7%
Workforce & innovation
Labour force
527.0 m2025
R&D expenditure, % of GDP
0.4%2007
World 1.9%
Internet users, % of population
35.7%2025
World 73.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Latest available year shown for each indicator; ranks are among economies reporting that year (highest = 1st). Region = World Bank regional aggregate. Growth, inflation, unemployment, the current account and government debt are shown in the IMF table above where the IMF covers the economy.
Largest recipients
Top recipients in Sub-Saharan Africa
Economies ranked by FDI net inflows, 2025.
- 🇳🇬Nigeria$4.0 bn
- 🇬🇭Ghana$1.9 bn
- 🇨🇩DR Congo$1.9 bn
- 🇦🇴Angola$1.1 bn
- 🇨🇻Cabo Verde$154 m
- 🇧🇮Burundi$35 m
- 🇱🇸Lesotho−$6 m
- 🇿🇦South Africa−$2.2 bn
Sources & notes
World Bank, World Development Indicators
- FDI net inflows —
BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net outflows —
BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net inflows, % of GDP —
BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS - Gross fixed capital formation —
NE.GDI.FTOT.CD - Personal remittances received —
BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT - Net official development assistance received —
DT.ODA.ODAT.CD - Portfolio equity net inflows —
BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD - Real GDP growth —
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG - Inflation (annual average) —
FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG - Unemployment rate —
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS - Current account balance, % of GDP —
BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS - Exports of goods & services —
NE.EXP.GNFS.CD - Central government debt, % of GDP —
GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS
OECD: FDI statistics by partner economy and by industry (Benchmark Definition, 4th edition) and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.
Flows vs positions. Charts on this page show annual balance-of-payments flows. Bilateral and sector figures are positions (accumulated stocks) and are not directly comparable.
Negative values. Net flows can be negative when foreign investors withdraw capital or intra-company loans are repaid faster than new investment arrives.
Timing. Headline figures use 2025, the latest year with broad coverage across economies; charts also show any newer early estimates. Rankings cover economies only, not aggregates.
Counterparts. Bilateral data record the immediate counterpart, so financial centres and conduit economies can appear larger than the ultimate investors behind them.