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Foreign investment: a 6% rebound in 2025, but highly concentrated

According to UNCTAD, global foreign direct investment rose 6% in 2025 to USD 1.6 trillion. The top 20 host economies attracted more than 80% of it.

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026, published in July 2026, reports global foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 1.6 trillion in 2025, up 6% after two years of decline.

The recovery is uneven. Flows to developed economies rose by 11%, against only 2% for developing economies (USD 901 billion). Developing Asia remains the largest recipient region with USD 644 billion, Latin America and the Caribbean rose 14% to USD 188 billion, and Africa received about USD 70 billion. Least developed countries attracted only USD 43 billion, or 2.7% of the global total.

So-called strategic sectors (AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy transition technologies, critical minerals) account for 44% of the value of greenfield projects, up from 16% in 2020.

Foreign direct investment received in 2025, developing regions
Developing Asia
644 USD bn
Latin America and the Caribbean
188 USD bn
Africa (approx.)
70 USD bn

Source: UNCTAD — World Investment Report 2026

Key figures

IndicatorValueReference period
Global foreign direct investmentUSD 1.6 trillion (+6%)2025
Flows to developing economiesUSD 901 billion (+2%)2025
Flows to developed economies+11%2025 vs 2024
Share of the top 20 host economiesmore than 80%2025
Africaabout USD 70 billion2025
Strategic sectors in greenfield projects44% of value (16% in 2020)2025

Outlook, limits and risks

UNCTAD stresses that trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, conflicts, high financing costs and economic fragmentation continue to weigh on investment decisions. FDI data are regularly revised.

Source

Original summary written from the sources cited. It is neither investment advice nor an offer. Figures and forecasts belong to their authors and may be revised.

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