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Visualizing Global Foreign Direct Investment
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Global foreign direct investment remained resilient in 2023, with significant capital continuing to move across borders despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
Developed economies continued to be the key sources of investment, while certain emerging markets attracted significant inflows.
This graphic visualizes global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and outflows for several major countries in billions of U.S. dollars.
The data comes Citigroup and reflects figures for 2023.
U.S. Leads the World in Global FDI
Below, we show the FDI inflows and outflows for several major economies in 2023.
| Country | FDI Inflows | FDI Outflows |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $311B | $404B |
| China | $163B | $148B |
| Singapore | $160B | $63B |
| Hong Kong | $113B | $104B |
| Brazil | $66B | $30B |
| Canada | $50B | $90B |
| France | $42B | $72B |
| Germany | $37B | $101B |
| Japan | $21B | $184B |
The U.S. was by far the largest source and destination of global FDI in 2023, receiving $311 billion in inbound investments and sending $404 billion overseas.
However, recent policy changes like the America First Investment Policy, which aims to restrict outbound investments in critical technologies and strategic sectors, could significantly impact this.
The U.S. is increasingly tightening scrutiny on outbound capital flows, especially toward geopolitical rivals, while still encouraging high-value inbound investment that supports domestic priorities like clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Currently, the European Union remains the top investor in U.S.-based enterprises, contributing 45% of all FDI inflows.
Globally, countries vary in their roles as capital exporters or recipients.
For example, Japan exports far more capital abroad than it receives, reflecting its aging domestic market and deep capital reserves
On the other end, Brazil attracts more foreign investment than it sends out, a dynamic driven by its resource-rich economy and demand for external investment in infrastructure and development.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn about the U.S.’ global FDI strategy, check out this graphic that tracks FDI flows from the U.S. and China to Africa.