The Top 100 Countries for Foreign Investment
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. attracted nearly $279 billion in foreign direct investment in 2024, the highest in the world.
- Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg ranked among the world’s top destinations for foreign investment despite their relatively small economies.
- Global foreign direct investment inflows totaled roughly $1.5 trillion in 2024, according to UNCTAD.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) reveals where companies are building factories, expanding operations, and making long-term bets on growth.
This graphic ranks the top 100 countries for foreign investment in 2024, based on foreign direct investment inflows tracked by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The U.S. remained the world’s largest destination for foreign investment by a wide margin, while financial hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg attracted outsized inflows relative to the size of their economies.
The U.S. Continues to Lead Global Investment
The United States attracted nearly $279 billion in FDI inflows in 2024, making it the world’s top destination for foreign investment by a wide margin.
Strong consumer demand, a large technology sector, and major infrastructure spending programs continued to support investor confidence.
The gap between the U.S. and other countries remains substantial. Singapore ranked second with roughly $143 billion in inflows, while Hong Kong and China followed closely behind.
|
Rank
|
Category
|
FDI Inflows (2024)
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇺🇸 United States | $279B |
| 2 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | $143B |
| 3 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | $126B |
| 4 | 🇨🇳 China | $116B |
| 5 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | $106B |
| 6 | 🇨🇦 Canada | $64B |
| 7 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $59B |
| 8 | 🇦🇺 Australia | $53B |
| 9 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | $47B |
| 10 | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $46B |
| 11 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $37B |
| 12 | 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | $36B |
| 13 | 🇫🇷 France | $34B |
| 14 | 🇪🇸 Spain | $31B |
| 15 | 🇮🇳 India | $28B |
At the global level, foreign direct investment inflows totaled approximately $1.5 trillion in 2024.
Financial Hubs Punch Above Their Weight
Some of the world’s largest recipients of foreign investment are not the biggest economies, but global financial and corporate hubs.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, and the Cayman Islands attract disproportionate capital flows because they serve as gateways for multinational investment and international finance.
Emerging Markets Continue to Attract Capital
Manufacturing diversification and supply chain realignment continued reshaping global investment flows in 2024, benefiting several large emerging economies.
Brazil attracted roughly $59 billion in inflows, while Mexico received nearly $37 billion as companies expanded manufacturing capacity closer to the U.S. market.
India drew approximately $28 billion in FDI inflows in 2024, supported by growth in technology, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. Vietnam and Indonesia also remained attractive destinations as supply chains continued shifting across Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, some advanced economies posted negative FDI inflows, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ireland.
These figures can reflect corporate restructurings, divestments, and volatility in financial flows rather than a collapse in underlying economic activity.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-worlds-top-100-countries-foreign-investment/?shem=rimspwouoe%2C
