South Asia Foreign Direct Investment 1970-2023

Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • South Asia foreign direct investment for 2021 was $49.48B, a 28.25% decline from 2020.
  • South Asia foreign direct investment for 2020 was $68.96B, a 21.66% increase from 2019.
  • South Asia foreign direct investment for 2019 was $56.68B, a 16.49% increase from 2018.
  • South Asia foreign direct investment for 2018 was $48.66B, a 5.01% increase from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Inflows, US $
World $2,199.06B
OECD members $1,130.56B
East Asia & Pacific $741.21B
North America $508.50B
European Union $429.73B
Euro Area $268.17B
Latin America & Caribbean $201.01B
Sub-Saharan Africa $72.01B
South Asia $49.48B
South Asia Foreign Direct Investment - Historical Data
Year Inflows, US $ % of GDP
2021 $49.48B 1.21%
2020 $68.96B 1.98%
2019 $56.68B 1.55%
2018 $48.66B 1.38%
2017 $46.33B 1.35%
2016 $50.93B 1.69%
2015 $49.72B 1.84%
2014 $40.33B 1.56%
2013 $33.53B 1.42%
2012 $27.78B 1.21%
2011 $40.65B 1.78%
2010 $31.70B 1.54%
2009 $39.50B 2.35%
2008 $51.16B 3.35%
2007 $32.47B 2.16%
2006 $25.54B 2.14%
2005 $10.89B 1.04%
2004 $7.48B 0.82%
2003 $4.82B 0.61%
2002 $6.35B 0.94%
2001 $5.80B 0.90%
2000 $4.37B 0.70%
1999 $3.08B 0.52%
1998 $3.55B 0.64%
1997 $4.90B 0.89%
1996 $3.51B 0.67%
1995 $2.93B 0.61%
1994 $1.58B 0.37%
1993 $1.11B 0.29%
1992 $0.75B 0.20%
1991 $0.39B 0.11%
1990 $0.54B 0.13%
1989 $0.49B 0.13%
1988 $0.33B 0.09%
1987 $0.41B 0.12%
1986 $0.26B 0.08%
1985 $0.26B 0.09%
1984 $0.11B 0.04%
1983 $0.07B 0.03%
1982 $0.20B 0.08%
1981 $0.25B 0.10%
1980 $0.20B 0.09%
1979 $0.15B 0.07%
1978 $0.06B 0.03%
1977 $-0.01B -0.01%
1976 $0.01B 0.00%
1975 $0.02B 0.01%
1974 $0.07B 0.05%
1973 $0.04B 0.04%
1972 $0.04B 0.04%
1971 $0.05B 0.06%
1970 $0.07B 0.09%