China Foreign Direct Investment
Net inflows of foreign direct investment, current US dollars.
Foreign Direct Investment in China increased to 79.98 USD billion in 2025 from 42.65 USD billion in 2024.
China Foreign Direct Investment — History
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China Foreign Direct Investment — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
Foreign Direct Investment in China increased to 79.98 USD billion in 2025 from 42.65 USD billion in 2024.
Over the last three years it rose once and fell twice.
Recent trend
A year earlier (2024) it was $42.65B, so the latest figure is $37.33B higher.
Over the past five years the average was $141.65B, with a range from $42.65B to $344.07B. The latest value is below that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in 1979 and has 47 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 60% of all of them.
The highest value on record is $344.07B (2021) and the lowest is $0.00B (1979). The long-run average is $96.81B.
Compared with other countries
Among 202 economies with recent data, China ranks 5th from the top. The median across all these economies is $0.87B, so China is above the typical country.
Among 19 major economies tracked on this site it ranks 4th.
Within East Asia & Pacific (33 economies with data) it ranks 3rd; the regional median is $1.07B.
Statistics
- Latest
- $79.98B2025
- Previous
- $42.65B
- 5-year average
- $141.65B
- Long-run average
- $96.81Bsince 1979
- All-time high
- $344.07B2021
- All-time low
- $0.00B1979
- Observations
- 47Annual
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79.98B | ▲ +37.33 |
| 2024 | $42.65B | ▼ −8.69 |
| 2023 | $51.34B | ▼ −138.87 |
| 2022 | $190.20B | ▼ −153.87 |
| 2021 | $344.07B | ▲ +90.98 |
| 2020 | $253.10B | ▲ +65.93 |
| 2019 | $187.17B | ▼ −48.20 |
| 2018 | $235.37B | ▲ +69.28 |
| 2017 | $166.08B | ▼ −8.67 |
| 2016 | $174.75B | ▼ −67.74 |
| 2015 | $242.49B | ▼ −25.61 |
| 2014 | $268.10B | ▼ −22.83 |
| 2013 | $290.93B | ▲ +49.71 |
| 2012 | $241.21B | ▼ −38.86 |
| 2011 | $280.07B | ▲ +36.37 |
| 2010 | $243.70B | ▲ +112.65 |
| 2009 | $131.06B | ▼ −40.48 |
| 2008 | $171.53B | ▲ +15.29 |
| 2007 | $156.25B | ▲ +32.17 |
| 2006 | $124.08B | ▲ +19.97 |
| 2005 | $104.11B | ▲ +35.99 |
| 2004 | $68.12B | ▲ +10.22 |
| 2003 | $57.90B | ▲ +4.83 |
| 2002 | $53.07B | ▲ +6.02 |
| 2001 | $47.05B | ▲ +4.96 |
| 2000 | $42.10B | ▲ +1.08 |
| 1999 | $41.01B | ▼ −4.63 |
| 1998 | $45.64B | ▲ +0.21 |
| 1997 | $45.44B | ▲ +5.26 |
| 1996 | $40.18B |
Foreign Direct Investment — China vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). China highlighted.
More China indicators
Understanding Foreign Direct Investment — a simple guide
What it measures
Net inflows of foreign direct investment — long-term investment by foreign companies in local businesses — in current US dollars.
How it is calculated
New long-term investment by foreign companies (factories, stakes of 10% or more) in the country, net, in US dollars.
A foreign carmaker building a plant counts as FDI.
High FDI brings capital, technology and jobs.
Low FDI may reflect weaker investor interest or one-off factors.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
FDI is considered a stable source of external financing and brings technology and capital.
How to read it
Annual figures can be lumpy because of single large deals.
Data source
World Bank — World Development Indicators (series BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD), annual data from 1979 to 2025. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current foreign direct investment of China?
What is the highest and lowest foreign direct investment of China?
What does foreign direct investment measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.