Foreign direct investment relative to GDP in seven African economies

The two highest 2025 values moved in opposite directions

Rwanda’s ratio rose by about 2.12 percentage points. Egypt’s fell by 7.74 points. Egypt’s 2024 figure was higher than any of the seven 2025 observations. A single large investment can affect a one-year ratio, so the table gives several decades of context. Source 1

What a negative net inflow means

South Africa’s ratio moved from 0.58% in 2024 to minus 0.51% in 2025. Net inflows subtract disinvestment from new inflows and reflect several forms of investment, including equity, reinvested earnings and certain capital transactions between related entities. The net number can turn negative while some new investments still occur. Source 1 Source 3

GDP gives the measure its scale

An identical investment flow represents a larger share of GDP in a smaller economy. A comparison in dollars would answer a different question. Changes in GDP can also change the ratio even when investment values are steady. Source 3

Domestic and intra-African investors require different data

This dataset combines foreign investment from across the world. To isolate capital moving between African countries, use investment statistics by immediate or ultimate investor and confirm which source-country definition is used. Source 3

Sources

• World Bank WDI, foreign direct investment net inflows
• World Bank data API, selected countries
• World Bank foreign direct investment metadata