Foreign Direct Investment Statistics: Data, Analysis and Forecasts

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FDI in Figures April 2022: Global FDI flows surge 88% in 2021, rising above pre-pandemic levels

29/04/2022 - Global FDI flows bounced back in 2021, growing by 88% to USD 1 815 billion, and 37% above pre-pandemic levels. However, the outlook remains uncertain given the current geopolitical context. This growth was driven by OECD area earnings on inward and outward FDI reaching some of their highest levels since 2005. In 2021, the United States was the top FDI destination worldwide, followed by China, Canada and Brazil.

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Past issues of FDI in Figures

OECD statistics on foreign direct investment are constructed using official country FDI statistics. Any projections used are noted in the report.

In focus Divestments by MNEs: What do we know about why they happen?,” by Maria Borga and Monika Sztajerowska Trade, FDI and global value chains International trade and FDI are the main defining features and key drivers of global value chains. For the first time ever, these statistical notes for OECD countries provide evidence on the role played by investment in global value chains. Download the country notes	‌‌	FDI regulatory restrictiveness index The FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index (FDI Index) measures statutory restrictions on foreign direct investment in 58 countries, including all OECD and G20 countries, and covers 22 sectors. Access the FDI index

FDI statistics database Access the data on OECD.Stat (categorised under "Globalisation") FDI financial flows main aggregates \| by partner country \| by industry FDI income main aggregates \| by partner country \| by industry FDI positions main aggregates \| by partner country \| by industry Access metadata underlying FDI statistics by partner country and by industry for OECD countries The new FDI statistics database covering FDI statistics from 2014 onwards went online in March 2015. Full list of frequently requested data found on the FDI statistics database Content and structure of the FDI statistics database according to BMD4 Access data prior to 2014		OECD benchmark definition (BMD4) The FDI statistics database uses data compiled with "BMD4"- The 4^th edition of the OECD Benchmark definition of FDI (BMD4) provides operational guidelines on how foreign direct investment activity should be measured and sets the world standard for collecting direct investment statistics. How BMD4 impacts our compilation of FDI statistics Brochure on the major changes introduced by BMD4 Note on the FDI statistics database according to BMD4 Explanatory notes on OECD FDI statistics Glossary of FDI terms
Data collection calendar Aggregate FDI statistics are updated quarterly, four months after the end of the reference quarter and revisions to earlier periods. FDI aggregates for Q1: last week of July FDI aggregates for Q2: last week of October FDI aggregates for Q3: last week of January FDI aggregates for Q4: last week of April Datasets: FDI aggregates summary \| FDI positions aggregates \| FDI flows aggregates \| FDI income aggregates Detailed FDI statistics by partner country and by industry are updated annually, in the second half of December of the year after the reference year and incorporate revisions to earlier periods. Minor updates are released in the last weeks of January, March, and June to reflect late reporters and revisions reported by selected countries. Datasets: FDI statistics by partner country and by industry summary \| FDI flows by partner country \| FDI flows by industry \| FDI positions by partner country \| FDI positions by industry \| FDI income by partner country \| FDI income by industry \| FDI by partner country and by industry -BMD4 and historic BMD3 series		Documents and links Divestments by MNEs: What do we know about why they happen?,” 2021 Drivers of divestment decisions in multinational enterprises, 2020 The determinants of Foreign Direct Investment - Do statutory restrictions matter?, 2019 The digital economy, multinational enterprises and international investment policy, 2018 Towards an international framework for investment facilitation, 2018 Examen des statistiques d'investissements directs internationaux au Maroc, 2018