Côte d'Ivoire’s FDI sees dramatic turn in 2024, jumping to $3.8B, over two times 2022 levels and its highest since 1990

Key Takeaways

  • Côte d'Ivoire attracted $3.80 billion in FDI in 2024, its highest annual inflow ever recorded, more than double 2022’s $1.6 billion.
  • Between 1990 and 2016, its FDI remained mostly below $1 billion annually, only beginning to surge from 2017 onwards.
  • The country crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2021, signalling increased investor confidence and macroeconomic improvements.
  • Over the last three years (2022–2024) alone, Côte d'Ivoire drew in $7.89 billion in FDI, accounting for over 40% of total inflow since 1990.

Côte d'Ivoire’s foreign direct investment (FDI) journey from 1990 to 2024 reveals a slow and steady rise followed by an impressive surge in recent years. From negligible flows like $0.05 billion in 1990 and $0.02 billion in 1991, the country’s FDI remained modest through the 1990s and 2000s, rarely exceeding $0.5 billion annually. This pattern reflects decades of political instability, economic volatility, and underdeveloped infrastructure, all of which traditionally hindered investor interest.

However, starting around 2017, the tide began to turn. A series of structural reforms, improvements in governance, and a stronger focus on private sector-led growth attracted new international capital. By 2021, FDI leapt to $1.39 billion, and in just three years, the country tripled that figure, reaching $3.80 billion in 2024. This steep rise positioned Côte d'Ivoire as one of the most rapidly emerging investment destinations in West Africa, a testament to its growing appeal in sectors like energy, agriculture, construction, and tech infrastructure.

Source:

UNCTAD

Period:

1990 - 2024
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