DR Congo’s FDI inflows rose from near-zero in the 1990s to $3.11B in 2024, with its highest growth phase occurring between 2007 and 2012

Key Takeaways

  • The 1990s saw multiple years of flat or negative FDI, including -$0.02B in 1995 and -$0.04B in 1997.
  • FDI surged to $1.81B in 2007 and $2.94B in 2010, marking a turning point.
  • The all-time high was $3.31B in 2012, with 2024 following closely at $3.11B.
  • From 2015 to 2024, annual FDI remained steadily above $1B, signalling sustained investor confidence.

Over the last three decades, DR Congo's FDI landscape has evolved significantly. The 1990s were marked by stagnation, with FDI inflows hovering near zero and occasionally turning negative, an indicator of political and economic instability. However, starting in the early 2000s, inflows began a consistent upward climb, hitting $1.81B by 2007 and peaking at $3.31B in 2012.

Since then, DR Congo has maintained relatively stable FDI, with inflows averaging above $1.2B yearly from 2015 onward. The latest figure in 2024, $3.11B, signals a renewed investor appetite and positions DR Congo among the key African economies drawing sustained foreign capital.

Source:

UNCTAD

Period:

1990 - 2024
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Zambia’s FDI rebounded to $1.24B in 2024 after sharp decline in 2022, attracted over $22B since 1990
  • Zambia recorded its highest-ever FDI inflow in 2013 at $2.10 billion.
  • After dipping to a negative inflow of -$0.07 billion in 2022, Zambia recovered to $1.24 billion in 2024.
  • The country experienced its first billion-dollar inflow in 2007, marking a turning point in foreign investment.
  • FDI inflow was consistently below $0.5 billion throughout the 1990s, indicating limited investor confidence during that period.

Côte d'Ivoire’s FDI sees dramatic turn in 2024, jumping to $3.8B, over two times 2022 levels and its highest since 1990
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  • Between 1990 and 2016, its FDI remained mostly below $1 billion annually, only beginning to surge from 2017 onwards.
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  • 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.

Ethiopia’s FDI inflows rose from $10M in the 1990s to $3.98B in 2024, with its sharpest growth phase recorded from 2014–2016
  • Ethiopia recorded a total of $46.43 billion in foreign direct investment between 1990 and 2024.
  • Its annual FDI inflows surged from just $10 million in 1990 to $3.98 billion in 2024, reflecting massive investor interest over time.
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Morocco hit its $3.5B FDI peak twice, in 2014 and 2018
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  • From 2006 onward, Morocco's FDI inflows remained mostly above $1 billion, with fluctuations.
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South Africa witnessed a record FDI inflow spike in 2021 with $40.22b, followed by a sharp decline in 2022
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  • Other notable peaks occurred in 2008 ($9.21B) and 2013 ($8.30B).
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Algeria’s FDI peaked at $2.75B in 2009, plunged to a -$580M outflow in 2015, then jumped 476% from $250M in 2022 to $1.44B in 2024.
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