Egypt accounted for nearly half of Africa’s $97 billion FDI inflow in 2024

  • Africa attracted $97 billion in FDI in 2024 — nearly double the 2023 level — marking a record year for the continent.
  • Egypt alone accounted for nearly 50% of total African inflows, driven by a $35 billion Ras El-Hekma megaproject and sweeping reforms.
  • Major gainers included Zambia (+1340%), Guinea (+105%), and Mauritania (+74%), showing momentum beyond usual hotspots.
  • Nigeria’s FDI dropped 42%, while South Africa (–29%) and Senegal (–58%) also saw steep declines.

Africa pulled in a record $97 billion in FDI in 2024, but this headline number hides a tale of sharp contrasts. Egypt alone attracted over $46.6 billion, nearly half (48%) the continent’s total, driven by the $35 billion Ras El-Hekma megadeal and wide-ranging economic reforms.

Other high-performers included Zambia, which posted an eye-popping +1340% growth, and Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Guinea, all seeing solid double-digit gains.

On the flip side, Nigeria’s FDI plunged to $1.08 billion, down from $1.87 billion in 2023 (–42%), while South Africa, Namibia, and Senegal also recorded sharp drops.

Source:

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Period:

2024
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

South Africa led Africa with $6.25bn of Chinese FDI stock in 2024, over 14% of the continent's total
  • South Africa held the largest Chinese FDI stock in Africa at $6.25 billion in 2024.
  • South Africa, DR Congo and Nigeria held 30% of Africa’s Chinese FDI stock.
  • The top 10 countries accounted for 64% of the continent’s total Chinese FDI stock.
  • Niger led the remaining top 10 countries with $2.45 billion, followed by Mozambique at $2.28 billion.

China's cumulative investment in Africa has stalled since peaking at $46.1bn in 2018
  • China's FDI stock in Africa rose 94-fold, from $491 million in 2003 to $46.1 billion in 2018.
  • By 2024, the stock had recovered to $43.8 billion, still 5% below its 2018 peak.
  • Africa accounted for just 1.4% of China's $3.14 trillion global FDI stock in 2024.
  • Nigeria's Chinese FDI stock fell from a 2017 peak of $2.86 billion to $2.72 billion in 2024.
  • African countries recorded a net $2.31 billion decline in Chinese FDI stock between 2018 and 2024.
  • Niger recorded the largest increase, from $758 million in 2018 to $2.45 billion in 2024.
  • Zambia recorded the largest decline, from $3.52 billion in 2018 to $1.70 billion in 2024.

Holding companies accounted for nearly 68% of Nigeria’s US direct investment balance in 2025
  • Nigeria held Africa’s fourth-largest US direct investment balance in 2025, at $4.56 billion.
  • The balance fell by $1.98 billion from $6.54 billion in 2024, a decline of 30.3%.
  • Nonbank holding companies accounted for $3.08 billion, or 67.7% of Nigeria’s total balance.
  • Manufacturing represented $552 million, or 12.1%, while other industries accounted for $921 million.
  • Holding-company assets may ultimately be deployed in other sectors, so the classification does not show their final use.

US direct investment balance in Africa fell to $37.9 billion in 2025, its lowest since 2008
  • US direct investment in Africa peaked at $69 billion in 2014 after expanding rapidly from the mid-2000s.
  • By 2025, the balance had fallen 45.1% from its peak to $37.9 billion, its lowest since 2008.
  • Mining drove the cycle, accounting for 88% of the 2010–2014 increase and 97% of the subsequent decline.
  • Africa’s share of the global US direct investment balance remained below 3% throughout 1985–2025.
  • The post-2014 decline was interrupted by brief recoveries in 2017 and 2021–2022.

The top ten countries held 98% of Africa’s US direct investment balance in 2025
  • Mauritius held Africa’s largest US direct investment balance in 2025, at $8.4 billion.
  • South Africa followed with $7.9 billion, ahead of Egypt’s $6.7 billion and Nigeria’s $4.6 billion.
  • Africa’s total balance fell by 8.4% to $37.91 billion, its third consecutive annual decline.
  • The top ten countries held 98% of Africa’s total, leaving only $0.7 billion across the rest.
  • Manufacturing led South Africa’s balance, mining dominated Egypt’s, and holding companies accounted for most of Nigeria’s.

Kenya and Nigeria accounted for nearly half ($2.45bn) of Africa’s top 10 outward FDI in 2025
  • Kenya led Africa’s outward FDI in 2025, recording $1.26bn.
  • Nigeria followed closely with $1.19bn, after a 191% increase.
  • Together, Kenya and Nigeria accounted for $2.45bn of the top 10 total.
  • Morocco and Egypt completed the top four, with $812.8m and $695.9m.
  • Angola recorded the fastest growth among the top 10, rising 278%.
  • Africa’s total outflow was lower because negative outflows offset gains elsewhere.

POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved