The top ten countries held 98% of Africa’s US direct investment balance in 2025

Key Takeaways

  • 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.

Mauritius held Africa’s largest US direct investment balance at the end of 2025, at $8.4 billion. The figure represents the accumulated value of US direct investment in the country, measured at historical cost, not the amount newly invested during the year.

It placed Mauritius ahead of South Africa at $7.9 billion, Egypt at $6.7 billion and Nigeria at $4.6 billion. Across Africa, the total balance fell by 8.4%, from $41.39 billion in 2024 to $37.91 billion in 2025, marking a third consecutive annual decline.

The balance was also highly concentrated. The top ten countries held 98% of Africa’s total, leaving just $0.7 billion across the rest of the continent.

Where BEA provided an industry breakdown, the leading sectors differed sharply. Manufacturing accounted for $3.37 billion of South Africa’s balance, mining made up $4.95 billion of Egypt’s, while holding companies represented $3.08 billion of Nigeria’s. BEA did not publish a separate industry breakdown for Mauritius in its 2025 table.

Source:

US Bureau of Economic Analysis

Period:

2025
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Holding companies accounted for nearly 68% of Nigeria’s US direct investment balance in 2025
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