The US remained the largest recipient of FDI in 2024 with inflows of $279 billion

India moved one spot higher to become the 15th biggest recipient of foreign direct investment flows in 2024, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report released Thursday. India received $27.56 billion as FDI inflows in 2024, slightly lower than $28.08 billion in 2023.

"FDI to South Asia was broadly stable," the UN trade body said in its World Investment Report 2025. "While flows to India experienced a small decline, it remained the dominant recipient in the subregion, accounting for the vast majority of inflows."  Global FDI in 2024 rose 4% to $1.51 trillion. This headline figure, however, masks significant underlying weaknesses, the UN trade body said. "It was inflated by volatile financial flows through several European economies with high levels of conduit flows," the report said. 

When volatile financial flows are excluded, global FDI flows declined 11% on a like-for-like basis to $1.49 trillion in 2024. This, the report said, marked the second consecutive year of double-digit contraction and confirming persistent fragility in international investment flows.  

The US remained the largest recipient of FDI in 2024 with inflows of $279 billion, followed by Singapore with inflows of $143 billion. China fell to the fourth spot last year with FDI inflows of $116 billion, down from $163 billion in 2023. 

India's rank rose to 18th in terms of highest FDI outflows in 2024 from 23rd the previous year. India saw $23.78 billion of FDI outflows in 2024, sharply higher than $13.89 billion in 2023.