Foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 6.0% in 2025 to $1.6 trillion, but the recovery remains uneven across countries, regions, and sectors, according to the UN Trade and Development agency (UNCTAD).While the global FDI growth was driven by a few megaprojects, especially in AI-related infrastructure, most sectors saw subdued activity.

The UN report highlighted that 20 countries captured over 80% of global FDI, with investments concentrated in data centers, oil and gas, and semiconductors.Developing economies saw a 2% rise in FDI, but wealthy nations accounted for most of the growth.Africa received $70 billion, while the world’s poorest countries saw a 21% increase in inflows.However, these amounts only make up 2.7% of global FDI, mostly in resource-rich economies.The UN warned that developing countries risk being left behind as investment becomes more tech-driven and policy-dependent, which many cannot match.Governments also implemented 229 new investment policies to shape flows, with many aimed at strategic sectors.