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FX.co ★ Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

According to the World Bank, in 2016 the global stock of foreign direct investment achieved $2 trillion. The results of the study conducted by the Eastern Economic Forum (WEF) among 750 international investors and leaders from all over the world on the legal climate, labor costs and taxes are also of interest.

It turned out that a number of states regularly compete for attracting foreign direct investment. Last year they led in that field. Read our article to find out what countries are the leaders

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

10. France — $42.3 billion

France is a highly developed industrial-agrarian country, which takes one of the leading places in the world in terms of industrial ouput. Thanks to the use of modern innovative technologies of mineral extraction and processing, it occupies the second place in the European Union (after Germany), and it enters stable the top ten by the results of the indicators in numerous industry sectors.

The economy is mainly based on the service sector, which employs 76.7% of the economically active population, and the secondary sector accounts for 20.5%.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

9. India — $44.4 billion


India is a developing agro-industrial country with powerful heavy industry. However, light and food branches of industry took the back seats, they continue to honorably represent the country in the global market.

Recently, thanks to a great number of English-speaking specialists, India became an outsourcing destination centre for many multinational corporations and a popular place for so-called "medical tourism".

India is also a great exporter of software, financial and technological services.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

8. Germany — $52.5 billion


The economy of Germany is the largest in Europe. Already in the 1970s, the country managed to become a leader and to keep the status till the current day. Now it is a postindustrial country, where the economy is mainly based on services (54%), production (45.9%) and agrobusiness (0.1%), which employs the same number of the economically active population.

The economy of Germany is characterized by well developed infrastructure and highly skilled workforce. After the 2008 international crisis, the country takes the fourth place in the hierarchy of economies.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

7. Singapore — $61.6 billion


The economy of Singapore is still one of the most open and depends on international investment and global trade. The market system of Singapore is advanced enough and depends on exports of products, especially in such spheres as consumer electronics, information technology, pharmacy, and financial services. Transnational corporations play an important role in the country's economy.

The economy of Singapore is one of the most open and corruption-free. Stable prices are maintained by the country, and its per capita GDP is one of the highest in the world.


Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

6. Brazil — $78.9 billion


Brazil has the highest economic potential among Latin American countries. Thanks to the high level of development in such sectors as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service industries, as well as a large number of able-bodied citizens, in terms of GDP, Brazil far exceeds any other country in Latin America, being the main economy in the Southern Common Market, MERCOSUR.

Nowadays the country is expanding its presence in global markets due to the various main export products.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

5. Ireland — $79.2 billion


Ireland is among the small economically developed industrial-agrarian countries, which are heavily dependent on foreign trade.

Agricultural sector, once dominant in the system, is being replaced by the industrial one, which accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force.

Although export remains a major driver of Ireland's economic growth, the country's development is also facilitated by higher consumer spending and the recovery of construction and business investment.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

4. Netherlands — $80.8 billion


The Netherlands is a country with highly developed economy, one of the most economically sustainable countries of the world. Service sector accounts for 73% of GDP, industry and construction - 24.5%, agriculture and fisheries - 2.5%. Transport and communication, credit and financial system, research and development, education, international tourism, business services dominate among the critical service sectors.

There are headquarters and production facilities of many transnational and European companies in the Netherlands.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

3. China — $170.6 billion


China is one of the leading world economies, which is the main competitor of the US economy due to the promotion policy, pursued by the regime during the global financial crisis. Building a multi-structured market economy is carried out in China under the leadership of the Communist Party on the basis of five-year plans and serves as the key element of the success of reforms in China. With a high share of foreign investment, almost 80% of all foreign investors in the economy of China are ethnic Chinese residing abroad.

China is the world leader in production and export of most types of industrial products, including cars, and also has the world's largest gold and currency reserves.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

2. Great Britain — $299.7 billion


To date, Great Britain is a country with highly developed, strong and independent economy. The British services industry is the main sector of the country's economy, accounting for about 75% of GDP. Britain provides 10% of the world's export of services - banking, insurance, brokerage, advisory, as well as the field of computer programming.

London is one of the three centers for managing the global economy, the largest financial center along with the American New York.

Top-10 countries in terms of foreign direct investment

1. USA — $479.4 billion

The American economy is the world's largest economy in nominal terms. It has been at least a quarter of the world nominal value of GDP in US dollars for half a century.

The American model of economy is characterized by such principled features as globalization of business and the information revolution.

The country's economy accounts for about a quarter of the world's GDP and produces one-third of the global military spending, which makes the United States the main economic and military power of the planet.

In addition, the United States has the greatest political and cultural influence in the world, and it is also a leader in research and technological innovation.


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