FDI development in China
Driven by China’s fast economic development, the country’s outward investment stock grew quickly from only around 28 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 to nearly 2.8 trillion in 2021. A large part of this investment volume was used for mergers and acquisitions, which attracted the attention of the Chinese government and foreign countries alike and led to stronger market surveillance and lower investment outflows since 2017. Although China is one of the most restricted countries regarding outward FDI flows in comparison with developed nations, the government still encourages its companies to go global and has taken steps to facilitate outward investments in recent years.
Given China’s important role in global value chains and the low FDI intensity of its economy, there is a huge potential for increased overseas investment. However, as geopolitical tensions are growing and concerns about national security and strategic asset protection is rising, the future development of China’s FDI flows might be strongly influenced by domestic and international political factors.
Investment destinations and sectors
A regional breakdown of China’s outward FDI indicates that investment flows are primarily directed towards Asia. However, nearly 60 percent of the total FDI volume in 2021 was transferred to Asia’s financial hub, Hong Kong, and more than ten percent to the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, which makes it difficult to identify final investment destinations. Based on transactional data, it was estimated that in 2020 around 7.2 billion U.S. dollars have been invested in the United States and eight billion in European countries. Sectors receiving the most direct investment from China were leasing and business services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and financial services.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by C. Textor, Nov 11, 2022
Key insights
- Global FDI outflows 2021
- 1.71tr USD
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Value of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) outflows worldwide 2012-2021
- China's share in global FDI outflows
- 10.5%
Detailed statistics
China's share in global outward FDI flows 2011-2021
- Leading global investing countries
- United States, Germany, Japan, and China
Detailed statistics
Leading countries worldwide 2020-2021, by FDI outflows
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Global overview
- Premium Statistic Value of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows worldwide 2012-2021
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Leading countries worldwide in 2020 and 2021, by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) outflows (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Size of FDI from China
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Size of FDI from China
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI outflows from China 2011-2021
Annual FDI outflows from China 2011-2021
See AlsoChinese Law | China: Is it correct that China does not allow private ownership of real property?Annual outflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from China between 2011 and 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Share of outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from China in global FDI outflows from 2011 to 2021
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Capital stock of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) from 2011 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Outward foreign direct investment (FDI) stock as a share of the gross domestic product (GDP) in China from 2005 to 2021
Investing entities from China
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FDI outflows from Chinese central enterprises in non-financial sectors 2011-2021
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Value of Chinese FDI to EU 2013-2022, by ownership of investment
Value of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment to EU-27 and UK from 2013 to 2022, by ownership of investment (in billion euros)
Investment destinations
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- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest capital stock of Chinese direct investments 2021
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China 2020-2021, by continent
- Premium Statistic Outward FDI flows from China 2021, by leading country or region
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China to Hong Kong 2011-2021
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China to the United States 2011-2021
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- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest capital stock of Chinese direct investments 2021
Countries with the highest capital stock of Chinese direct investments 2021
Countries and regions with the highest capital stock of direct investments from China in 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China 2020-2021, by continent
Annual FDI flows from China 2020-2021, by continent
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China in 2020 and 2021, by continent (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Outward FDI flows from China 2021, by leading country or region
Outward FDI flows from China 2021, by leading country or region
Countries and regions with the highest inflow of Chinese direct investments in 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China to Hong Kong 2011-2021
Annual FDI flows from China to Hong Kong 2011-2021
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China to Hong Kong between 2011 and 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China to the United States 2011-2021
Annual FDI flows from China to the United States 2011-2021
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China to the United States between 2011 and 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Annual FDI flows from China to Europe 2011-2021
Annual FDI flows from China to Europe 2011-2021
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China to Europe from 2011 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Annual FDI flows from China to Germany 2011-2021
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China to Germany between 2011 and 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic China's outward FDI flows along BRI countries 2013-2021
China's outward FDI flows along BRI countries 2013-2021
China's outward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from 2013 to 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Annual FDI flows from China to Africa 2011-2021
Annual flow of foreign direct investments from China to Africa from 2011 to 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)
Invested sectors
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- Premium Statistic Breakdown of China's outward FDI flows 2021, by industry
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- Premium Statistic Breakdown of China's outward FDI flows 2021, by industry
Breakdown of China's outward FDI flows 2021, by industry
Breakdown of China's outward foreign direct investment flows in 2021, by industry (in billion U.S. dollars)
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Outward FDI stock from China in EU countries 2021, by sector
China's outward FDI stock in EU countries as of 2021, by sector (in million U.S. dollars)
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Chinese direct investments in the U.S. 2021, by sector
Cash flow and capital stock of direct investments from China in the United States in 2021, by sector (in million U.S. dollars)
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China's outward FDI stock in Africa 2021, by sector
Major sectors for China's outward FDI stock in Africa as of 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
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