United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports India FDI inflows surge 73% to $47 billion in 2025

Key facts

• The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the Global Investment Trends Monitor report highlighting global investment shifts.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to India increased by 73 per cent to reach USD 47 billion in 2025.
• The surge in India was primarily driven by large investments in services including finance, Information Technology (IT), and Research and Development (R&D), as well as manufacturing.
• Global FDI reached an estimated USD 1.6 trillion in 2025, representing a 14 per cent increase from the previous year.
• FDI inflows to China declined for the third consecutive year, falling by 8 per cent to an estimated USD 107.5 billion.
• The United States remained the world’s largest FDI recipient, recording a 2 per cent increase in inflows during 2025.
• India ranked 7th globally as a host country for data centre projects, while France, the United States, and the Republic of Korea occupied the top three positions.
• Total greenfield investment in data centres surpassed USD 270 billion, accounting for more than one-fifth of all investment projects globally.
• Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity declined by 22 per cent to USD 132 billion, despite growth in the semiconductors and telecommunications sectors.
• The total value of international project finance increased by 7 per cent to USD 218 billion, although activity in this segment declined in India and Egypt.
• Major global financial centres including the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Ireland added more than USD 140 billion to the global FDI total.