Foreign Direct Investment Confidence in Emerging Markets

What We're Showing

This infographic ranks the world's top 25 emerging markets by foreign direct investment (FDI) confidence in 2025, based on a global survey of 536 senior executives from companies with annual revenues exceeding $500 million.

The data comes from the Kearney FDI Confidence Index, which is historically strongly correlated with actual FDI flows in subsequent years.

Key Takeaways

• China (including Hong Kong) tops the list, maintaining its position as the most attractive emerging market for FDI, with tech innovation being the biggest reason for FDI in the country
• The UAE (1.86) and Saudi Arabia (1.76) follow, reflecting growing investor confidence in the Gulf region
• Brazil (1.59) overtakes India (1.53) to claim the 4th spot, while South Africa jumped four places from 11th to 7th