Before 1991, foreign investment was tightly restricted. Liberalisation opened the door, and after 2014 a push on ease-of-doing-business, an automatic-approval route and schemes like Make in India lifted inflows. Annual FDI climbed from about $45 billion in 2014-15 to a record $84.8 billion in 2021-22.
Foreign Investment · FDI
Foreign Investment · FDI
Foreign direct investment is money that overseas companies put into building and owning businesses in India. Annual inflows rose from about $45 billion in 2014-15 to a record ~$85 billion in 2021-22, with roughly $748 billion arriving over the decade — 143% more than the decade before — and cumulative FDI since 2000 crossing $1 trillion. The counter shows annual FDI inflows.
$1 tn+
Cumulative FDI (2000-2025)
~$70 bn
Annual FDI inflow
100%
Automatic route (most sectors)
Annual FDI inflows (US$ bn)
| Year | FDI inflows |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 45 US$ bn |
| 2016 | 55 US$ bn |
| 2017 | 60 US$ bn |
| 2018 | 62 US$ bn |
| 2019 | 62 US$ bn |
| 2020 | 74 US$ bn |
| 2021 | 82 US$ bn |
| 2022 | 85 US$ bn |
| 2023 | 71 US$ bn |
| 2024 | 71 US$ bn |
| 2025 | 81 US$ bn |
2015
0US$ bn
FDI inflows
20152025
Since 2015
Added
+36 US$ bn
2015
45 US$ bn
2025
81 US$ bn
Why it matters FDI brings capital, technology, jobs and global supply chains — a vote of confidence in India's economy from the rest of the world.
- Annual FDI ~$45 bn (FY15) → record ~$85 bn (FY22)
- ~$748 bn over 2014-24, +143% over the prior decade
- Cumulative FDI crossed $1 trillion; source countries 89 → 112
- Road ahead: pushing annual inflows past the FY22 peak toward the $100 bn goal
- Source: DPIIT
History
A trillion-dollar magnet
Between 2014 and 2024 India drew about $748 billion of FDI — 143% more than the previous decade and nearly two-thirds of all FDI since 2000. Cumulative inflows crossed $1 trillion by 2024, the number of source countries grew from 89 to 112, and over 90% now comes through the automatic route. The government wants to lift annual FDI to $100 billion.
How it works
Foreign direct investment is long-term money — a company building a factory or buying a stake in an Indian business, unlike volatile stock-market flows. India has steadily opened more sectors to automatic FDI (needing no government approval) and eased rules, while keeping limits in sensitive areas like defence and media. Most inflows come via Singapore, Mauritius and the US, landing heavily in services, computer software and manufacturing.
Outlook
Cumulative FDI has crossed $1 trillion, and India is now among the most attractive greenfield-investment destinations in Asia. The push ahead is to lift annual inflows back above the FY22 peak (~$84 billion) toward a $100 billion goal, broaden investment beyond a few states and services into manufacturing — riding the 'China+1' shift as firms diversify supply chains — and keep easing rules so approvals aren't a bottleneck.
The road ahead
The next step is pushing annual inflows past the FY22 peak toward the $100 billion goal, and broadening investment beyond a few sectors and states.
By the numbers
Annual FDI ~$45 bn (FY15) → ~$85 bn (FY22 peak) → ~$81 bn (FY25); ~$748 bn over 2014-24; cumulative >$1 tn. Source: DPIIT.
Source: DPIIT — annual FDI inflows (US$ billion); peaked at ~$85 bn in FY22.