UNCTAD: Iran attracts $1.65b in foreign investment in 2025, up 13%
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Iran rose 13% in 2025 from a year earlier to $1.647 billion, according to the latest global investment report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The report showed FDI inflows into Iran increased from $1.449 billion in 2024, marking a second consecutive annual increase after rising 2% the previous year.
The figures cover a year that included a 12-day US-Israeli aggression on Iran in June 2025 and continued US sanctions under President Donald Trump's renewed "maximum pressure" policy, according to Tasnim news agency.
According to the report, global FDI increased 6% in 2025 to $1.624 trillion. FDI flows to developed economies rose 11% to $723 billion from $649 billion in 2024, while flows to developing economies increased 2% to $901 billion from $883 billion. Developing economies nevertheless attracted $178 billion more in FDI than developed countries.
UNCTAD said the increase in global investment was driven mainly by higher investment in data centers, followed by the oil and gas sector, while investment in renewable energy, infrastructure and manufacturing declined.
Iran ranked 81st among 201 economies in terms of FDI inflows in 2025, according to the report, placing it ahead of more than 120 economies.
The report also showed Iran attracted more foreign direct investment than a number of European countries, including Denmark, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, as well as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Kuwait.