Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland decreased by 8%, figures show

Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland decreased by 8% when analysed with the 2023 figures, according to research by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

At the end of 2024, the stock of Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland was €1,089bn.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, FDI was 194% of Ireland’s GDP at the end of 2024, which is four times the EU average.

When looked at on an investor basis, €781bn of the Inward Investment Positions in Ireland originated from the US, which made up 72% of the total amount.

Throughout 2024, 31% of inward FDI positions were foreign multinationals investing in their Irish affiliates and then subsequently investing in another economy.

The newest investment was from Greenfield FDI, which was €46bn, mostly made up in the pharmaceutical sector.

Faris Bader, Statistician in the International Accounts Division, said: “This release highlights the relevance of FDI statistics and their role in the Irish economy and complements the FDI Annual Results series.

“The results show that 72% of inward FDI to Ireland in 2024 had an ultimate controlling parent in the United States, and that 61% of inward FDI was concentrated among the top 25 firms. We can also see that pass-through, defined as foreign multinationals investing in their Irish affiliates and then subsequently investing in another economy, made up 31% of inward FDI.

“Round-tripping, which refers to domestic funds which leave an economy and return as FDI, amounted to €4bn. This release also includes a new chapter on regional FDI analysis. The results showed that 35% of inward FDI to Ireland in 2024 was in the local authority areas of Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.”