U.S. leads foreign direct investment in 14 EU countries, Eurostat data shows
New 2025 data from 14 EU countries shows that the origin of inward foreign direct investment varies sharply between member states when measured by the ultimate investing economy. The figures highlight both the weight of intra-EU capital in much of the bloc and the continued importance of the U.S., UK and Switzerland as external sources of investment.
Highlights
- U.S. accounts for the largest share of inward foreign direct investment across 14 EU countries at 15.4%, followed by Germany at 11.5%.
- Czechia, Romania, and Estonia report the highest shares of FDI sourced from within the EU at 75.1%, 73.3%, and 64.8% respectively.
- Cyprus records the highest proportion of non-EU-sourced FDI at 79.4%, while Spain, Sweden, Greece, and Denmark post non-EU shares between 51.0% and 55.1%.
2025 FDI origin patterns across EU countries
As reported by Eurostat, 14 EU countries have published inward foreign direct investment positions for 2025 by ultimate investing economy, a measure that helps identify the final source of investment behind complex ownership structures.In 9 of the 14 reporting countries, most foreign direct investment originates from other EU countries. Czechia reports the highest share of EU-sourced investment at 75.1%, followed by Romania at 73.3% and Estonia at 64.8%.
In the other 5 countries, most investment comes from outside the EU. Cyprus records the largest non-EU share by a wide margin at 79.4%, while Spain, Sweden, Greece and Denmark post non-EU shares ranging from 51.0% to 55.1%.
External capital remains significant for the bloc
Across the 14 countries covered, the U.S. accounts for the largest share of the total value of inward foreign direct investment at 15.4%. Germany follows with 11.5%, France with 9.4%, the UK with 9.3% and Switzerland with 5.8%.The breakdown suggests that while intra-EU investment remains dominant in a majority of reporting countries, non-EU investors continue to play a substantial role in the bloc's capital structure. Using the ultimate investing economy also gives a clearer view of cross-border control by looking beyond immediate ownership links.
In earlier coverage, we examined Europe’s macro policy debate over balancing inflation control, debt pressures, and investment needs.
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