Mapping Foreign Direct Investment Research in Africa

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a vital role in Africa’s economic development; however, the rapidly expanding body of literature on this topic remains highly fragmented. This dispersion creates a significant research problem, obscuring structural evolution, persistent thematic gaps, and collaborative networks within the field. To address this, a bibliometric analysis is necessary, as it provides an objective, macro-level methodology capable of synthesising vast amounts of publication data and uncovering hidden intellectual structures that traditional systematic reviews cannot easily capture. Consequently, this study maps the development of FDI research in Africa by analysing and visualising scientific publications to reveal the structure, evolution, and interdisciplinary nature of the field, identifying leading scholars, collaboration networks, and core thematic areas. Using data from the Scopus database, the study examines 2003 documents through Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The findings are presented in three sections. The descriptive analysis shows a steady rise in FDI publications from 1986 to 2024, with strong growth in the past two decades. The most productive institutions are in South Africa and Nigeria, while major contributing countries include South Africa, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Keyword and collaboration analyses highlight themes such as Sub-Saharan Africa, economic growth, capital flow, renewable energy, and natural resources. Ultimately, this mapping goes beyond descriptive trends to provide critical analytical insights, revealing a significant thematic shift from traditional economic paradigms toward sustainable development and environmental economics. Practically, these findings offer strategic guidance for policymakers and investors by identifying key institutional hubs and regional knowledge gaps. Scientifically, the study establishes a foundation for future research by directing attention toward underexplored, emerging issues such as climate resilience, digital transformation, and subnational FDI dynamics.