North America vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Foreign direct investment, net inflows
Foreign direct investment, net inflows over time
- North America
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
North America currently reports 469.55 billion BoP, current US$ against 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 392.92 billion BoP, current US$.
That makes North America's figure about 6.1 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 56 shared years of data; in 1970 it was North America ahead.
North America ranks 5th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th of 47 groups.
North America has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North America | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.92 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
| 1980s | 38.07 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 27.38 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
| 1990s | 117.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 47.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 69.83 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
| 2000s | 268.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 136.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 131.88 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
| 2010s | 367.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 74.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 293.05 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
| 2020s | 401.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 71.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 329.74 billion BoP, current US$ | North America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher foreign direct investment, net inflows, North America or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- North America, at 469.55 billion BoP, current US$ against 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net inflows between North America and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 392.92 billion BoP, current US$, with North America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North America and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 56 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2025.
- How do North America and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- North America ranks 5th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.