China vs Iran, Islamic Republic of: Foreign direct investment, net inflows
Foreign direct investment, net inflows over time
- China
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
How they compare
China currently reports 0.4% against 0.3% in Iran, Islamic Republic of, a difference of 0.1%.
That makes China's figure about 1.3 times Iran, Islamic Republic of's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 46 shared years of data; in 1979 it was Iran, Islamic Republic of ahead.
China ranks 166th and Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 169th of 200 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 5 and Iran, Islamic Republic of in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Iran, Islamic Republic of | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | Iran, Islamic Republic of |
| 1980s | 0.5% | -0.0% | 0.5% | China |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 0.0% | 3.9% | China |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 1.1% | 2.6% | China |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 0.6% | 1.7% | China |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.4% | 0.7% | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher foreign direct investment, net inflows, China or Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- China, at 0.4% against 0.3% in Iran, Islamic Republic of as of 2025.
- What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net inflows between China and Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- 0.1%, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- 46 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2024.
- How do China and Iran, Islamic Republic of rank globally for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- China ranks 166th and Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 169th of 200 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.