China vs Pakistan: Foreign direct investment, net inflows
Foreign direct investment, net inflows over time
- China
- Pakistan
How they compare
Pakistan currently reports 0.5% against 0.4% in China, a difference of 0.1%.
That makes Pakistan's figure about 1.1 times China's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 47 shared years of data; in 1979 it was Pakistan ahead.
China ranks 166th and Pakistan ranks 163rd of 200 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 5 and Pakistan in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Pakistan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | Pakistan |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% | China |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 0.9% | 3.0% | China |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 1.4% | 2.3% | China |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 0.6% | 1.7% | China |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher foreign direct investment, net inflows, China or Pakistan?
- Pakistan, at 0.5% against 0.4% in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net inflows between China and Pakistan?
- 0.1%, with Pakistan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Pakistan?
- 47 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2025.
- How do China and Pakistan rank globally for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- China ranks 166th and Pakistan ranks 163rd 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.