Direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Direct investment was 2.88 trillion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
2.88 trillion US dollar
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
7th
of 164 countries
All-time high
2.94 trillion US dollar
in 2023
All-time low
79.21 billion US dollar
in 1980
Years of data
46
1980–2025

Direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1980–2025

01.0T2.0T3.0T198020022025

Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.

Analysis

In 2025, direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 2.88 trillion US dollar.

That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 38.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 2.94 trillion US dollar in 2023 and was at its lowest, 79.21 billion US dollar, in 1980.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th of 164 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Direct investment (Assets, Positions, US dollar) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1980 to 2025.
Year US dollar Change
1980 79.21 billion US dollar
1981 85.72 billion US dollar +8.2%
1982 84.02 billion US dollar -2.0%
1983 83.88 billion US dollar -0.2%
1984 86.88 billion US dollar +3.6%
1985 100.31 billion US dollar +15.5%
1986 118.95 billion US dollar +18.6%
1987 162.80 billion US dollar +36.9%
1988 191.35 billion US dollar +17.5%
1989 200.57 billion US dollar +4.8%
1990 236.12 billion US dollar +17.7%
1991 239.57 billion US dollar +1.5%
1992 229.45 billion US dollar -4.2%
1993 255.65 billion US dollar +11.4%
1994 285.30 billion US dollar +11.6%
1995 330.67 billion US dollar +15.9%
1996 359.39 billion US dollar +8.7%
1997 384.27 billion US dollar +6.9%
1998 515.37 billion US dollar +34.1%
1999 906.47 billion US dollar +75.9%
2000 1.14 trillion US dollar +25.9%
2001 1.12 trillion US dollar -1.7%
2002 1.34 trillion US dollar +19.1%
2003 1.56 trillion US dollar +16.5%
2004 1.69 trillion US dollar +8.5%
2005 1.64 trillion US dollar -2.7%
2006 1.95 trillion US dollar +18.6%
2007 2.30 trillion US dollar +18.1%
2008 2.10 trillion US dollar -8.9%
2009 2.04 trillion US dollar -2.5%
2010 2.10 trillion US dollar +2.9%
2011 2.11 trillion US dollar +0.3%
2012 2.23 trillion US dollar +5.7%
2013 2.37 trillion US dollar +6.3%
2014 2.17 trillion US dollar -8.5%
2015 2.08 trillion US dollar -4.0%
2016 2.01 trillion US dollar -3.4%
2017 2.37 trillion US dollar +17.9%
2018 2.23 trillion US dollar -6.0%
2019 2.53 trillion US dollar +13.6%
2020 2.84 trillion US dollar +12.3%
2021 2.86 trillion US dollar +0.6%
2022 2.82 trillion US dollar -1.4%
2023 2.94 trillion US dollar +4.3%
2024 2.86 trillion US dollar -2.8%
2025 2.88 trillion US dollar +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 119.37 billion US dollar 79.21 billion US dollar 200.57 billion US dollar 10
1990s 374.23 billion US dollar 229.45 billion US dollar 906.47 billion US dollar 10
2000s 1.69 trillion US dollar 1.12 trillion US dollar 2.30 trillion US dollar 10
2010s 2.22 trillion US dollar 2.01 trillion US dollar 2.53 trillion US dollar 10
2020s 2.86 trillion US dollar 2.82 trillion US dollar 2.94 trillion US dollar 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 4 Germany 3.69 trillion US dollar compare
  2. 5 China 3.58 trillion US dollar compare
  3. 6 Canada 3.45 trillion US dollar compare
  4. 8 Hong Kong 2.68 trillion US dollar compare
  5. 9 Japan 2.46 trillion US dollar compare
  6. 10 France 2.39 trillion US dollar compare

See the full ranking of 167 places →

More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 2.88 trillion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
What is the highest direct investment recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 2.94 trillion US dollar in 2023.
What is the lowest direct investment recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 79.21 billion US dollar in 1980.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for direct investment?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 7th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
Is direct investment rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Direct investment (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Direct investment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/direct-investment-assets-positions-us-dollar/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Direct investment (Assets, Positions, US dollar)
Unit
US dollar
Source
International Monetary Fund
Licence
IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
167 places, 4,054 data points, 1948–2025
Last refreshed

The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.