Foreign direct investment, net in Japan
Japan: Foreign direct investment, net was 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Japan, 1996–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Japan recorded 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.8% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Japan peaked at 218.32 billion BoP, current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.48 billion BoP, current US$, in 1999.
That places Japan 2nd out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in Japan, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 26.44 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1997 | 21.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.7% |
| 1998 | 17.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.6% |
| 1999 | 9.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -45.2% |
| 2000 | 34.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +262.2% |
| 2001 | 30.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 19.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.1% |
| 2003 | 25.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.8% |
| 2004 | 33.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.8% |
| 2005 | 46.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.7% |
| 2006 | 60.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.0% |
| 2007 | 51.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 89.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.3% |
| 2009 | 61.45 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.0% |
| 2010 | 72.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 117.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +63.0% |
| 2012 | 117.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 145.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2014 | 118.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 2015 | 133.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2016 | 137.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 154.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 134.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2019 | 218.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +61.8% |
| 2020 | 87.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.9% |
| 2021 | 174.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +99.5% |
| 2022 | 126.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.4% |
| 2023 | 177.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.6% |
| 2024 | 188.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is -153.62 million BoP, current US$. (70 countries reporting)
- Japan's 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -215.64 million BoP, current US$. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +262.2% | 9.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 34.34 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 26.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
| 2000s | 45.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 89.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 134.92 billion BoP, current US$ | 72.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 218.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 154.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 87.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 188.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 1 Luxembourg 196.41 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 3 China 77.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Ireland 62.33 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Switzerland 37.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Japan?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Japan was 171.95 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 218.32 billion BoP, current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.48 billion BoP, current US$ in 1999.
- How does Japan rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign 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 voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.