Foreign direct investment, net in Thailand
Thailand: Foreign direct investment, net was -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Thailand, 1975–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net in Thailand stood at -9.51 billion BoP, current US$. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is down 36.8% on the previous year and down 141.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Thailand peaked at 22.75 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, -9.51 billion BoP, current US$, in 2025.
Thailand ranks 182nd of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in Thailand, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -85.63 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | -79.12 million BoP, current US$ | -7.6% |
| 1977 | -106.08 million BoP, current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1978 | -49.57 million BoP, current US$ | -53.3% |
| 1979 | -51.36 million BoP, current US$ | +3.6% |
| 1980 | -186.83 million BoP, current US$ | +263.7% |
| 1981 | -288.22 million BoP, current US$ | +54.3% |
| 1982 | -188.74 million BoP, current US$ | -34.5% |
| 1983 | -348.17 million BoP, current US$ | +84.5% |
| 1984 | -400.44 million BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1985 | -162.34 million BoP, current US$ | -59.5% |
| 1986 | -261.44 million BoP, current US$ | +61.0% |
| 1987 | -181.99 million BoP, current US$ | -30.4% |
| 1988 | -1.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +494.1% |
| 1989 | -1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.6% |
| 1990 | -2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.5% |
| 1991 | -1.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1992 | -1.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1993 | -1.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.1% |
| 1994 | -873.41 million BoP, current US$ | -44.4% |
| 1995 | -1.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.4% |
| 1996 | -1.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.8% |
| 1997 | -3.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +136.0% |
| 1998 | -7.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +116.7% |
| 1999 | -5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.9% |
| 2000 | -3.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.1% |
| 2001 | -4.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.9% |
| 2002 | -3.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.7% |
| 2003 | -4.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +45.4% |
| 2004 | -5.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2005 | -7.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.5% |
| 2006 | -7.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.8% |
| 2007 | -7.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.0% |
| 2008 | -6.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2009 | -415.18 million BoP, current US$ | -93.3% |
| 2010 | -6.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +1493.4% |
| 2011 | 4.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -171.1% |
| 2012 | 1.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -71.0% |
| 2013 | -3.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -380.2% |
| 2014 | 766.30 million BoP, current US$ | -120.1% |
| 2015 | -3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -613.7% |
| 2016 | 9.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -351.7% |
| 2017 | 5.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.5% |
| 2018 | 3.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -42.7% |
| 2019 | 4.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.0% |
| 2020 | 22.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +391.3% |
| 2021 | 3.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -82.7% |
| 2022 | -4.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -207.2% |
| 2023 | 3.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -179.6% |
| 2024 | -6.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -307.0% |
| 2025 | -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.8% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -625.94 million BoP, current US$, 15.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Thailand's -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -215.64 million BoP, current US$, 44.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net in Thailand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | -1493.4% | -415.18 million BoP, current US$ | -6.62 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2015 | -613.7% | 766.30 million BoP, current US$ | -3.94 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1988 | -494.1% | -181.99 million BoP, current US$ | -1.08 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -74.35 million BoP, current US$ | -106.08 million BoP, current US$ | -49.57 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | -482.52 million BoP, current US$ | -1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -162.34 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -873.41 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -415.18 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.91 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 179 Colombia -7.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 180 Romania -8.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 181 Peru -8.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 183 Cyprus -9.59 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 184 Sweden -11.12 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 185 Poland -11.65 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Thailand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0162 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 130.33 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 31.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0327 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 263.07 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.13 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Thailand?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Thailand was -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 22.75 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- How does Thailand rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Thailand ranks 182nd out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 141.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.