Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) was -0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom is -0.4%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 187.2% on the previous year and down 118.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom peaked at 12.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, -0.9%, in 2018.
United Kingdom ranks 193rd of 214 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 inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.8% | — |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -65.5% |
| 2002 | 5.0% | +48.0% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | -65.1% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +105.1% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | +176.4% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -24.4% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +27.5% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -93.0% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | +346.4% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -62.2% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +70.3% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -19.4% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | +679.7% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -61.3% |
| 2018 | -0.9% | -118.6% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -179.6% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +738.5% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | -44.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -86.2% |
| 2024 | -0.4% | -187.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's -0.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%. (69 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's -0.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.6%. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +738.5% | 0.7% | 5.8% |
| 2016 | +679.7% | 1.5% | 12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.7% | 0.6% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -0.9% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | -0.4% | 5.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 190 Haiti 0.1% compare
- 191 Polynesia -0.1% compare
- 192 French Polynesia -0.2% compare
- 193 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -0.4% compare
- 195 Russian Federation -0.4% compare
- 195 Russia -0.4% compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 21.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in United Kingdom was -0.4% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9% in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
- United Kingdom ranks 193rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 118.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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