Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Canada
Canada: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 3.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Canada, 1970–2025
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Canada is 3.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 7.1% on the previous year and down 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Canada peaked at 9.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1982.
Canada ranks 74th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Canada, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.1% | — |
| 1971 | 2.3% | +10.2% |
| 1972 | 1.9% | -18.5% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | +29.9% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 1.9% | -16.1% |
| 1976 | 1.2% | -39.1% |
| 1977 | 1.6% | +34.3% |
| 1978 | 1.7% | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 2.2% | +27.6% |
| 1980 | 2.1% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -89.8% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -86.8% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | +4619.9% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | +17.8% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | -78.4% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +108.3% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | +177.6% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | -28.8% |
| 1989 | 1.3% | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | -59.3% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | +105.8% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -38.9% |
| 1994 | 1.6% | +128.0% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | +37.0% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -38.0% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +65.8% |
| 1998 | 3.9% | +70.0% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | +126.6% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | -58.1% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | -16.2% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | -75.7% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -81.9% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +1439.7% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +123.8% |
| 2007 | 8.2% | +68.3% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | -44.9% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -66.2% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +20.5% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +16.4% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | +26.3% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -41.9% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | -31.3% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +60.6% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | +13.7% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -37.3% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +69.2% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -13.4% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +39.0% |
| 2025 | 3.0% | +7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.0% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.0% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 0.6% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 0.1% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 1.5% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 1.8% | 3.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More economy & growth data for Canada
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.8812 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1832 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 10,203 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 0.2408 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 13,411 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 5.51 % change on previous year (2022)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Canada?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Canada was 3.0% in 2025, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1982.
- How does Canada rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Canada ranks 74th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.