Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Ireland
Ireland: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 0.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.8%
Change on year
up 103.2%
World rank
152nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
74.8%
in 2015
All-time low
-24.7%
in 2023
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Ireland, 1970–2024
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
Ireland recorded 0.8% for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in 2024.
That represents a change of up 103.2% on the previous year and down 98.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Ireland peaked at 74.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -24.7%, in 2023.
Ireland ranks 152nd of 198 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 share of GDP in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.7% | — |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -32.6% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +41.7% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +157.2% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | +9.5% |
| 1977 | 1.2% | -33.7% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | +111.5% |
| 1979 | 1.8% | -28.3% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -28.3% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | -25.3% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +14.5% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -27.5% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -26.1% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +27.5% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +13.3% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +9.1% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -28.3% |
| 1989 | 0.5% | -27.9% |
| 1990 | 1.3% | +156.8% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | +116.8% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -21.1% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -27.0% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +39.0% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | +65.5% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | -29.1% |
| 1998 | 9.8% | +301.3% |
| 1999 | 18.4% | +87.4% |
| 2000 | 25.7% | +39.7% |
| 2001 | 8.8% | -65.7% |
| 2002 | 22.8% | +158.4% |
| 2003 | 13.8% | -39.3% |
| 2004 | -5.5% | -139.4% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | -506.5% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | -57.1% |
| 2007 | 22.2% | +133.5% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -61.9% |
| 2009 | 22.8% | +170.0% |
| 2010 | 17.0% | -25.4% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | -42.2% |
| 2012 | 25.6% | +160.3% |
| 2013 | 29.9% | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 39.4% | +31.8% |
| 2015 | 74.8% | +90.1% |
| 2016 | 26.1% | -65.1% |
| 2017 | 20.4% | -21.8% |
| 2018 | 20.4% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -62.3% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 14.7% | +81.1% |
| 2022 | -6.5% | -144.3% |
| 2023 | -24.7% | +280.3% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | -103.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.5% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 1.3% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.1% | -5.5% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.1% | 7.7% | 74.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.5% | -24.7% | 14.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 9.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8217 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 108,129 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 13.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 9.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 17.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.0094 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 1,231 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Ireland?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Ireland was 0.8% in 2024, 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 74.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.7% in 2023.
- How does Ireland rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Ireland ranks 152nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.