Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in New Zealand
New Zealand: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 1.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.4%
Change on year
up 103.0%
World rank
132nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
5.6%
in 1996
All-time low
-3.8%
in 2003
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in New Zealand, 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
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in New Zealand stood at 1.4%.
The figure is up 103.0% on the previous year and up 3,416.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in New Zealand peaked at 5.6% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -3.8%, in 2003.
New Zealand ranks 132nd 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.2% | — |
| 1971 | 1.4% | -38.1% |
| 1972 | 1.3% | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | +22.5% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | +11.3% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -40.5% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | +90.0% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | -51.0% |
| 1978 | 1.5% | +47.9% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | +14.5% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -15.0% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | -49.6% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | +56.8% |
| 1983 | 1.0% | -12.0% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | -46.4% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +70.2% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | +39.3% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | -53.8% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | -41.3% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | +186.0% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +275.1% |
| 1991 | 4.0% | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -34.0% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | +81.0% |
| 1994 | 4.7% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | +25.3% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | -48.1% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +11.9% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -50.7% |
| 2000 | -2.9% | -278.8% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -116.8% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +788.2% |
| 2003 | -3.8% | -189.2% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -158.6% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -25.6% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +57.1% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +21.0% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -38.5% |
| 2009 | -0.0% | -102.2% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -552.7% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +319.8% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +166.4% |
| 2013 | -0.0% | -101.7% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | -4533.6% |
| 2015 | -0.0% | -102.6% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | -2680.0% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | +24.4% |
| 2020 | 2.3% | +55.9% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | +87.8% |
| 2023 | 1.7% | -56.3% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -60.7% |
| 2025 | 1.4% | +103.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.8% | 1.6% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | -3.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | -0.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 0.7% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 23.86 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.48 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 104.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 677.46 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 27.59 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in New Zealand?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in New Zealand was 1.4% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 1996.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.8% in 2003.
- How does New Zealand rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- New Zealand ranks 132nd out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,416.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.