Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Portugal
Portugal: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 4.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Portugal, 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
In 2024, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Portugal stood at 4.3%.
That represents a change of up 8.5% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Portugal peaked at 7.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1977.
Portugal ranks 48th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | +70.7% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -3.1% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -3.9% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -48.0% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -12.8% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 0.5% | +62.2% |
| 1981 | 0.5% | +14.4% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -13.5% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | +14.3% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +45.8% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +28.6% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -39.2% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +57.3% |
| 1988 | 1.6% | +69.2% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +75.3% |
| 1990 | 3.3% | +15.7% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -17.2% |
| 1992 | 1.7% | -36.5% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | -7.3% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -21.1% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -54.5% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +121.1% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +80.8% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +111.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -88.1% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | +958.1% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -18.2% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -91.3% |
| 2003 | 6.3% | +1336.9% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | -79.1% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | +30.1% |
| 2006 | 6.4% | +275.8% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | -61.0% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +18.7% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | -20.8% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +60.5% |
| 2011 | 4.2% | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | +70.3% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -10.8% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | -15.5% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | -88.3% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +460.9% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +40.9% |
| 2018 | 3.5% | -31.0% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +30.0% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -59.7% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +98.9% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | +40.9% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -22.0% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 0.6% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 0.4% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 0.6% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 1.8% | 5.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More economy & growth data for Portugal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.9 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 0.8661 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.3864 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 12,395 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0.4145 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3334 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 10,695 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 11.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2069 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Portugal?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Portugal was 4.3% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 2012.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1977.
- How does Portugal rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Portugal ranks 48th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.