Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Belgium
Belgium: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Belgium, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Belgium recorded -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
The figure is up 30.4% on the previous year and down 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Belgium peaked at 190.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008 and was at its lowest, -41.60 billion BoP, current US$, in 2018.
Belgium ranks 201st of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 314.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 428.00 million BoP, current US$ | +36.3% |
| 1972 | 386.00 million BoP, current US$ | -9.8% |
| 1973 | 719.00 million BoP, current US$ | +86.3% |
| 1974 | 1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.1% |
| 1975 | 954.60 million BoP, current US$ | -16.0% |
| 1976 | 871.79 million BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1977 | 1.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.2% |
| 1978 | 1.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1979 | 1.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.3% |
| 1980 | 1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.7% |
| 1981 | 1.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.2% |
| 1982 | 1.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 1.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.4% |
| 1984 | 389.37 million BoP, current US$ | -69.8% |
| 1985 | 1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +170.0% |
| 1986 | 729.86 million BoP, current US$ | -30.6% |
| 1987 | 2.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +222.7% |
| 1988 | 5.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.3% |
| 1989 | 7.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.7% |
| 1990 | 8.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1991 | 9.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1992 | 11.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 1993 | 10.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 8.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.8% |
| 1995 | 10.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1996 | 14.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.6% |
| 1997 | 12.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.7% |
| 1998 | 22.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +89.1% |
| 1999 | 119.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +427.5% |
| 2000 | 88.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.9% |
| 2001 | 88.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 18.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -79.5% |
| 2003 | 34.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +90.7% |
| 2004 | 44.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.8% |
| 2005 | 33.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.4% |
| 2006 | 58.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.7% |
| 2007 | 96.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +64.1% |
| 2008 | 190.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +97.2% |
| 2009 | 77.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.4% |
| 2010 | 125.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +62.2% |
| 2011 | 163.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.4% |
| 2012 | 11.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -92.8% |
| 2013 | -29.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -351.0% |
| 2014 | -15.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.7% |
| 2015 | -19.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2016 | 57.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -394.9% |
| 2017 | -37.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -164.8% |
| 2018 | -41.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2019 | -10.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -74.6% |
| 2020 | -30.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +184.7% |
| 2021 | 33.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -212.7% |
| 2022 | 13.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -61.3% |
| 2023 | -4.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -132.3% |
| 2024 | -41.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +873.6% |
| 2025 | -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.4% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.99 billion BoP, current US$. (73 countries reporting)
- Belgium's -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.65 billion BoP, current US$. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -873.6% | -4.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.36 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1999 | +427.5% | 22.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 119.69 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2016 | +394.9% | -19.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 57.54 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2013 | -351.0% | 11.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.64 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 865.12 million BoP, current US$ | 314.00 million BoP, current US$ | 1.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 389.37 million BoP, current US$ | 7.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 119.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 18.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 190.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 163.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -9.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 33.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 198 Norway -7.08 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 199 Iraq -7.62 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 200 Austria -11.68 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 202 Luxembourg -33.06 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 203 Hungary -69.94 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 204 Liechtenstein -87.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0205 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1,248 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.015 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 911.55 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0089 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Belgium?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Belgium was -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 190.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was -41.60 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- How does Belgium rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Belgium ranks 201st out of 204 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.