Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait
Kuwait: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 413.09 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait, 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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait stood at 413.09 million BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of down 32.8% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait peaked at 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -558.06 million BoP, current US$, in 2020.
Kuwait ranks 128th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25.99 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | -100.0% |
| 1972 | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 300,000 BoP, current US$ | +2900.0% |
| 1974 | 120,000 BoP, current US$ | -60.0% |
| 1975 | 250,000 BoP, current US$ | +108.3% |
| 1976 | -510,000 BoP, current US$ | -304.0% |
| 1977 | 1.33 million BoP, current US$ | -360.8% |
| 1978 | 760,000 BoP, current US$ | -42.9% |
| 1979 | 1.28 million BoP, current US$ | +68.4% |
| 1980 | 830,000 BoP, current US$ | -35.2% |
| 1981 | 1.21 million BoP, current US$ | +45.8% |
| 1982 | -90,000 BoP, current US$ | -107.4% |
| 1983 | 40,000 BoP, current US$ | -144.4% |
| 1984 | -6.03 million BoP, current US$ | -15175.0% |
| 1985 | 7.25 million BoP, current US$ | -220.2% |
| 1986 | -14.53 million BoP, current US$ | -300.4% |
| 1987 | -6.32 million BoP, current US$ | -56.5% |
| 1988 | 16.32 million BoP, current US$ | -358.2% |
| 1989 | 3.66 million BoP, current US$ | -77.6% |
| 1990 | 5.60 million BoP, current US$ | +53.0% |
| 1991 | 800,000 BoP, current US$ | -85.7% |
| 1992 | 35.30 million BoP, current US$ | +4312.5% |
| 1993 | 13.25 million BoP, current US$ | -62.5% |
| 1994 | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +11363.7% |
| 1995 | 6.70 million BoP, current US$ | -99.6% |
| 1996 | 347.35 million BoP, current US$ | +5083.3% |
| 1997 | 19.78 million BoP, current US$ | -94.3% |
| 1998 | 59.06 million BoP, current US$ | +198.6% |
| 1999 | 72.27 million BoP, current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 16.30 million BoP, current US$ | -77.4% |
| 2001 | -111.52 million BoP, current US$ | -784.2% |
| 2002 | 3.62 million BoP, current US$ | -103.2% |
| 2003 | -67.11 million BoP, current US$ | -1954.2% |
| 2004 | 23.75 million BoP, current US$ | -135.4% |
| 2005 | 233.90 million BoP, current US$ | +884.7% |
| 2006 | 121.31 million BoP, current US$ | -48.1% |
| 2007 | 111.54 million BoP, current US$ | -8.1% |
| 2008 | -5.95 million BoP, current US$ | -105.3% |
| 2009 | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -18810.3% |
| 2010 | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.2% |
| 2011 | 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +149.8% |
| 2012 | 2.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 1.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -50.1% |
| 2014 | 485.81 million BoP, current US$ | -66.1% |
| 2015 | 284.65 million BoP, current US$ | -41.4% |
| 2016 | 292.03 million BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 113.01 million BoP, current US$ | -61.3% |
| 2018 | -21.38 million BoP, current US$ | -118.9% |
| 2019 | 515.62 million BoP, current US$ | -2512.0% |
| 2020 | -558.06 million BoP, current US$ | -208.2% |
| 2021 | -272.33 million BoP, current US$ | -51.2% |
| 2022 | 752.25 million BoP, current US$ | -376.2% |
| 2023 | 2.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +181.1% |
| 2024 | 614.58 million BoP, current US$ | -70.9% |
| 2025 | 413.09 million BoP, current US$ | -32.8% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 413.09 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.70 billion BoP, current US$, 15% of the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 413.09 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.63 billion BoP, current US$, 25% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +18810.3% | -5.95 million BoP, current US$ | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1984 | -15175.0% | 40,000 BoP, current US$ | -6.03 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1994 | +11363.7% | 13.25 million BoP, current US$ | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1996 | +5083.3% | 6.70 million BoP, current US$ | 347.35 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1992 | +4312.5% | 800,000 BoP, current US$ | 35.30 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1973 | +2900.0% | 10,000 BoP, current US$ | 300,000 BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.95 million BoP, current US$ | -510,000 BoP, current US$ | 25.99 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 234,000 BoP, current US$ | -14.53 million BoP, current US$ | 16.32 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 207.93 million BoP, current US$ | 800,000 BoP, current US$ | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 143.94 million BoP, current US$ | -111.52 million BoP, current US$ | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.38 million BoP, current US$ | 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 510.69 million BoP, current US$ | -558.06 million BoP, current US$ | 2.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 125 Zimbabwe 465.43 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 126 Kenya 463.44 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 127 Moldova 459.51 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 129 Azerbaijan 374.19 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 130 Niger 358.08 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 131 Palestine 329.83 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Kuwait
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.82 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.61 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 2.99 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.019 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 614.43 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 413.09 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 84.91 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Kuwait was 413.09 million BoP, current US$ 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was -558.06 million BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- How does Kuwait rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Kuwait ranks 128th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.