Foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America
North America: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 469.55 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America, 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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America stood at 469.55 billion BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.3% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America peaked at 571.28 billion BoP, current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3.04 billion BoP, current US$, in 1971.
North America ranks 5th of 45 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.05 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 3.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1973 | 5.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.3% |
| 1974 | 7.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.0% |
| 1975 | 5.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.6% |
| 1976 | 5.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 6.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1978 | 9.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.9% |
| 1979 | 13.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.6% |
| 1980 | 22.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +68.8% |
| 1981 | 26.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1982 | 21.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.1% |
| 1983 | 16.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.4% |
| 1984 | 30.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +91.7% |
| 1985 | 10.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -64.8% |
| 1986 | 33.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +209.1% |
| 1987 | 71.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +113.4% |
| 1988 | 64.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 1989 | 82.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.4% |
| 1990 | 79.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 38.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.2% |
| 1992 | 37.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 54.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +45.8% |
| 1994 | 65.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1995 | 82.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.4% |
| 1996 | 106.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1997 | 137.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.0% |
| 1998 | 236.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +72.0% |
| 1999 | 339.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.9% |
| 2000 | 417.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2001 | 200.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -51.9% |
| 2002 | 135.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.5% |
| 2003 | 124.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 215.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.9% |
| 2005 | 167.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.2% |
| 2006 | 362.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +116.0% |
| 2007 | 467.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.0% |
| 2008 | 411.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 181.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -55.8% |
| 2010 | 293.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +61.6% |
| 2011 | 301.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 299.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 355.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.5% |
| 2014 | 316.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 571.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +80.8% |
| 2016 | 508.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 405.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.2% |
| 2018 | 257.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.6% |
| 2019 | 364.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.8% |
| 2020 | 166.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.3% |
| 2021 | 538.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +222.9% |
| 2022 | 467.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 405.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.2% |
| 2024 | 360.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.3% |
| 2025 | 469.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 13.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.07 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 82.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 117.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 37.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 339.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 268.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 124.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 467.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 367.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 257.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 571.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 401.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 166.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 538.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 2 Singapore 159.09 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 3 Hong Kong, China 125.82 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Germany 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 China 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Brazil 77.68 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 France 73.03 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for North America
- Imports of goods and services 4.34 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Gross fixed capital formation 21.5% (2024)
- Gross capital formation 6.84 trillion current US$ (2024)
- Gross capital formation 5.52 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2024)
- Gross capital formation 3.2% (2024)
- Trade in services 7.5% (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 4.86 trillion current US$ (2024)
- External balance on goods and services -2.8% (2024)
- Manufacturing, value added 2.69 trillion current US$ (2021)
- Trade 28.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in North America was 469.55 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 571.28 billion BoP, current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ in 1971.
- How does North America rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- North America ranks 5th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America 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.