Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in South Asia
South Asia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 44.53 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia, 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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia stood at 44.53 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 48.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia peaked at 66.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020 and was at its lowest, -29.10 million BoP, current US$, in 1977.
South Asia ranks 33rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 45.16 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 47.96 million BoP, current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 18.21 million BoP, current US$ | -62.0% |
| 1973 | 40.54 million BoP, current US$ | +122.6% |
| 1974 | 61.31 million BoP, current US$ | +51.2% |
| 1975 | -6.67 million BoP, current US$ | -110.9% |
| 1976 | -2.15 million BoP, current US$ | -67.8% |
| 1977 | -29.10 million BoP, current US$ | +1256.3% |
| 1978 | 28.64 million BoP, current US$ | -198.4% |
| 1979 | 88.57 million BoP, current US$ | +209.2% |
| 1980 | 130.85 million BoP, current US$ | +47.7% |
| 1981 | 146.28 million BoP, current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 139.70 million BoP, current US$ | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 43.46 million BoP, current US$ | -68.9% |
| 1984 | 52.11 million BoP, current US$ | +19.9% |
| 1985 | 127.45 million BoP, current US$ | +144.6% |
| 1986 | 156.46 million BoP, current US$ | +22.8% |
| 1987 | 281.52 million BoP, current US$ | +79.9% |
| 1988 | 140.69 million BoP, current US$ | -50.0% |
| 1989 | 276.91 million BoP, current US$ | +96.8% |
| 1990 | 296.42 million BoP, current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 132.60 million BoP, current US$ | -55.3% |
| 1992 | 409.46 million BoP, current US$ | +208.8% |
| 1993 | 765.80 million BoP, current US$ | +87.0% |
| 1994 | 1.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.4% |
| 1995 | 2.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +90.5% |
| 1996 | 2.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.2% |
| 1997 | 4.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +61.5% |
| 1998 | 3.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.2% |
| 1999 | 2.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.4% |
| 2000 | 4.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.7% |
| 2001 | 5.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.5% |
| 2002 | 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 6.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.0% |
| 2005 | 8.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.4% |
| 2006 | 21.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +149.8% |
| 2007 | 26.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.9% |
| 2008 | 45.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +71.1% |
| 2009 | 37.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.8% |
| 2010 | 29.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.5% |
| 2011 | 39.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.2% |
| 2012 | 26.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.6% |
| 2013 | 32.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2014 | 38.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.5% |
| 2015 | 47.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2016 | 48.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 43.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 46.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2020 | 66.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2021 | 47.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.4% |
| 2022 | 53.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2023 | 31.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.5% |
| 2024 | 30.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2025 | 44.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in South Asia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | -1256.3% | -2.15 million BoP, current US$ | -29.10 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.25 million BoP, current US$ | -29.10 million BoP, current US$ | 88.57 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 149.54 million BoP, current US$ | 43.46 million BoP, current US$ | 281.52 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 132.60 million BoP, current US$ | 4.18 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 45.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 26.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 54.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.62 billion BoP, current US$ | 30.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 66.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 30 Chile 14.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Malta 14.36 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Greece 13.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 Turkey 12.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 34 Portugal 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 35 Colombia 11.57 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 36 Cyprus 11.16 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 6.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0821 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 221.99 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia was 44.53 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.89 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -29.10 million BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does South Asia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- South Asia ranks 33rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.