Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom is 76.63 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 691.5% on the previous year and up 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom peaked at 324.81 billion BoP, current US$ in 2016 and was at its lowest, -25.06 billion BoP, current US$, in 2018.
United Kingdom ranks 7th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.0% |
| 1972 | 1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.8% |
| 1973 | 2.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +125.4% |
| 1974 | 4.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +60.6% |
| 1975 | 3.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.1% |
| 1976 | 3.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 1977 | 4.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.2% |
| 1978 | 3.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1979 | 6.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +70.8% |
| 1980 | 10.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.5% |
| 1981 | 5.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.9% |
| 1982 | 5.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 5.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 1984 | -347.32 million BoP, current US$ | -106.7% |
| 1985 | 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -1676.8% |
| 1986 | 8.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.5% |
| 1987 | 13.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.6% |
| 1988 | 26.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +102.1% |
| 1989 | 27.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 41.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.6% |
| 1991 | 23.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.8% |
| 1992 | 23.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 19.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1994 | 19.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 29.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.9% |
| 1996 | 32.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 51.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.3% |
| 1998 | 109.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +114.0% |
| 1999 | 129.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 164.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.4% |
| 2001 | 56.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -65.8% |
| 2002 | 89.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +60.0% |
| 2003 | 36.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.9% |
| 2004 | 87.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +141.8% |
| 2005 | 252.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +190.2% |
| 2006 | 203.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2007 | 209.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 253.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 14.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -94.3% |
| 2010 | 66.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +358.7% |
| 2011 | 27.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.5% |
| 2012 | 46.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.1% |
| 2013 | 54.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2014 | 58.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 45.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.0% |
| 2016 | 324.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +616.5% |
| 2017 | 125.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -61.4% |
| 2018 | -25.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -120.0% |
| 2019 | 19.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -179.0% |
| 2020 | 157.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +694.2% |
| 2021 | 102.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -34.8% |
| 2022 | 92.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 13.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -85.1% |
| 2024 | -12.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -193.9% |
| 2025 | 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -691.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -347.32 million BoP, current US$ | 27.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.94 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 129.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 136.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 253.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 324.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 157.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 4 Germany 95.19 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 China (People’s Republic of) 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Brazil 77.68 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 France 73.03 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 9 Canada 69.03 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 10 British Virgin Islands 53.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current LCU), annual 54.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), annual growth rate 8.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0977 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per capita 5,629 current US$ per person (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.0742 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current LCU), per capita 4,275 current LCU per person (2025)
- Special drawing rights per domestic currency (End-of-period (EoP)) 0.9825 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom was 76.63 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 324.81 billion BoP, current US$ in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -25.06 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- United Kingdom ranks 7th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.