Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Australia
Australia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Australia, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Australia recorded 2.0% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
That represents a change of down 33.6% on the previous year and down 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Australia peaked at 7.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, -3.6%, in 2005.
That places Australia 105th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Australia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.2% | — |
| 1971 | 2.6% | +18.2% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | -20.7% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -89.6% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | +605.5% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | -69.1% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | +116.0% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | +36.9% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | -22.0% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | +12.7% |
| 1981 | 1.3% | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | -11.2% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +43.2% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -86.9% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | +425.0% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | +153.3% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 3.6% | +31.0% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | -25.5% |
| 1990 | 2.7% | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -70.5% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +89.4% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +12.1% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -18.9% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | +160.9% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | -68.4% |
| 1997 | 1.9% | +63.3% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -70.2% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | +530.7% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -21.1% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | +31.2% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -48.1% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | +263.4% |
| 2005 | -3.6% | -151.7% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | -213.2% |
| 2007 | 5.2% | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -17.7% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | -27.2% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +51.5% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -20.7% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | +24.6% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -19.4% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -34.6% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -51.3% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | +49.5% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +101.1% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -49.8% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | +50.2% |
| 2025 | 2.0% | -33.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 0.2% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 0.6% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | -3.6% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 2.8% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 1.3% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 102 Armenia 2.1% compare
- 103 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 2.1% compare
- 104 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 2.1% compare
- 106 Poland 1.9% compare
- 107 Palestine, State of 1.9% compare
- 108 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 2.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2446 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 15,931 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.3779 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 24,616 current LCU per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2266 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Australia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Australia was 2.0% in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.0% in 2004.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.6% in 2005.
- How does Australia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Australia ranks 105th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.