Foreign direct investment, net inflows in China
China: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in China, 1979–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in China is 0.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 80.2% on the previous year and down 80.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in China peaked at 6.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1979.
China ranks 166th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | +66345.1% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +353.7% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | +54.9% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | +31.5% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | +75.5% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +10.8% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | +16.3% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +36.0% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +20.6% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 1.1% | +17.7% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | +129.3% |
| 1993 | 6.2% | +136.7% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -18.5% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -15.6% |
| 2000 | 3.4% | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +30.9% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -31.3% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | +55.8% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | -23.8% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | -15.9% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | -29.0% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -13.2% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +25.6% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -22.7% |
| 2020 | 1.7% | +31.3% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | +12.0% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | -45.1% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -72.9% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | -19.0% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | +80.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 1.0% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.5% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.3% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.2% | 1.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 163 Pakistan 0.5% compare
- 164 Comoros 0.4% compare
- 165 Brunei Darussalam 0.4% compare
- 167 Bangladesh 0.4% compare
- 168 Kenya 0.4% compare
- 169 Iran, Islamic Republic of 0.3% compare
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 0.8984 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4048 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 5,381 current US$ per person (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 2.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.91 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 38,732 current LCU per person (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3775 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in China?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in China was 0.4% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1979.
- How does China rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- China ranks 166th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.