Foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific stood at 1.3%.
The figure is down 17.8% on the previous year and down 53.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 3.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1979.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 31st 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 in East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | -43.6% |
| 1974 | 0.5% | +48.7% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -11.6% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -10.4% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -26.9% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | +15.8% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +35.9% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -34.3% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | +42.4% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | +31.3% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 0.5% | -11.5% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | +35.7% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -27.8% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | +27.0% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +40.6% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +21.3% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +24.6% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -21.7% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -12.8% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +40.0% |
| 2005 | 1.8% | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +43.7% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +22.9% |
| 2008 | 2.7% | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -27.8% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +48.1% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -14.0% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | +13.0% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +11.0% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | +20.3% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -35.2% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | -17.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More economy & growth data for East Asia & Pacific
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.223 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 4,646 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2845 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 4,005 current US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0547 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 769.41 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Inflation, GDP deflator 2.5% (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 4.26 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in East Asia & Pacific was 1.3% 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 East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1979.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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.
Download this data
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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.