Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Estonia
Estonia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was -1.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Estonia, 1993–2025
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 Estonia is -1.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 77.6% on the previous year and up 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Estonia peaked at 21.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -8.0%, in 2024.
Estonia ranks 190th 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 Estonia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 4.2% | — |
| 1994 | 5.3% | +26.3% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -13.3% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | -24.5% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | +53.4% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | +97.4% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | -46.1% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | +29.3% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | +29.6% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | -51.6% |
| 2003 | 10.5% | +129.1% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -14.9% |
| 2005 | 21.7% | +142.2% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -52.3% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | +30.8% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -39.9% |
| 2009 | 9.5% | +17.0% |
| 2010 | 13.3% | +39.7% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | -63.8% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | +60.2% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -43.9% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | +52.6% |
| 2015 | -3.1% | -146.6% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | -222.8% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | +67.6% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -35.4% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | +139.4% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +23.0% |
| 2021 | 20.2% | +68.4% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -77.6% |
| 2023 | 12.5% | +176.8% |
| 2024 | -8.0% | -163.6% |
| 2025 | -1.8% | -77.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.6% | 3.5% | 10.5% | 7 |
| 2000s | 10.4% | 4.6% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | -3.1% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | -8.0% | 20.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More economy & growth data for Estonia
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 15,183 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 9.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9897 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 34,062 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.8758 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 30,143 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5997 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 20,640 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Estonia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Estonia was -1.8% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.0% in 2024.
- How does Estonia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Estonia ranks 190th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Estonia 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.