Foreign direct investment, net inflows in European Union
European Union: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in European Union, 1970–2025
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 European Union is 0.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 74.8% on the previous year and down 93.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in European Union peaked at 10.0% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -1.3%, in 2023.
European Union ranks 46th of 47 groups 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 European Union, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -14.1% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -29.1% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -29.2% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | +33.7% |
| 1978 | 0.4% | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 0.4% | -7.6% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | -9.5% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -8.0% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +12.9% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +6.1% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +32.2% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | +38.0% |
| 1989 | 1.0% | +31.3% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -11.0% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +18.7% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | +33.0% |
| 1996 | 1.2% | -10.1% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +19.1% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | +89.3% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +111.4% |
| 2000 | 8.7% | +52.5% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -43.2% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | -26.5% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -19.1% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 6.1% | +123.3% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +39.6% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | -49.6% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -21.8% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -16.9% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | +73.6% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -30.5% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | -25.4% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | +109.4% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | -16.2% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -23.7% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -79.1% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | +342.3% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -68.7% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | +239.6% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -65.7% |
| 2023 | -1.3% | -197.5% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | -225.3% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | -74.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 0.9% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 2.7% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | -1.3% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More economy & growth data for European Union
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 23,360 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 9.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 18,514 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3932 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 164.14 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 33,955 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 7.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0035 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in European Union?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in European Union 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.3% in 2023.
- How does European Union rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- European Union ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union 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.