Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Republic of Korea, 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 Republic of Korea is 0.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 23.1% on the previous year and up 216.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Republic of Korea peaked at 4.5% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1974.
That places Republic of Korea 153rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.7% | — |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -42.2% |
| 1972 | 4.5% | +975.1% |
| 1973 | 0.0% | -99.4% |
| 1974 | 0.0% | -64.6% |
| 1975 | 0.0% | +169.3% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +883.5% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -9.8% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -30.0% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | +49.9% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -72.0% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | +195.0% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | -27.5% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | +35.9% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | +53.0% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | +66.1% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +14.2% |
| 1989 | 0.5% | -13.1% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | -34.5% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | +19.3% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | -36.1% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -24.8% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +15.6% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | +78.8% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +27.1% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | +169.1% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | +38.0% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | -40.3% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -26.7% |
| 2003 | 1.0% | +14.2% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +67.8% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -13.1% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | -40.4% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | +41.8% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -13.2% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | +25.1% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -33.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -55.3% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +187.5% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | +36.6% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -36.2% |
| 2019 | 0.6% | -17.6% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | +126.0% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +22.5% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | -25.8% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -33.6% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | +23.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.2% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More economy & growth data for Republic of Korea
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate -2.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2913 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 10,553 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 414.37 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 15.01 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2815 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 10,198 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 0.6183 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Republic of Korea?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Republic of Korea was 0.8% 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 Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 1972.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1974.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Republic of Korea ranks 153rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 216.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Republic of Korea 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.