Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states
Other small states: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 7.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Other small states recorded 7.2% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 367.4% on the previous year and down 73.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states peaked at 99.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, -27.3%, in 2020.
Other small states ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.7% | — |
| 1971 | 1.2% | -86.3% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | -69.1% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +62.5% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +161.5% |
| 1976 | 0.5% | -68.8% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | +100.0% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | +17.5% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -36.2% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +46.8% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | -34.5% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -34.0% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | +45.9% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +21.7% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -3.4% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +11.2% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +20.4% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | -10.1% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 1.1% | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | +21.4% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | +27.0% |
| 1995 | 3.8% | +125.3% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | +21.9% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | +16.8% |
| 1999 | 6.4% | +22.7% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | -27.5% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -41.2% |
| 2003 | 5.6% | +86.5% |
| 2004 | 14.9% | +164.4% |
| 2005 | 35.9% | +141.1% |
| 2006 | 36.5% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 44.3% | +21.3% |
| 2008 | 26.9% | -39.3% |
| 2009 | 68.1% | +153.3% |
| 2010 | 42.3% | -37.9% |
| 2011 | 43.0% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 66.1% | +53.5% |
| 2013 | 23.6% | -64.3% |
| 2014 | 44.3% | +88.1% |
| 2015 | 27.7% | -37.5% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -79.2% |
| 2017 | 57.7% | +901.4% |
| 2018 | 99.4% | +72.2% |
| 2019 | 96.1% | -3.3% |
| 2020 | -27.3% | -128.4% |
| 2021 | 59.5% | -318.3% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -74.6% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | -59.0% |
| 2024 | -2.7% | -143.6% |
| 2025 | 7.2% | -367.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.7% | 0.4% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 1.0% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.8% | 3.0% | 68.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.6% | 5.8% | 99.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | -27.3% | 59.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Other small states
- 1 Malta 170.1% compare
- 2 Suriname 45.1% compare
- 3 Cayman Islands 40.9% compare
- 4 Guyana 35.0% compare
- 5 Hong Kong, China 30.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Other small states
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.7105 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.4131 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7,246 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 10.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 13,172 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5506 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 9,658 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Other small states was 7.2% 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 Other small states?
- The highest recorded value was 99.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Other small states?
- The lowest recorded value was -27.3% in 2020.
- How does Other small states rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Other small states ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Other small states?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Other small states 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.