Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Singapore
Singapore: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) was 26.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Singapore, 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 Singapore is 26.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.7% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Singapore peaked at 32.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1976.
Singapore ranks 8th of 201 countries 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 (% of GDP) in Singapore, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.8% | — |
| 1971 | 5.1% | +5.8% |
| 1972 | 5.9% | +15.5% |
| 1973 | 9.5% | +61.3% |
| 1974 | 6.5% | -31.7% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | -20.5% |
| 1976 | 3.6% | -29.6% |
| 1977 | 4.4% | +20.8% |
| 1978 | 4.0% | -9.4% |
| 1979 | 9.0% | +125.4% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | +15.5% |
| 1981 | 11.7% | +12.7% |
| 1982 | 10.0% | -15.0% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | -36.0% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -17.1% |
| 1986 | 9.2% | +68.4% |
| 1987 | 13.6% | +47.3% |
| 1988 | 14.4% | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 9.5% | -34.2% |
| 1990 | 15.4% | +62.8% |
| 1991 | 10.7% | -30.3% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | -60.7% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +82.9% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +50.1% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +17.2% |
| 1996 | 11.9% | -12.7% |
| 1997 | 15.7% | +32.1% |
| 1998 | 7.0% | -55.7% |
| 1999 | 21.8% | +214.3% |
| 2000 | 16.1% | -26.1% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | +17.3% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -64.9% |
| 2003 | 17.5% | +162.4% |
| 2004 | 21.2% | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | -28.7% |
| 2006 | 26.3% | +74.2% |
| 2007 | 26.2% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -73.2% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +71.9% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | +91.1% |
| 2011 | 17.6% | -23.7% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 20.9% | +11.7% |
| 2014 | 21.8% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 22.7% | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 20.3% | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 29.6% | +45.6% |
| 2018 | 22.8% | -23.0% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +23.7% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | -19.8% |
| 2021 | 32.3% | +42.9% |
| 2022 | 28.0% | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 24.6% | -12.2% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 26.3% | +11.7% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 26.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 12.3× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 26.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.1%, 12.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.8% | 3.6% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.7% | 5.5% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.0% | 4.2% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.7% | 6.7% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 17.6% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.2% | 22.6% | 32.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More economy & growth data for Singapore
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0108 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 1,066 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.451 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0079 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 778.55 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0065 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Singapore?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Singapore was 26.3% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 32.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1976.
- How does Singapore rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Singapore ranks 8th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Singapore 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.