Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia
South Asia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia, 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 South Asia is 0.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 34.8% on the previous year and down 53.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia peaked at 3.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1977.
South Asia ranks 40th 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | 0.1% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 0.0% | -67.5% |
| 1973 | 0.0% | +85.7% |
| 1974 | 0.1% | +26.0% |
| 1975 | -0.0% | -110.5% |
| 1976 | -0.0% | -66.8% |
| 1977 | -0.0% | +1070.2% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -186.8% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | +175.6% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | +22.0% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -7.0% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -71.1% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | +21.8% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | +122.6% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | +15.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +61.0% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -53.1% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +95.8% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -48.1% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +194.4% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +91.0% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +31.1% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | +72.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | +52.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -28.4% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -22.6% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | +56.0% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +29.3% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -34.0% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | +26.1% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | +18.6% |
| 2006 | 2.0% | +119.6% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +70.4% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -27.2% |
| 2010 | 1.6% | -36.1% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -32.0% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | +16.6% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | +20.0% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | -21.0% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +28.5% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -38.9% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | -45.0% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | -9.9% |
| 2025 | 0.9% | +34.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | 0.6% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 7.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,864 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in South Asia was 0.9% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1977.
- How does South Asia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- South Asia ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.