Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 1.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 646.1% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 12.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, -0.9%, in 2018.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 108th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.1% | — |
| 1971 | 1.2% | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | -40.6% |
| 1973 | 1.4% | +99.0% |
| 1974 | 2.1% | +50.0% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | -35.3% |
| 1976 | 1.3% | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +30.2% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | -33.0% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | +30.7% |
| 1980 | 1.8% | +21.6% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -39.3% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +0.6% |
| 1984 | -0.1% | -107.1% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | -1587.2% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +27.3% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +23.1% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | +65.5% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 3.8% | +29.4% |
| 1991 | 2.0% | -46.2% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | +25.9% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +43.8% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +102.2% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | +16.0% |
| 2000 | 9.8% | +28.0% |
| 2001 | 3.4% | -65.5% |
| 2002 | 5.0% | +48.0% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | -65.1% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +105.1% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | +176.4% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -24.4% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +27.5% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -93.0% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | +346.4% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -62.2% |
| 2012 | 1.7% | +70.3% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -19.4% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | +679.7% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -61.3% |
| 2018 | -0.9% | -118.6% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -179.6% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +738.5% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | -44.4% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | -86.2% |
| 2024 | -0.4% | -187.0% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -646.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.5% | -0.1% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 1.7% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 0.6% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -0.9% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | -0.4% | 5.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 86.93 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,251 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 76.63 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 691.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0191 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,103 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 22.77 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1.9% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9% in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 108th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.