Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP was 0.2% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Afghanistan, 2003–2021
Source: International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 0.2% for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in 2021. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is up 15.7% on the previous year and up 3,280.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Afghanistan peaked at 0.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2012.
Afghanistan ranks 106th of 189 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 outflows as share of GDP in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0.0% | — |
| 2004 | -0.0% | -160.6% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -280.5% |
| 2008 | -0.0% | -178.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -110.5% |
| 2010 | -0.0% | -495.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | -181.1% |
| 2012 | -0.0% | -796.9% |
| 2013 | 0.0% | -106.0% |
| 2014 | -0.0% | -103.5% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | -12197.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | +583.9% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -22.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +258.0% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -34.9% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +33.2% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | +15.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More economy & growth data for Afghanistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.59 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -6.24 Percent per annum (2022)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 38.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6806 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 283.72 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 25.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 48.31 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 20,139 current LCU per person (2024)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -57.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth -41.64 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Afghanistan?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Afghanistan was 0.2% in 2021, according to International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 2012.
- How does Afghanistan rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp?
- Afghanistan ranks 106th out of 189 countries with data for 2021.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,280.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net outflows of foreign direct investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world.