Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Thailand
Thailand: Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP was 1.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Thailand, 1975–2025
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
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Thailand is 1.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 16.4% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Thailand peaked at 3.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 2000.
That places Thailand 33rd out of 189 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -43.5% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -34.5% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -28.5% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -13.1% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -38.5% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -61.1% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | +58.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | +11.6% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +13526.8% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -88.4% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +75.6% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +138.9% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -22.7% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +37.5% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +85.9% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | +55.6% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -24.1% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -70.4% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | +138.5% |
| 2000 | -0.0% | -106.7% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -2055.8% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -64.2% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +221.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -89.2% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +556.9% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | +61.1% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +25.4% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | +36.5% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | +165.1% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -18.8% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +85.4% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | -19.6% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -51.1% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | -11.8% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +160.5% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 1.9% | -44.7% |
| 2020 | 3.7% | +97.4% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -59.6% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | +71.7% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | -47.5% |
| 2025 | 1.6% | +16.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | -0.0% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.2% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 1.4% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More economy & growth data for Thailand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2374 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 1,913 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 7.81 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 62,902 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2016 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,624 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 39,479 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 6.38 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Thailand?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Thailand was 1.6% in 2025, 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 2000.
- How does Thailand rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp?
- Thailand ranks 33rd out of 189 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.