Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia
Australia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia is -4.55 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 132.6% on the previous year and down 155.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia peaked at 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, -32.71 billion BoP, current US$, in 2005.
That places Australia 188th out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 111.36 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 104.50 million BoP, current US$ | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 128.77 million BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1973 | 255.87 million BoP, current US$ | +98.7% |
| 1974 | 240.88 million BoP, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1975 | 161.02 million BoP, current US$ | -33.2% |
| 1976 | 267.63 million BoP, current US$ | +66.2% |
| 1977 | 266.13 million BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 235.79 million BoP, current US$ | -11.4% |
| 1979 | 343.15 million BoP, current US$ | +45.5% |
| 1980 | 460.01 million BoP, current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1981 | 733.15 million BoP, current US$ | +59.4% |
| 1982 | 692.79 million BoP, current US$ | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 518.01 million BoP, current US$ | -25.2% |
| 1984 | 1.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +170.9% |
| 1985 | 1.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.4% |
| 1986 | 3.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +81.2% |
| 1987 | 5.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.2% |
| 1988 | 6.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.2% |
| 1989 | 3.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -55.8% |
| 1990 | 633.08 million BoP, current US$ | -79.1% |
| 1991 | -1.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -285.1% |
| 1992 | 3.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -427.2% |
| 1993 | 2.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -33.6% |
| 1994 | 1.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.2% |
| 1995 | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.3% |
| 1996 | 5.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1997 | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.5% |
| 1998 | 4.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.3% |
| 1999 | 311.37 million BoP, current US$ | -93.3% |
| 2000 | 4.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +1215.2% |
| 2001 | 13.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +226.8% |
| 2002 | 6.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -47.9% |
| 2003 | 18.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +166.7% |
| 2004 | 9.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -47.4% |
| 2005 | -32.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -434.3% |
| 2006 | 24.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -173.6% |
| 2007 | 14.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.1% |
| 2008 | 31.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.1% |
| 2009 | 11.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -64.0% |
| 2010 | 18.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +57.6% |
| 2011 | 8.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.3% |
| 2012 | 5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.1% |
| 2013 | -769.71 million BoP, current US$ | -113.4% |
| 2014 | 22.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -3031.8% |
| 2015 | 8.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -63.4% |
| 2016 | -3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -137.6% |
| 2017 | 10.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -421.8% |
| 2018 | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -89.7% |
| 2019 | 8.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +762.5% |
| 2020 | 7.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.9% |
| 2021 | 9.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.0% |
| 2022 | 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +1277.0% |
| 2023 | 13.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -89.5% |
| 2024 | 13.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2025 | -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -132.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.18 billion BoP, current US$. (70 countries reporting)
- Australia's -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.88 million BoP, current US$. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +3031.8% | -769.71 million BoP, current US$ | 22.57 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2022 | +1277.0% | 9.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2000 | +1215.2% | 311.37 million BoP, current US$ | 4.10 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2019 | +762.5% | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.90 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 211.51 million BoP, current US$ | 104.50 million BoP, current US$ | 343.15 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 460.01 million BoP, current US$ | 6.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 31.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 185 Panama -870.79 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 186 Cayman Islands -1.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 187 South Africa -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 189 Netherlands -5.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 190 Austria -6.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 191 Belgium -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -164.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0203 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,323 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia was -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -32.71 billion BoP, current US$ in 2005.
- How does Australia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Australia ranks 188th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 155.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.