Foreign direct investment, net outflows in China
China: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in China, 1982–2025
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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in China is 157.21 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.2% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in China peaked at 225.67 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 44.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1982.
That places China 3rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in China, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 44.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1983 | 93.00 million BoP, current US$ | +111.4% |
| 1984 | 134.00 million BoP, current US$ | +44.1% |
| 1985 | 629.00 million BoP, current US$ | +369.4% |
| 1986 | 450.00 million BoP, current US$ | -28.5% |
| 1987 | 645.00 million BoP, current US$ | +43.3% |
| 1988 | 850.00 million BoP, current US$ | +31.8% |
| 1989 | 780.00 million BoP, current US$ | -8.2% |
| 1990 | 830.00 million BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 913.00 million BoP, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 1992 | 4.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +338.1% |
| 1993 | 4.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 1994 | 2.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.5% |
| 1995 | 2.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 3.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +78.1% |
| 1998 | 4.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.2% |
| 1999 | 4.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 4.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 9.70 billion BoP, current US$ | +110.2% |
| 2002 | 6.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.2% |
| 2003 | 8.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.6% |
| 2004 | 7.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2005 | 13.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +72.2% |
| 2006 | 23.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.3% |
| 2007 | 17.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.3% |
| 2008 | 56.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +230.8% |
| 2009 | 43.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.7% |
| 2010 | 57.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.0% |
| 2011 | 48.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 64.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2013 | 72.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 123.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +68.7% |
| 2015 | 174.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.6% |
| 2016 | 216.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.1% |
| 2017 | 138.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.1% |
| 2018 | 143.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 136.91 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 153.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2021 | 178.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2022 | 210.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2023 | 225.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 192.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.8% |
| 2025 | 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 153.78 million BoP, current US$, 1022.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.88 million BoP, current US$, 2973.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +369.4% | 134.00 million BoP, current US$ | 629.00 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1992 | +338.1% | 913.00 million BoP, current US$ | 4.00 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2008 | +230.8% | 17.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 56.74 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 453.12 million BoP, current US$ | 44.00 million BoP, current US$ | 850.00 million BoP, current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 2.86 billion BoP, current US$ | 830.00 million BoP, current US$ | 4.53 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 56.74 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 117.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 48.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 216.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 186.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 153.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 225.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 2 Japan 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Luxembourg 108.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Germany 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Singapore 94.20 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 111.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 87.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 56.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in China?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in China was 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 225.67 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1982.
- How does China rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- China ranks 3rd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.