Foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union
European Union: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 210.38 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union is 210.38 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 53.3% on the previous year and down 78.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union peaked at 1.64 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -232.43 billion BoP, current US$, in 2023.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.32 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 3.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +64.7% |
| 1972 | 4.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.9% |
| 1973 | 6.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1974 | 6.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.4% |
| 1975 | 7.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 8.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1977 | 8.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 10.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1979 | 16.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.7% |
| 1980 | 15.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 15.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 11.77 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.2% |
| 1983 | 13.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 16.48 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 1985 | 15.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.4% |
| 1986 | 29.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +91.4% |
| 1987 | 38.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.7% |
| 1988 | 55.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.7% |
| 1989 | 75.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.8% |
| 1990 | 111.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.8% |
| 1991 | 88.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.9% |
| 1992 | 85.22 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 70.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1994 | 87.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.3% |
| 1995 | 118.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.2% |
| 1996 | 151.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.7% |
| 1997 | 162.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 300.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +84.6% |
| 1999 | 554.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +84.6% |
| 2000 | 616.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 409.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -33.6% |
| 2002 | 211.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.3% |
| 2003 | 266.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2004 | 410.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +54.2% |
| 2005 | 898.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +119.0% |
| 2006 | 1.18 trillion BoP, current US$ | +31.9% |
| 2007 | 1.64 trillion BoP, current US$ | +38.1% |
| 2008 | 1.19 trillion BoP, current US$ | -27.6% |
| 2009 | 741.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.4% |
| 2010 | 618.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 2011 | 942.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.5% |
| 2012 | 658.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.1% |
| 2013 | 738.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.1% |
| 2014 | 636.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.9% |
| 2015 | 956.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +50.4% |
| 2016 | 875.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 644.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.3% |
| 2018 | 364.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.5% |
| 2019 | 560.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.6% |
| 2020 | 154.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -72.5% |
| 2021 | 1.09 trillion BoP, current US$ | +609.6% |
| 2022 | 565.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.3% |
| 2023 | -232.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -141.1% |
| 2024 | 450.62 billion BoP, current US$ | -293.9% |
| 2025 | 210.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -53.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.68 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 75.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 173.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 70.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 554.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 756.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 211.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.64 trillion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 699.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 364.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 956.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 373.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -232.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.09 trillion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 1 United States of America 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 2 Japan 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 3 China 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Luxembourg 108.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Germany 108.13 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for European Union
- Gross fixed capital formation 2.7% (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 8.35 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 2.3% (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 49.6% (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation 4.53 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation 3.39 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross capital formation 3.44 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross capital formation 22.0% (2025)
- Gross capital formation 4.0% (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 10.54 trillion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in European Union was 210.38 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 1.64 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -232.43 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- How does European Union rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- European Union ranks 2nd out of 2 regions with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union 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.