Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North Korea
North Korea: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 1.90 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in North Korea, 2000–2025
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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in North Korea is 1.90 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 30.2% on the previous year and up 166.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in North Korea peaked at 687.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -113.24 million BoP, current US$, in 2008.
North Korea ranks 146th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North Korea, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.49 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 2001 | 23.13 million BoP, current US$ | +101.3% |
| 2002 | 15.21 million BoP, current US$ | -34.2% |
| 2003 | 1.46 million BoP, current US$ | -90.4% |
| 2004 | 5.40 million BoP, current US$ | +270.3% |
| 2005 | 3.24 million BoP, current US$ | -40.0% |
| 2006 | 6.30 million BoP, current US$ | +94.7% |
| 2007 | -19.80 million BoP, current US$ | -414.1% |
| 2008 | -113.24 million BoP, current US$ | +472.0% |
| 2009 | -2.76 million BoP, current US$ | -97.6% |
| 2010 | 445.29 million BoP, current US$ | -16231.4% |
| 2011 | 687.65 million BoP, current US$ | +54.4% |
| 2012 | 150.15 million BoP, current US$ | -78.2% |
| 2013 | -20.43 million BoP, current US$ | -113.6% |
| 2014 | -13.65 million BoP, current US$ | -33.2% |
| 2015 | -2.86 million BoP, current US$ | -79.1% |
| 2016 | -4.14 million BoP, current US$ | +44.8% |
| 2017 | 1.66 million BoP, current US$ | -140.3% |
| 2018 | -1.06 million BoP, current US$ | -163.8% |
| 2019 | 871,224 BoP, current US$ | -182.1% |
| 2020 | 5.53 million BoP, current US$ | +534.6% |
| 2021 | -1.05 million BoP, current US$ | -119.1% |
| 2022 | 3.74 million BoP, current US$ | -455.2% |
| 2023 | -2.52 million BoP, current US$ | -167.4% |
| 2024 | 2.73 million BoP, current US$ | -208.3% |
| 2025 | 1.90 million BoP, current US$ | -30.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 1.90 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.20 million BoP, current US$, 37% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 1.90 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43.49 million BoP, current US$, 4% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +16231.4% | -2.76 million BoP, current US$ | 445.29 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -6.96 million BoP, current US$ | -113.24 million BoP, current US$ | 23.13 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.35 million BoP, current US$ | -20.43 million BoP, current US$ | 687.65 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.72 million BoP, current US$ | -2.52 million BoP, current US$ | 5.53 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 143 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 2.37 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 144 Tanzania 2.26 million BoP, current US$
- 145 Central African Republic 2.22 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 147 Tonga 1.62 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 148 Guinea 1.41 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 149 Belize 1.40 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for North Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows 9.21 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 52,947 (2027)
- Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.083 (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. GDP per capita 0.024 (2025)
- Imports by region of origin, annual growth rate 184.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Vaccination coverage against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vs. GDP per capita 99.0% (2024)
- Imports by region of origin, per capita 3.77 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports by region of origin 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Share of imports by region of origin 99.91 million current US$ (2024)
- Where China ranks among a country’s import partners 1 rank (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in North Korea?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in North Korea was 1.90 million 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 687.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -113.24 million BoP, current US$ in 2008.
- How does North Korea rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- North Korea ranks 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 166.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.