Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North America
North America: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 446.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in North America, 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$.
Analysis
North America recorded 446.47 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.8% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in North America peaked at 589.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, -67.99 billion BoP, current US$, in 2018.
North America ranks 9th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North America, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.42 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.1% |
| 1972 | 7.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.9% |
| 1973 | 10.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.8% |
| 1974 | 6.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.0% |
| 1975 | 14.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +129.9% |
| 1976 | 12.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -17.7% |
| 1977 | 12.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 16.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 1979 | 28.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +71.5% |
| 1980 | 23.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.0% |
| 1981 | 15.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.3% |
| 1982 | 10.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.2% |
| 1983 | 14.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.2% |
| 1984 | 17.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
| 1985 | 7.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -57.2% |
| 1986 | 22.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +207.5% |
| 1987 | 47.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +107.1% |
| 1988 | 29.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.7% |
| 1989 | 57.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +97.6% |
| 1990 | 65.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1991 | 55.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.5% |
| 1992 | 64.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 87.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.2% |
| 1994 | 100.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 125.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.1% |
| 1996 | 115.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 1997 | 148.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.5% |
| 1998 | 211.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.6% |
| 1999 | 267.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.7% |
| 2000 | 233.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 182.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.5% |
| 2002 | 208.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2003 | 218.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 418.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +91.5% |
| 2005 | 79.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -80.9% |
| 2006 | 334.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +318.3% |
| 2007 | 589.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +76.2% |
| 2008 | 432.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.6% |
| 2009 | 350.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.0% |
| 2010 | 386.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 486.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.0% |
| 2012 | 439.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 447.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 452.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 385.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 367.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 487.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.7% |
| 2018 | -67.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -113.9% |
| 2019 | 190.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -380.6% |
| 2020 | 329.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +72.8% |
| 2021 | 446.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.5% |
| 2022 | 490.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.8% |
| 2023 | 450.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.1% |
| 2024 | 308.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.6% |
| 2025 | 446.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in North America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +380.6% | -67.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 190.80 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2006 | +318.3% | 79.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 334.26 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 28.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 57.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 124.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 55.75 billion BoP, current US$ | 267.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 304.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 79.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 589.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 357.60 billion BoP, current US$ | -67.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 487.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 412.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 308.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 490.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 6 Luxembourg 101.38 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 7 Hong Kong 99.85 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 8 France 96.66 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 9 Singapore 94.20 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 10 Ireland 86.44 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 11 United Arab Emirates 63.35 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 12 Canada 56.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for North America
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0142 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 469.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,250 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0145 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 479.40 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 65,820 current US$ per person (2021)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 10.37 % change on previous year (2021)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7546 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 52,472 current US$ per person (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in North America?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in North America was 446.47 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 589.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was -67.99 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- How does North America rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- North America ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America 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.