Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar
Qatar: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar, 1980–2025
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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar stood at 3.34 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is up 114.0% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar peaked at 10.11 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, -191.48 million BoP, current US$, in 2023.
Qatar ranks 37th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1981 | -2.00 million BoP, current US$ | -200.0% |
| 1983 | 3.00 million BoP, current US$ | -250.0% |
| 1985 | 1.00 million BoP, current US$ | -66.7% |
| 1986 | 346,537 BoP, current US$ | -65.3% |
| 1987 | -357,483 BoP, current US$ | -203.2% |
| 1988 | -14.93 million BoP, current US$ | +4076.6% |
| 1989 | 1.78 million BoP, current US$ | -111.9% |
| 1990 | 1.98 million BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 2.37 million BoP, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 4.55 million BoP, current US$ | +92.1% |
| 1993 | 4.27 million BoP, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 31.26 million BoP, current US$ | +632.2% |
| 1995 | 4.71 million BoP, current US$ | -84.9% |
| 1996 | 8.97 million BoP, current US$ | +90.4% |
| 1997 | 14.25 million BoP, current US$ | +58.8% |
| 1998 | 21.43 million BoP, current US$ | +50.4% |
| 1999 | 7.20 million BoP, current US$ | -66.4% |
| 2000 | 17.75 million BoP, current US$ | +146.5% |
| 2001 | 17.21 million BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2002 | -21.04 million BoP, current US$ | -222.2% |
| 2003 | 88.17 million BoP, current US$ | -519.0% |
| 2004 | 437.92 million BoP, current US$ | +396.7% |
| 2005 | 351.91 million BoP, current US$ | -19.6% |
| 2006 | 127.43 million BoP, current US$ | -63.8% |
| 2007 | 5.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +3949.4% |
| 2008 | 3.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.1% |
| 2009 | 3.21 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.1% |
| 2010 | 1.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -42.0% |
| 2011 | 10.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +442.5% |
| 2012 | 1.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -81.8% |
| 2013 | 8.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +335.9% |
| 2014 | 6.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.9% |
| 2015 | 4.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.4% |
| 2016 | 7.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +96.4% |
| 2017 | 1.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -78.6% |
| 2018 | 3.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +107.9% |
| 2019 | 4.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2020 | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.7% |
| 2021 | 159.89 million BoP, current US$ | -94.1% |
| 2022 | 2.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +1390.9% |
| 2023 | -191.48 million BoP, current US$ | -108.0% |
| 2024 | 1.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -916.2% |
| 2025 | 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +114.0% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.18 billion BoP, current US$, 2.8× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 271.00 million BoP, current US$, 12.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -4076.6% | -357,483 BoP, current US$ | -14.93 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2007 | +3949.4% | 127.43 million BoP, current US$ | 5.16 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2022 | +1390.9% | 159.89 million BoP, current US$ | 2.38 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2024 | +916.2% | -191.48 million BoP, current US$ | 1.56 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -1.15 million BoP, current US$ | -14.93 million BoP, current US$ | 3.00 million BoP, current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 10.10 million BoP, current US$ | 1.98 million BoP, current US$ | 31.26 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.04 million BoP, current US$ | 5.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 10.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -191.48 million BoP, current US$ | 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
More economy & growth data for Qatar
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.9074 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.61 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0155 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,125 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 559.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0141 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,020 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 3.45 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Qatar was 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 10.11 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was -191.48 million BoP, current US$ in 2023.
- How does Qatar rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Qatar ranks 37th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar 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.