Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
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$.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 401.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia peaked at 27.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, -638.33 million BoP, current US$, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 20th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 296.65 million BoP, current US$ | -34.27 million BoP, current US$ | 1.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 76.81 million BoP, current US$ | -638.33 million BoP, current US$ | 325.96 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 931.90 million BoP, current US$ | -349.87 million BoP, current US$ | 3.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.25 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 27.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 1.6% (2025)
- Inflation of consumer prices 2.1% (2025)
- GDP per capita 25,066 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 15.8% (2025)
- Gross domestic product (GDP) 926.78 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- GDP per capita in international and market dollars 25,066 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- DEC alternative conversion factor 3.75 LCU per US$ (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -245.86 billion current LCU (2025)
- Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) -65.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products 263.97 billion current LCU (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia was 27.03 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -638.33 million BoP, current US$ in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 20th out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 401.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.