Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) 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$, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 20th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1973 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1974 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1975 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1980 | 211.46 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1981 | 22.32 million BoP, current US$ | -89.4% |
| 1982 | 265.29 million BoP, current US$ | +1088.8% |
| 1983 | -34.27 million BoP, current US$ | -112.9% |
| 1984 | 78.38 million BoP, current US$ | -328.7% |
| 1985 | 43.86 million BoP, current US$ | -44.0% |
| 1986 | 96.95 million BoP, current US$ | +121.0% |
| 1987 | 11.97 million BoP, current US$ | -87.7% |
| 1988 | 1.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +12984.4% |
| 1989 | 704.26 million BoP, current US$ | -55.0% |
| 1990 | -638.33 million BoP, current US$ | -190.6% |
| 1991 | -127.91 million BoP, current US$ | -80.0% |
| 1992 | 195.27 million BoP, current US$ | -252.7% |
| 1993 | 44.89 million BoP, current US$ | -77.0% |
| 1994 | 286.65 million BoP, current US$ | +538.5% |
| 1995 | 119.57 million BoP, current US$ | -58.3% |
| 1996 | 323.41 million BoP, current US$ | +170.5% |
| 1997 | 325.96 million BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 127.90 million BoP, current US$ | -60.8% |
| 1999 | 110.68 million BoP, current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2000 | 1.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +1300.4% |
| 2001 | 45.63 million BoP, current US$ | -97.1% |
| 2002 | 2.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +4327.1% |
| 2003 | 473.00 million BoP, current US$ | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 78.73 million BoP, current US$ | -83.4% |
| 2005 | -349.87 million BoP, current US$ | -544.4% |
| 2006 | -38.56 million BoP, current US$ | -89.0% |
| 2007 | -134.83 million BoP, current US$ | +249.7% |
| 2008 | 3.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -2694.2% |
| 2009 | 2.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.7% |
| 2010 | 3.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.4% |
| 2011 | 3.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2012 | 4.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2013 | 4.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 5.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 9.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +71.8% |
| 2017 | 8.17 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.8% |
| 2018 | 19.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +135.5% |
| 2019 | 14.55 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.4% |
| 2020 | 5.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -62.8% |
| 2021 | 24.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +356.0% |
| 2022 | 26.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2023 | 17.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -34.6% |
| 2024 | 27.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.2% |
| 2025 | 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.46 billion BoP, current US$, 18.5× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 266.18 million BoP, current US$, 101.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Saudi Arabia 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 | +12984.4% | 11.97 million BoP, current US$ | 1.57 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2002 | +4327.1% | 45.63 million BoP, current US$ | 2.02 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2008 | +2694.2% | -134.83 million BoP, current US$ | 3.50 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2000 | +1300.4% | 110.68 million BoP, current US$ | 1.55 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1982 | +1088.8% | 22.32 million BoP, current US$ | 265.29 million BoP, current US$ |
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
- 17 India 38.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 18 Switzerland 32.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 19 Brazil 30.18 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 21 Cayman Islands 25.25 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 22 Italy 22.90 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 23 Israel 14.72 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 69.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0168 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 580.45 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.3713 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0123 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 423.84 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.52 % change on previous year (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 193 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.