Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Small states
Small states: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 12.49 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Small states, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Small states is 12.49 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 158.0% on the previous year and down 61.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Small states peaked at 178.24 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, -57.26 billion BoP, current US$, in 2020.
Small states ranks 29th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Small states, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.40 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 860,814 BoP, current US$ | -64.1% |
| 1972 | 1.77 million BoP, current US$ | +105.6% |
| 1973 | 816,651 BoP, current US$ | -53.9% |
| 1974 | 128,091 BoP, current US$ | -84.3% |
| 1975 | 786,580 BoP, current US$ | +514.1% |
| 1976 | 2.29 million BoP, current US$ | +191.4% |
| 1977 | 1.75 million BoP, current US$ | -23.5% |
| 1978 | 2.12 million BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 1979 | 785,665 BoP, current US$ | -62.9% |
| 1980 | 130.60 million BoP, current US$ | +16523.1% |
| 1981 | -31.65 million BoP, current US$ | -124.2% |
| 1982 | -70.04 million BoP, current US$ | +121.3% |
| 1983 | -32.54 million BoP, current US$ | -53.5% |
| 1984 | 25.58 million BoP, current US$ | -178.6% |
| 1985 | 70.86 million BoP, current US$ | +177.0% |
| 1986 | 152.59 million BoP, current US$ | +115.3% |
| 1987 | 67.90 million BoP, current US$ | -55.5% |
| 1988 | -140.91 million BoP, current US$ | -307.5% |
| 1989 | 81.75 million BoP, current US$ | -158.0% |
| 1990 | -122.47 million BoP, current US$ | -249.8% |
| 1991 | 7.73 million BoP, current US$ | -106.3% |
| 1992 | 130.06 million BoP, current US$ | +1581.6% |
| 1993 | 43.85 million BoP, current US$ | -66.3% |
| 1994 | 19.82 million BoP, current US$ | -54.8% |
| 1995 | 265.35 million BoP, current US$ | +1238.9% |
| 1996 | 199.38 million BoP, current US$ | -24.9% |
| 1997 | 260.49 million BoP, current US$ | +30.7% |
| 1998 | 250.06 million BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 519.74 million BoP, current US$ | +107.8% |
| 2000 | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +97.4% |
| 2001 | 1.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 1.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2003 | 2.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +78.2% |
| 2004 | 9.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +354.3% |
| 2005 | 20.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +116.3% |
| 2006 | 23.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2007 | 29.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.4% |
| 2008 | 32.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 62.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +94.8% |
| 2010 | 35.75 billion BoP, current US$ | -42.7% |
| 2011 | 45.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 2012 | 69.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.5% |
| 2013 | 27.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.7% |
| 2014 | 57.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +113.5% |
| 2015 | 32.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -43.6% |
| 2016 | -10.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -133.3% |
| 2017 | 80.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -837.6% |
| 2018 | 178.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.9% |
| 2019 | 145.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2020 | -57.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -139.5% |
| 2021 | 78.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -237.1% |
| 2022 | 25.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -67.1% |
| 2023 | -3.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -115.2% |
| 2024 | -21.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +447.2% |
| 2025 | 12.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -158.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Small states changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +16523.1% | 785,665 BoP, current US$ | 130.60 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1992 | +1581.6% | 7.73 million BoP, current US$ | 130.06 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1995 | +1238.9% | 19.82 million BoP, current US$ | 265.35 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2017 | +837.6% | -10.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 80.32 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.37 million BoP, current US$ | 128,091 BoP, current US$ | 2.40 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.42 million BoP, current US$ | -140.91 million BoP, current US$ | 152.59 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 157.40 million BoP, current US$ | -122.47 million BoP, current US$ | 519.74 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 62.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 178.24 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -57.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 78.48 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Small states
- 26 Turkey 9.83 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 27 Thailand 9.58 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 28 United Kingdom 9.43 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 29 Malaysia 9.09 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 30 Portugal 8.91 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Chile 8.68 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Czechia 8.62 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Small states
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1426 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 15.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9,468 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5711 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 13.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 9.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2,363 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 11.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0396 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Small states?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Small states was 12.49 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 Small states?
- The highest recorded value was 178.24 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Small states?
- The lowest recorded value was -57.26 billion BoP, current US$ in 2020.
- How does Small states rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Small states ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Small states?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Small states 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.