Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand
Thailand: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand, 1975–2025
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$.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
The figure is up 26.9% on the previous year and up 87.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand peaked at 19.32 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -22.98 million BoP, current US$, in 2000.
Thailand ranks 27th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 6.08 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 3.92 million BoP, current US$ | -35.5% |
| 1980 | 3.03 million BoP, current US$ | -22.6% |
| 1981 | 2.33 million BoP, current US$ | -23.0% |
| 1982 | 2.13 million BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 1983 | 1.43 million BoP, current US$ | -32.7% |
| 1984 | 582,592 BoP, current US$ | -59.4% |
| 1985 | 859,999 BoP, current US$ | +47.6% |
| 1986 | 1.06 million BoP, current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1987 | 169.94 million BoP, current US$ | +15878.9% |
| 1988 | 24.14 million BoP, current US$ | -85.8% |
| 1989 | 49.67 million BoP, current US$ | +105.8% |
| 1990 | 140.18 million BoP, current US$ | +182.2% |
| 1991 | 167.10 million BoP, current US$ | +19.2% |
| 1992 | 146.55 million BoP, current US$ | -12.3% |
| 1993 | 233.08 million BoP, current US$ | +59.0% |
| 1994 | 493.03 million BoP, current US$ | +111.5% |
| 1995 | 885.56 million BoP, current US$ | +79.6% |
| 1996 | 931.20 million BoP, current US$ | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 579.78 million BoP, current US$ | -37.7% |
| 1998 | 130.11 million BoP, current US$ | -77.6% |
| 1999 | 345.75 million BoP, current US$ | +165.7% |
| 2000 | -22.98 million BoP, current US$ | -106.6% |
| 2001 | 427.70 million BoP, current US$ | -1961.5% |
| 2002 | 170.74 million BoP, current US$ | -60.1% |
| 2003 | 622.89 million BoP, current US$ | +264.8% |
| 2004 | 76.66 million BoP, current US$ | -87.7% |
| 2005 | 551.44 million BoP, current US$ | +619.3% |
| 2006 | 1.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +88.7% |
| 2007 | 1.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.6% |
| 2008 | 2.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.2% |
| 2009 | 6.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +156.3% |
| 2010 | 8.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.6% |
| 2011 | 7.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.8% |
| 2012 | 14.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +98.7% |
| 2013 | 12.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2014 | 5.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.6% |
| 2015 | 4.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.1% |
| 2016 | 13.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +168.3% |
| 2017 | 14.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 17.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 10.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.7% |
| 2020 | 18.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +81.6% |
| 2021 | 19.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 7.64 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.5% |
| 2023 | 13.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.1% |
| 2024 | 7.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -46.2% |
| 2025 | 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.9% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 153.78 million BoP, current US$, 60.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 52.88 million BoP, current US$, 176.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +15878.9% | 1.06 million BoP, current US$ | 169.94 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2001 | +1961.5% | -22.98 million BoP, current US$ | 427.70 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2005 | +619.3% | 76.66 million BoP, current US$ | 551.44 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.00 million BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 6.08 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | 25.52 million BoP, current US$ | 582,592 BoP, current US$ | 169.94 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 405.24 million BoP, current US$ | 130.11 million BoP, current US$ | 931.20 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.28 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.98 million BoP, current US$ | 6.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.99 billion BoP, current US$ | 17.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.63 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.36 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More economy & growth data for Thailand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.98 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0162 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 130.33 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 18.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 31.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0327 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 263.07 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.13 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Thailand was 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 19.32 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was -22.98 million BoP, current US$ in 2000.
- How does Thailand rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Thailand ranks 27th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.