Foreign direct investment, net outflows in World
World: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in World, 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$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in World is 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 13.5% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in World peaked at 3.19 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, 11.97 billion BoP, current US$, in 1970.
That places World 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in World, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 12.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 15.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1973 | 23.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.4% |
| 1974 | 20.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.2% |
| 1975 | 27.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.9% |
| 1976 | 27.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 28.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 37.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.3% |
| 1979 | 61.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +62.3% |
| 1980 | 55.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.4% |
| 1981 | 51.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.8% |
| 1982 | 36.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.6% |
| 1983 | 42.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1984 | 53.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.7% |
| 1985 | 51.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 95.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +84.8% |
| 1987 | 149.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +57.2% |
| 1988 | 190.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.2% |
| 1989 | 244.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.2% |
| 1990 | 277.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.7% |
| 1991 | 220.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.5% |
| 1992 | 229.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 253.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1994 | 312.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1995 | 400.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.1% |
| 1996 | 429.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 516.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1998 | 771.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.4% |
| 1999 | 1.21 trillion BoP, current US$ | +56.3% |
| 2000 | 1.40 trillion BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2001 | 840.61 billion BoP, current US$ | -40.1% |
| 2002 | 652.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.3% |
| 2003 | 726.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 1.20 trillion BoP, current US$ | +64.7% |
| 2005 | 1.42 trillion BoP, current US$ | +18.5% |
| 2006 | 2.16 trillion BoP, current US$ | +52.0% |
| 2007 | 3.19 trillion BoP, current US$ | +48.1% |
| 2008 | 2.60 trillion BoP, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 1.51 trillion BoP, current US$ | -41.9% |
| 2010 | 1.77 trillion BoP, current US$ | +17.3% |
| 2011 | 2.23 trillion BoP, current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2012 | 1.81 trillion BoP, current US$ | -18.8% |
| 2013 | 2.00 trillion BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 1.86 trillion BoP, current US$ | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 2.22 trillion BoP, current US$ | +19.3% |
| 2016 | 2.21 trillion BoP, current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 2.12 trillion BoP, current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 919.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -56.6% |
| 2019 | 1.57 trillion BoP, current US$ | +71.1% |
| 2020 | 1.01 trillion BoP, current US$ | -35.8% |
| 2021 | 2.54 trillion BoP, current US$ | +151.5% |
| 2022 | 2.23 trillion BoP, current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 1.11 trillion BoP, current US$ | -49.9% |
| 2024 | 1.72 trillion BoP, current US$ | +54.3% |
| 2025 | 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ | -13.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ | 61.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 97.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 36.92 billion BoP, current US$ | 244.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 461.76 billion BoP, current US$ | 220.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.21 trillion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.57 trillion BoP, current US$ | 652.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.19 trillion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 trillion BoP, current US$ | 919.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.23 trillion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.68 trillion BoP, current US$ | 1.01 trillion BoP, current US$ | 2.54 trillion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
- 1 United States 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 2 Japan 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 3 China 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Luxembourg 108.60 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for World
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.23 Percent per annum (2028)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2028)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0126 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 180.85 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 trillion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -14.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0114 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 163.93 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in World?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in World was 1.49 trillion BoP, current US$ 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 3.19 trillion BoP, current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ in 1970.
- How does World rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- World ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this World 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.