Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics
Central Europe and the Baltics: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was -1.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1982–2025
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics is -1.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 23.7% on the previous year and down 650.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at 10.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, -3.3%, in 2018.
Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 46th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | +152.6% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -85.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +196.4% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +1104.9% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -15.5% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -11.8% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +271.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -36.1% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +45.0% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | +108.1% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | +119.5% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +222.2% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | +93.6% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | -16.8% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -84.7% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | -146.6% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | -391.2% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -23.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -69.7% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | +519.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -85.5% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | +2543.5% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -96.0% |
| 2018 | -3.3% | -1285.0% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | -309.3% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | +54.8% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -67.0% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | -71.4% |
| 2023 | -1.8% | -281.7% |
| 2024 | -1.9% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | -1.4% | -23.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +2543.5% | 0.3% | 6.9% |
| 2018 | -1285.0% | 0.3% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | +1104.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 0.2% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | -3.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.7% | -1.9% | 10.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics
More economy & growth data for Central Europe and the Baltics
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.2052 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 5.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 15,553 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.562 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 12.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 3,135 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1133 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 5,678 current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Central Europe and the Baltics was -1.4% 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 Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.3% in 2018.
- How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 46th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Over the last ten years it is down 650.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics 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 (% of GDP). 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, and is divided by GDP.