Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia, 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia stood at 1.3%.
That represents a change of up 12.2% on the previous year and down 76.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 10.1% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -0.7%, in 2023.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 10th of 47 groups 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 Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.7% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | +23.8% |
| 1974 | 0.7% | -10.2% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | -21.8% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | +15.0% |
| 1977 | 0.6% | -9.2% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | +11.0% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +34.6% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | -18.0% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +18.0% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -29.7% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | +14.3% |
| 1984 | 0.8% | +23.3% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +17.0% |
| 1986 | 1.1% | +13.6% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | +11.8% |
| 1988 | 1.7% | +37.2% |
| 1989 | 1.8% | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | -20.9% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +23.5% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | +12.5% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | +12.8% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | +28.4% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | +79.4% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | +75.2% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | +22.3% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | -47.8% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | -36.6% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +31.9% |
| 2005 | 6.9% | +84.4% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +26.1% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -30.2% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -44.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +25.8% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | -26.9% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -31.5% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | +98.4% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -27.2% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -70.0% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | +116.7% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -96.2% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +4480.9% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -43.4% |
| 2023 | -0.7% | -125.5% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -268.7% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | +12.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +4480.9% | 0.1% | 4.6% |
| 2024 | +268.7% | -0.7% | 1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 1.2% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 2.9% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 1.2% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | -0.7% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More economy & growth data for Europe & Central Asia
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.2059 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 18,580 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5369 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 10.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 5,268 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1522 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 7,127 current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0105 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Europe & Central Asia was 1.3% 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.1% in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.7% in 2023.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.