Foreign direct investment, net outflows in France
France: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 2.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in France, 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
France recorded 2.4% for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 80.6% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in France peaked at 12.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1971.
That places France 22nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 France, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.2% | — |
| 1971 | 0.2% | -15.0% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | +30.7% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | +29.7% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | -22.7% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | +35.7% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | +18.8% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -44.5% |
| 1978 | 0.4% | +53.6% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -13.8% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +36.4% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +67.5% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -34.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | -37.2% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +30.4% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +72.3% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +40.8% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +44.2% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | +33.7% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | +44.4% |
| 1991 | 1.9% | -31.3% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | +18.4% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | -30.3% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | +12.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -43.8% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | +91.5% |
| 1997 | 2.4% | +28.9% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | +24.7% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | +176.3% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | +51.2% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | -50.0% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | -44.3% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | -19.3% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | +87.1% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | -29.3% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -16.5% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -18.1% |
| 2012 | 1.9% | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -40.7% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +87.3% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | +50.7% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | -36.2% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +167.3% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -38.2% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | -65.1% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | +267.2% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -37.8% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | -42.4% |
| 2025 | 2.4% | +80.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 1.0% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 2.9% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 1.1% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 1.1% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More economy & growth data for France
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.34 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 0.531 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.2955 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 14,476 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2799 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 13,713 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 6.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2202 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in France?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in France was 2.4% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1971.
- How does France rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- France ranks 22nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.