Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland
Ireland: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 11.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland, 1987–2024
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 2024, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland stood at 11.0%.
The figure is up 149.2% on the previous year and down 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland peaked at 59.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -24.2%, in 2019.
Ireland ranks 6th of 191 countries on this measure, 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0.3% | — |
| 1988 | 2.0% | +522.5% |
| 1989 | 3.9% | +94.2% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | -80.9% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | -47.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 0.8% | +82.2% |
| 1995 | 1.2% | +55.2% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -19.1% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +372.1% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | +42.7% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | -25.2% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | -19.5% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | +130.6% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -60.7% |
| 2004 | 9.3% | +175.8% |
| 2005 | 43.3% | +366.3% |
| 2006 | 18.5% | -57.4% |
| 2007 | 20.7% | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 21.1% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | -67.1% |
| 2011 | -0.6% | -108.3% |
| 2012 | 14.1% | -2326.8% |
| 2013 | 20.0% | +41.8% |
| 2014 | 34.4% | +72.5% |
| 2015 | 59.8% | +73.8% |
| 2016 | 31.5% | -47.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -99.7% |
| 2018 | 23.5% | +24453.6% |
| 2019 | -24.2% | -203.3% |
| 2020 | -18.7% | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 23.7% | -227.2% |
| 2022 | -1.5% | -106.5% |
| 2023 | -22.4% | +1354.4% |
| 2024 | 11.0% | -149.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.1% | 0.3% | 3.9% | 3 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.6% | 3.4% | 43.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.6% | -24.2% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.6% | -22.4% | 23.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 10.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 1.24 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 163,115 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 9.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 1.19 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 156,418 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 51.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2224 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Ireland was 11.0% in 2024, 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 59.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -24.2% in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Ireland ranks 6th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.