Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malaysia
Malaysia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 3.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malaysia, 1974–2024
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 Malaysia stood at 3.1%.
The figure is up 55.1% on the previous year and down 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malaysia peaked at 6.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1974.
That places Malaysia 13th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.8% | — |
| 1981 | 1.2% | +42.7% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -17.2% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -23.3% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -5.9% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +33.5% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -25.7% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | -15.6% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -58.3% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | +21.5% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -45.4% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | +717.6% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | +96.8% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -10.3% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | +33.2% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -55.3% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | +50.3% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +20.2% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -86.7% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | +553.1% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | -24.3% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +40.5% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | +129.9% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | +30.0% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | +80.6% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | -11.6% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | -22.8% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | +14.5% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -26.4% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -47.6% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | +28.3% |
| 2020 | 1.0% | -52.6% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | +250.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -31.2% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | +55.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 0.2% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.1% | 0.3% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 1.6% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 1.0% | 3.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 10 Solomon Islands 3.3% compare
- 11 Kosovo 3.3% compare
- 11 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 3.3% compare
- 14 Croatia 3.0% compare
- 15 Andorra 2.9% compare
- 16 Macau, China 2.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Malaysia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 3.04 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 39,906 current LCU per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.6284 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 8,247 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 16.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2133 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malaysia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malaysia was 3.1% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1974.
- How does Malaysia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Malaysia ranks 13th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.