Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malta
Malta: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 145.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malta, 1971–2024
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 Malta stood at 145.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.2% on the previous year and up 298.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malta peaked at 453.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, -85.9%, in 2012.
Malta ranks 1st 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 Malta, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | -0.6% | — |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -176.7% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +214.8% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -97.8% |
| 1994 | -0.0% | -202.8% |
| 1995 | 7.1% | -20845.3% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | -65.9% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 1.5% | -35.1% |
| 1999 | -3.2% | -310.2% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -226.5% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | +13.2% |
| 2002 | -2.2% | -147.5% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -507.0% |
| 2004 | 87.1% | +883.5% |
| 2005 | 171.6% | +97.1% |
| 2006 | 220.2% | +28.3% |
| 2007 | 185.1% | -15.9% |
| 2008 | 176.2% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | -69.6% | -139.5% |
| 2010 | 36.6% | -152.6% |
| 2011 | -44.7% | -222.2% |
| 2012 | -85.9% | +92.1% |
| 2013 | -81.2% | -5.4% |
| 2014 | -73.3% | -9.8% |
| 2015 | -58.1% | -20.7% |
| 2016 | -55.2% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 226.8% | -511.1% |
| 2018 | 453.2% | +99.8% |
| 2019 | 190.8% | -57.9% |
| 2020 | 246.6% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 348.8% | +41.4% |
| 2022 | 144.2% | -58.7% |
| 2023 | 113.6% | -21.2% |
| 2024 | 145.6% | +28.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | -3.2% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.6% | -69.6% | 220.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.9% | -85.9% | 453.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 199.8% | 113.6% | 348.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
- 2 Luxembourg 116.4% compare
- 3 Hong Kong, China 19.7% compare
- 4 Singapore 15.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Malta
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.35 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.51 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1332 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 6,380 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 11.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.999 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 47,861 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 6.93 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.8841 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malta?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Malta was 145.6% 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 453.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was -85.9% in 2012.
- How does Malta rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Malta ranks 1st out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 298.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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.