Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states
Other small states: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states, 1986–2025
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 Other small states stood at 0.5%.
That represents a change of up 103.5% on the previous year and down 98.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states peaked at 136.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, -47.0%, in 2020.
Other small states ranks 30th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0.1% | — |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +15.9% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | +45.8% |
| 1990 | -0.1% | -149.3% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -450.6% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | +164.2% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -45.3% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | +7.6% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +152.4% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | -30.1% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +25.0% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | -21.7% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | +12.0% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +175.4% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | +38.6% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | +287.2% |
| 2005 | 28.7% | +116.4% |
| 2006 | 26.2% | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 30.4% | +16.0% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 70.8% | +131.3% |
| 2010 | 38.8% | -45.2% |
| 2011 | 43.2% | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 70.2% | +62.7% |
| 2013 | 25.9% | -63.1% |
| 2014 | 51.8% | +99.9% |
| 2015 | 33.0% | -36.2% |
| 2016 | -10.8% | -132.7% |
| 2017 | 68.7% | -735.7% |
| 2018 | 136.1% | +98.1% |
| 2019 | 110.7% | -18.7% |
| 2020 | -47.0% | -142.5% |
| 2021 | 53.4% | -213.5% |
| 2022 | 16.0% | -70.0% |
| 2023 | -3.1% | -119.2% |
| 2024 | -13.0% | +321.0% |
| 2025 | 0.5% | -103.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | -0.1% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.1% | 2.3% | 70.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.8% | -10.8% | 136.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | -47.0% | 53.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Other small states
- 27 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.2% compare
- 28 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.2% compare
- 29 Germany 2.1% compare
- 30 Saudi Arabia 2.1% compare
- 31 Finland 2.1% compare
- 32 Aruba 2.1% compare
- 33 North Macedonia 2.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Other small states
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.7105 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.4131 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7,246 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 10.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 13,172 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5506 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 9,658 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Other small states was 0.5% 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 Other small states?
- The highest recorded value was 136.1% in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Other small states?
- The lowest recorded value was -47.0% in 2020.
- How does Other small states rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Other small states ranks 30th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Other small states?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Other small states 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.