Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan
Pakistan: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan, 1976–2025
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
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan is 0.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 190.1% on the previous year and up 686.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan peaked at 0.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1997.
Pakistan ranks 135th of 191 countries 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | +68.0% |
| 1986 | -0.0% | -91.9% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -2930.7% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -42.6% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | +223.8% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -95.5% |
| 1991 | -0.0% | -268.2% |
| 1992 | -0.0% | +189.2% |
| 1993 | -0.0% | -82.5% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | -144.5% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -63.4% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | +1483.1% |
| 1997 | -0.0% | -463.4% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -306.4% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -58.5% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | -66.8% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | +142.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | +18.3% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -46.6% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | +150.5% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -26.8% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +117.3% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -21.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -54.5% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | +56.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -37.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | +14.5% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +166.2% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -45.2% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | -81.5% |
| 2016 | 0.0% | +98.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | -0.0% | -138.5% |
| 2019 | -0.0% | +349.2% |
| 2020 | -0.0% | -43.4% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -563.6% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | +344.5% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -96.9% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | +137.7% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | +190.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More economy & growth data for Pakistan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,712 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 10.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.07 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,711 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 8.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 299.6 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 478,129 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Pakistan was 0.1% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1997.
- How does Pakistan rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Pakistan ranks 135th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 686.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.