Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal
Portugal: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 2.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal, 1972–2024
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 Portugal stood at 2.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.1% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal peaked at 7.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, -1.5%, in 2010.
That places Portugal 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.1% | — |
| 1973 | 0.3% | +368.1% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | -27.5% |
| 1975 | 0.0% | -80.2% |
| 1976 | 0.0% | -39.7% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -51.1% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | +109.7% |
| 1979 | -0.0% | -216.9% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -237.5% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | +23.7% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -45.9% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | +140.6% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -47.4% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +127.2% |
| 1986 | -0.0% | -100.8% |
| 1987 | -0.0% | +3107.9% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -769.5% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +48.9% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | +150.7% |
| 1992 | 0.6% | +23.0% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -75.7% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +85.6% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +102.5% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | +33.1% |
| 1997 | 2.1% | +167.5% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | +176.2% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -63.8% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | +256.5% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | -24.0% |
| 2002 | -1.0% | -118.2% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -633.6% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -20.9% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -67.9% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +205.7% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -51.8% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -29.6% |
| 2010 | -1.5% | -197.5% |
| 2011 | 6.5% | -545.1% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | -67.3% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | +51.7% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | -50.5% |
| 2015 | -0.5% | -128.6% |
| 2016 | 1.8% | -494.5% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -26.7% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -47.3% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | -1.0% | -253.5% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -100.5% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | +37928.8% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -7.8% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | +12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 8 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 0.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | -1.0% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.6% | -1.5% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | -1.0% | 2.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More economy & growth data for Portugal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.18 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.9 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 6.84 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0218 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 639.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 13.49 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 16.41 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.043 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,261 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 62.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Portugal was 2.2% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.5% in 2010.
- How does Portugal rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Portugal ranks 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.