Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 2.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
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 Saudi Arabia is 2.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and up 172.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -0.5%, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 30th of 191 countries on this measure, 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 Saudi Arabia, 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 | 0.1% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -90.6% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | +1329.6% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | -115.3% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -346.9% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -35.6% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | +164.1% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -87.5% |
| 1988 | 1.8% | +12604.9% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | -58.4% |
| 1990 | -0.5% | -173.5% |
| 1991 | -0.1% | -82.2% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -247.2% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -76.3% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +528.1% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -60.7% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | +144.4% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -55.6% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | -21.5% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +1095.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -97.0% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +4199.4% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -79.4% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -86.1% |
| 2005 | -0.1% | -450.0% |
| 2006 | -0.0% | -90.4% |
| 2007 | -0.0% | +216.8% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | -2176.0% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -24.6% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +45.8% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -31.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +16.2% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | +72.9% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | -17.9% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | +96.9% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -24.6% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -57.0% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +256.4% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | -14.7% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | -33.5% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | +54.7% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | -0.0% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | -0.5% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | -0.1% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8% | 0.7% | 2.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 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
- 31 Finland 2.1% compare
- 32 Aruba 2.1% compare
- 33 North Macedonia 2.1% compare
More economy & growth data for Saudi Arabia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 5.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 1.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 59,827 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3435 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 11,865 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 3.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.668 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Saudi Arabia was 2.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.5% in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 30th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 172.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.