Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Asia
South Asia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Asia, 1975–2025
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 South Asia is 0.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 43.0% on the previous year and up 152.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Asia peaked at 1.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1991.
That places South Asia 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -52.3% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -51.3% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | +364.9% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -18.8% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | -0.0% | -110.0% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -1319.9% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | +93.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -43.4% |
| 1991 | -0.0% | -196.5% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -498.2% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -70.4% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | +958.4% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +23.9% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | +88.6% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -55.8% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -48.3% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | +50.6% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +385.0% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +102.9% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +12.4% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -15.1% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | +25.8% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +26.2% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +361.2% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 1.5% | +13.1% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -25.2% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -20.7% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -26.1% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -31.7% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -74.0% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +350.6% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -37.2% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +84.7% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +9.6% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +32.8% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -18.4% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | +63.3% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | +43.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More economy & growth data for South Asia
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.5874 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 7.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,864 current US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 5.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,504 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5559 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 1,589 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 275.19 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Asia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Asia was 0.8% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.5% in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1991.
- How does South Asia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- South Asia ranks 16th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 152.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.