Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sri Lanka, 1975–2024
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 Sri Lanka stood at 0.1%.
That represents a change of up 80.8% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1975.
Sri Lanka ranks 126th 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 Sri Lanka, 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% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -63.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | +139.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | +50.4% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -64.9% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | +390.9% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | -66.7% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +298.3% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -39.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | +15.9% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -33.5% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | +149.0% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +85.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | -92.1% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -99.9% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +1090421.6% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | +108.9% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | -80.6% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +461.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -34.1% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | +64.0% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -10.9% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -68.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +52.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -23.1% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +332.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -71.7% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | +21.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | -80.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | +14.2% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | +80.8% |
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 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 3,427 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 10.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.04 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 5,196 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 10.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 312.61 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 1.56 million current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 6.39 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sri Lanka?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Sri Lanka was 0.1% 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2016.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1975.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Sri Lanka ranks 126th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.