Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America
United States of America: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 1.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America, 1970–2025
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
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America stood at 1.4%.
The figure is up 24.8% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America peaked at 3.6% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -0.6%, in 2018.
United States of America ranks 40th 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.6% | — |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -20.2% |
| 1972 | 0.6% | +18.8% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | +14.3% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | -49.0% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | +144.0% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -25.8% |
| 1977 | 0.5% | -10.3% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | +12.8% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +54.0% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | -29.2% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -52.7% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | -26.3% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | +31.6% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -73.3% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | +402.7% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | +92.3% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -49.4% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | +118.0% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +11.2% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -20.4% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +12.7% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | +33.9% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | -11.4% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +10.9% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +36.3% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | +33.3% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | -29.2% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | -24.1% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +18.7% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +79.7% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -86.8% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +409.3% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +76.2% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -35.7% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +20.4% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -17.1% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | +30.9% |
| 2018 | -0.6% | -130.3% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -184.3% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | +147.6% |
| 2021 | 1.4% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | -15.4% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -12.9% |
| 2025 | 1.4% | +24.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 0.4% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | -0.6% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More economy & growth data for United States of America
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.63 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 422.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,235 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 400.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 34.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,172 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 52.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in United States of America was 1.4% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.6% in 2018.
- How does United States of America rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- United States of America ranks 40th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.