Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia
Australia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia, 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 BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia is -4.55 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 132.6% on the previous year and down 155.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia peaked at 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, -32.71 billion BoP, current US$, in 2005.
That places Australia 187th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 211.51 million BoP, current US$ | 104.50 million BoP, current US$ | 343.15 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 460.01 million BoP, current US$ | 6.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 31.89 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 184 Panama -870.79 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 185 Cayman Islands -1.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 186 South Africa -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 188 Netherlands -5.93 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 189 Austria -6.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 190 Belgium -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Exports of goods and services 0.8% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 75.0% (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 1.79 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 2.76 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 99.5% (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 418.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 645.94 billion current LCU (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 329.56 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross fixed capital formation 437.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added -0.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Australia was -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 127.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -32.71 billion BoP, current US$ in 2005.
- How does Australia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Australia ranks 187th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 155.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 (BoP, current US$). 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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.