Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea
South Korea: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea, 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 BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea stood at 41.23 billion BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.1% on the previous year and up 74.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea peaked at 66.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1972.
That places South Korea 15th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.60 million BoP, current US$ | 1.00 million BoP, current US$ | 28.00 million BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 442.40 million BoP, current US$ | 42.90 million BoP, current US$ | 1.27 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.95 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.74 billion BoP, current US$ | 21.83 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 23.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 38.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 32.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 66.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 12 British Virgin Islands 59.45 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 13 Canada 57.17 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 14 Spain 46.38 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 16 Malta 36.46 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 17 India 35.69 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 18 Denmark 30.70 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Gross national expenditure 94.8% (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 0.2% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 65.7% (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 660.05 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 1.78 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 2,524.87 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 1.78 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 914.33 trillion current LCU (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 642.79 billion current US$ (2025)
- Exports of goods and services 4.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in South Korea was 41.23 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 66.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1972.
- How does South Korea rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- South Korea ranks 15th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.