FDI inflows (% of GDP) — all countries

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South Korea

FDI inflows (% of GDP) in South Korea in 2025 — 0.84%. Ranked 72 in the world out of 97. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 0.12 pp.

2025 0.84% +0.16 pp vs 2024
World rank 72of 97
Period maximum 4.51%1972
Period minimum 0.01%1974

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South Korea, 1970–2025024619701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 0.73%1971: 0.42%1972: 4.51%1973: 0.03%1974: 0.01%1975: 0.03%1976: 0.27%1977: 0.24%1978: 0.17%1979: 0.25%1980: 0.07%1981: 0.21%1982: 0.15%1983: 0.21%1984: 0.22%1985: 0.34%1986: 0.57%1987: 0.55%1988: 0.63%1989: 0.55%1990: 0.36%1991: 0.43%1992: 0.27%1993: 0.21%1994: 0.24%1995: 0.42%1996: 0.44%1997: 0.56%1998: 1.51%1999: 2.08%2000: 1.93%2001: 1.15%2002: 0.84%2003: 0.96%2004: 1.61%2005: 1.4%2006: 0.84%2007: 0.72%2008: 1.02%2009: 0.92%2010: 0.8%2011: 0.75%2012: 0.71%2013: 0.89%2014: 0.6%2015: 0.27%2016: 0.77%2017: 1.05%2018: 0.67%2019: 0.55%2020: 0.5%2021: 1.14%2022: 1.39%2023: 1.03%2024: 0.69%2025: 0.84%
Change over the period: +0.12 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Korea

South Korea 0.84%
World 1.26%
FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South Korea, by year South Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 0.84 +0.16 pp
2024 0.69 −0.35 pp
2023 1.03 −0.36 pp
2022 1.39 +0.26 pp
2021 1.14 +0.63 pp
2020 0.5 −0.05 pp
2019 0.55 −0.12 pp
2018 0.67 −0.38 pp
2017 1.05 +0.28 pp
2016 0.77 +0.5 pp
2015 0.27 −0.33 pp
2014 0.6 −0.29 pp
2013 0.89 +0.18 pp
2012 0.71 −0.04 pp
2011 0.75 −0.05 pp
2010 0.8 −0.12 pp
2009 0.92 −0.11 pp
2008 1.02 +0.3 pp
2007 0.72 −0.11 pp
2006 0.84 −0.57 pp
2005 1.4 −0.21 pp
2004 1.61 +0.65 pp
2003 0.96 +0.12 pp
2002 0.84 −0.31 pp
2001 1.15 −0.78 pp
2000 1.93 −0.15 pp
1999 2.08 +0.57 pp
1998 1.51 +0.95 pp
1997 0.56 +0.12 pp
1996 0.44 +0.02 pp
1995 0.42 +0.19 pp
1994 0.24 +0.03 pp
1993 0.21 −0.07 pp
1992 0.27 −0.15 pp
1991 0.43 +0.07 pp
1990 0.36 −0.19 pp
1989 0.55 −0.08 pp
1988 0.63 +0.08 pp
1987 0.55 −0.02 pp
1986 0.57 +0.23 pp
1985 0.34 +0.12 pp
1984 0.22 +0.02 pp
1983 0.21 +0.05 pp
1982 0.15 −0.06 pp
1981 0.21 +0.14 pp
1980 0.07 −0.18 pp
1979 0.25 +0.08 pp
1978 0.17 −0.07 pp
1977 0.24 −0.03 pp
1976 0.27 +0.24 pp
1975 0.03 +0.02 pp
1974 0.01 −0.02 pp
1973 0.03 −4.48 pp
1972 4.51 +4.09 pp
1971 0.42 −0.31 pp
1970 0.73

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

JP Japan 1.03 KR South Korea 0.84 CN China 0.41

About the indicator

Net inflows of foreign direct investment as a percent of GDP. Scaling by the size of the economy makes it possible to compare the investment appeal of countries of very different size. Abnormally high values — tens of percent of GDP — almost always point to offshore or holding-company arrangements rather than to real projects.

Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.