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Economy of Antigua and Barbuda vs United Kingdom compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Antigua and Barbuda has a GDP of $2.21B compared to $3.69T for the United Kingdom, ranking 177/197 and 6/197 by economy size, respectively.

Antigua and Barbuda has $1.49B in government debt (67.6% of GDP), compared to $3.73T (101.2% of GDP) in the United Kingdom.

Antigua and Barbuda vs United Kingdom GDP by year

Antigua and Barbuda
United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP, current $
Antigua United Kingdom
2024 $2,207,622,874 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $2,005,785,185 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $1,866,566,667 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $1,602,125,926 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $1,411,637,037 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $1,726,448,148 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $1,661,529,630 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $1,534,855,556 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $1,489,603,704 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $1,437,485,185 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $1,378,707,407 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $1,325,496,296 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $1,364,729,630 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $1,287,359,259 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $1,298,348,148 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $1,386,518,519 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $1,557,640,741 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $1,487,381,481 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $1,303,674,074 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $1,143,896,296 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $1,026,329,630 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $948,100,000 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $898,092,593 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $877,774,074 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $901,003,704 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $835,544,444 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $789,788,889 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $734,422,222 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $679,140,741 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $616,051,852 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $625,081,481 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $565,662,963 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $525,133,333 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $504,337,037 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $478,718,519 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $455,174,074 $926,884,816,754
1988 $411,396,296 $910,122,732,124
1987 $346,866,667 $745,162,608,269
1986 $297,562,963 $601,452,653,181
1985 $246,370,370 $489,285,164,271
1984 $212,214,815 $461,487,097,632
1983 $184,866,667 $489,618,008,186
1982 $166,444,444 $515,048,916,841
1981 $149,388,889 $540,765,675,241
1980 $132,451,852 $564,947,710,899
1979 $109,596,296 $438,994,070,309
1978 $88,040,741 $335,883,029,722
1977 $77,507,407 $263,066,457,352
1976 - $232,614,555,256
1975 - $241,756,637,168
1974 - $206,131,369,799
1973 - $192,537,971,583
1972 - $169,965,034,965
1971 - $148,113,896,325
1970 - $130,671,946,244
1969 - $116,464,702,803
1968 - $107,759,910,068
1967 - $113,116,888,211
1966 - $108,572,752,102
1965 - $101,824,755,079
1964 - $94,407,558,351
1963 - $86,561,961,812
1962 - $81,247,564,157
1961 - $77,741,965,703
1960 - $73,233,967,692

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

GDP per capita in Antigua and Barbuda vs United Kingdom by year

Antigua and Barbuda
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Kingdom
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Antigua United Kingdom
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $23,542 $33,386 $53,246 $62,009
2023 $21,495 $31,602 $49,944 $59,911
2022 $20,105 $29,934 $47,057 $59,022
2021 $17,349 $25,745 $47,691 $51,004
2020 $15,370 $22,370 $40,813 $48,230
2019 $18,896 $26,551 $43,159 $50,065
2018 $18,273 $24,524 $43,703 $47,212
2017 $16,966 $21,422 $40,917 $46,113
2016 $16,557 $21,320 $41,258 $44,085
2015 $16,078 $20,985 $45,255 $42,515
2014 $15,532 $21,671 $47,746 $41,267
2013 $15,052 $21,761 $43,607 $39,948
2012 $15,640 $23,012 $42,688 $38,337
2011 $14,912 $23,804 $42,296 $37,224
2010 $15,217 $24,071 $39,778 $36,484
2009 $16,472 $26,157 $39,009 $35,042
2008 $18,787 $29,978 $47,652 $36,745
2007 $18,205 $29,851 $50,629 $35,522
2006 $16,174 $26,949 $44,695 $34,727
2005 $14,369 $23,485 $42,240 $32,726
2004 $13,038 $21,629 $40,504 $32,051
2003 $12,173 $20,127 $34,557 $30,314
2002 $11,659 $18,813 $30,159 $29,089
2001 $11,539 $18,569 $28,014 $27,913
2000 $12,027 $19,319 $28,384 $26,536
1999 $11,342 $18,088 $28,858 $24,494
1998 $10,907 $17,496 $28,396 $23,689
1997 $10,336 $16,836 $26,910 $23,071
1996 $9,756 $16,017 $24,503 $21,947
1995 $9,034 $15,062 $23,253 $20,595
1994 $9,351 $15,736 $19,709 $19,605
1993 $8,625 $14,720 $18,389 $18,336
1992 $8,154 $13,908 $20,487 $17,349
1991 $7,956 $13,658 $19,901 $16,791
1990 $7,591 $12,996 $19,095 $16,505
1989 $7,188 - $16,239 -
1988 $6,466 - $15,987 -
1987 $5,424 - $13,119 -
1986 $4,629 - $10,611 -
1985 $3,814 - $8,652 -
1984 $3,271 - $8,179 -
1983 $2,847 - $8,692 -
1982 $2,569 - $9,146 -
1981 $2,310 - $9,599 -
1980 $2,053 - $10,032 -
1979 $1,705 - $7,805 -
1978 $1,375 - $5,977 -
1977 $1,214 - $4,681 -
1976 - - $4,138 -
1975 - - $4,300 -
1974 - - $3,666 -
1973 - - $3,426 -
1972 - - $3,030 -
1971 - - $2,650 -
1970 - - $2,348 -
1969 - - $2,101 -
1968 - - $1,952 -
1967 - - $2,059 -
1966 - - $1,987 -
1965 - - $1,874 -
1964 - - $1,748 -
1963 - - $1,613 -
1962 - - $1,526 -
1961 - - $1,472 -
1960 - - $1,398 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

Antigua and Barbuda's GDP per capita is $23,542, ranking 53/197, compared to $53,246 in the United Kingdom, ranking 22/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Antigua and Barbuda ranks 66th at $33,386, while the United Kingdom ranks 32nd at $62,009.

Economic indicators

Antigua United Kingdom
Gross domestic product
$2.21B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank
177/197
2024
6/197
2024
GDP growth
3.66%
2023-2024
1.13%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$23,542
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank
53/197
2024
22/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$33,386
2024
$62,009
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
66/197
2024
32/197
2024
Government debt
$1.49B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
67.6%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$15,910
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank
39/185
2024
7/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$16,563
2026
$39,230
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$3.1T
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
55
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.8%
2024
44%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
6.2%
2023-2024
3.27%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.37%
2023
4.36%
2024
Population
94757
70154914

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Antigua and Barbuda
Spending

Debt
United Kingdom
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Antigua United Kingdom
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 19.8% 67.6% 44% 101.2%
2023 18.8% 76.3% 44.8% 100.4%
2022 20.7% 82% 44.1% 99.6%
2021 23.4% 93% 45.8% 105.1%
2020 26% 100.5% 50% 105.8%
2019 22.1% 81.6% 38.8% 85.7%
2018 21.5% 84.3% 38.9% 86.3%
2017 22.6% 88.2% 39.2% 86.7%
2016 23.8% 83.1% 39.6% 87.8%
2015 24.8% 92.1% 40.4% 87.9%
2014 20.9% 91.9% 41.2% 87.1%
2013 20.7% 85.4% 41.8% 85.3%
2012 18.5% 76.9% 43.6% 84.5%
2011 21.1% 81.1% 43.5% 81.4%
2010 20% 79.4% 44.7% 75.9%
2009 32.1% 89.2% 44.6% 64.9%
2008 23.2% 66.8% 41% 50.8%
2007 23.8% 68.7% 38.7% 43.2%
2006 26% 79.1% 38.4% 42.1%
2005 21.5% 82.8% 38.4% 41%
2004 21.9% 107.7% 38% 39.8%
2003 24.2% 113% 37.2% 36.8%
2002 26.3% 114.5% 35.9% 35.4%
2001 24.2% 107.6% 34.7% 35%
2000 21.1% 96.4% 33.9% 37.7%
1999 20.3% 95.9% 33.9% 40.4%
1998 20.7% 94.6% 34.5% 42%
1997 16.8% 80.6% 34.9% 44.1%
1996 19.6% 85.5% 35.7% 43.7%
1995 21% 92.1% 37.6% 43.7%
1994 21.2% 84.5% 37.5% 40.7%
1993 19.4% 85.3% 37.8% 38%
1992 18.7% 90.8% 37.8% 33.2%
1991 20.8% 94.6% 35.9% 28.5%
1990 18.1% 94.1% 35% 28.5%
1989 - - 39.7% 31.4%
1988 - - 40.3% 36.6%
1987 - - 42.7% 41.8%
1986 - - 44.6% 42.9%
1985 - - 48.7% 42.9%
1984 - - 50.3% 44.1%
1983 - - 50.4% 44.2%
1982 - - 50.8% 44.7%
1981 - - 51.2% 41.1%
1980 - - 47.6% 43.7%
1979 - - 45.1% 44.5%
1978 - - 46.2% 47.3%
1977 - - 46.8% 53.7%
1976 - - 49.2% 47.7%
1975 - - 49.1% 49.6%
1974 - - 47.8% 56.2%
1973 - - 43.5% 58.5%
1972 - - 42.3% 65%
1971 - - 41.2% 67.9%
1970 - - 42% 73.4%
1969 - - 39.2% 82.8%
1968 - - 40.3% 88.5%
1967 - - 40.1% 89.1%
1966 - - 35.7% 91.9%
1965 - - 34.6% 94.6%
1964 - - 32.8% 101.1%
1963 - - 37.4% 108.6%
1962 - - 33.8% 110.5%
1961 - - 31.5% 113.8%
1960 - - 33.1% 117.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda's government spending was $437M, accounting for 19.8% of its GDP, while the United Kingdom spent $1.62T, or 44% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 67.6% in Antigua and Barbuda and 101.2% in the United Kingdom, ranking 63/185 and 22/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Antigua and Barbuda

United Kingdom
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Antigua United Kingdom
2024 1.61% -5.75%
2023 -1.7% -6.05%
2022 -2.84% -4.56%
2021 -4.52% -7.72%
2020 -6.23% -13.2%
2019 -3.64% -2.47%
2018 -2.43% -2.27%
2017 -2.72% -2.49%
2016 -0.14% -3.31%
2015 -2.42% -4.59%
2014 -2.6% -5.53%
2013 -3.83% -5.34%
2012 -0.97% -7.45%
2011 -3.09% -7.38%
2010 -0.24% -9.22%
2009 -15.8% -10.1%
2008 -4.72% -5.09%
2007 -4.98% -2.65%
2006 -6.62% -2.76%
2005 -4.29% -3.15%
2004 -3.9% -3.16%
2003 -7.32% -3.22%
2002 -8.83% -1.96%
2001 -8.58% 0.34%
2000 -4.5% 1.4%
1999 -3.08% 0.76%
1998 -1.62% -0.21%
1997 0% -2.01%
1996 -1.61% -3.65%
1995 -3.89% -4.99%
1994 -4.33% -5.74%
1993 -2.45% -6.62%
1992 -0.81% -5.41%
1991 -3.91% -2.77%
1990 0.12% -1.54%
1989 - 0.77%
1988 - 0.46%
1987 - -1.79%
1986 - -2.56%
1985 - -5.57%
1984 - -6.39%
1983 - -6.26%
1982 - -5.66%
1981 - -7.03%
1980 - -5.65%
1979 - -5.79%
1978 - -6.63%
1977 - -4.41%
1976 - -5.61%
1975 - -5.08%
1974 - -4.06%
1973 - -4.29%
1972 - -1.66%
1971 - 1.48%
1970 - 2.61%
1969 - 1.03%
1968 - -2.3%
1967 - -4.57%
1966 - -1.59%
1965 - -2.06%
1964 - -1.76%
1963 - -5.47%
1962 - -0.49%
1961 - 0.56%
1960 - -2.75%
1959 - -0.58%
1958 - -1.73%
1957 - -1.04%
1956 - 0.55%
1955 - -0.39%
1954 - -1.65%
1953 - -2.84%
1952 - -1.26%
1951 - 2.03%
1950 - 0.34%
1949 - 3.01%
1948 - -0.39%
1947 - -15.8%
1946 - -22.5%
1945 - -30.9%
1944 - -29.7%
1943 - -33.3%
1942 - -31.6%
1941 - -32%
1940 - -12.1%
1939 - -2.99%
1938 - 0%
1937 - 0.82%
1936 - 0.17%
1935 - 0.37%
1934 - 0.48%
1933 - 0.99%
1932 - -0.15%
1931 - 0.8%
1930 - 1.01%
1929 - 0.75%
1928 - 1.75%
1927 - 1.62%
1926 - 0.6%
1925 - 0.84%
1924 - 1.19%
1923 - 2.23%
1922 - 2.45%
1921 - 1.15%
1920 - 4.2%
1919 - -6.28%
1918 - -34.4%
1917 - -48.8%
1916 - -50.6%
1915 - -30%
1914 - -14.6%
1913 - 0.25%
1912 - 0.22%
1911 - 0.51%
1910 - 1.75%
1909 - -1.25%
1908 - 0.34%
1907 - 0.66%
1906 - 0.58%
1905 - 0.36%
1904 - 0.2%
1903 - -0.22%
1902 - -1.77%
1901 - -2.74%
1900 - -2.96%
1899 - -0.79%
1898 - 0.01%
1897 - 0.25%
1896 - 0.17%
1895 - 0.3%
1894 - 0.06%
1893 - -0.007%
1892 - 0.14%
1891 - 0.19%
1890 - 0.23%
1889 - 0.3%
1888 - 0.27%
1887 - 0.25%
1886 - 0.07%
1885 - -0.21%
1884 - -0.04%
1883 - 0.06%
1882 - 0.02%
1881 - 0.06%
1880 - 0.1%
1879 - -0.86%
1878 - -0.18%
1877 - -0.18%
1876 - 0.09%
1875 - 0%
1874 - 0.09%
1873 - 0%
1872 - 0.55%
1871 - 0.29%
1870 - 0%
1869 - 0.77%
1868 - -0.45%
1867 - -0.45%
1866 - 0.11%
1865 - 0%
1864 - 0.24%
1863 - 0%
1862 - -0.13%
1861 - -0.4%
1860 - -0.43%
1859 - 0%
1858 - -0.15%
1857 - -0.15%
1856 - -0.6%
1855 - -3.57%
1854 - -3.39%
1853 - 0.5%
1852 - 0.35%
1851 - 0.35%
1850 - 0.37%
1849 - 0.34%
1848 - -0.17%
1847 - -6.13%
1846 - 0.52%
1845 - 0.56%
1844 - 0.59%
1843 - 0.44%
1842 - -0.87%
1841 - -0.42%
1840 - -0.2%
1839 - -0.18%
1838 - -0.19%
1837 - -0.21%
1836 - 0.59%
1835 - 0.42%
1834 - 0.23%
1833 - 0.24%
1832 - 0%
1831 - 0%
1830 - 0.45%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $35.6M, equivalent to 1.61% of GDP. This compares to the United Kingdom's deficit of $212B, or 5.75% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Antigua and Barbuda recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while the United Kingdom ran a deficit in 32 years. On average, Antigua and Barbuda posted an annual deficit equal to 3.63% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.28% of GDP for the United Kingdom.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Antigua and Barbuda

United Kingdom
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Antigua United Kingdom
2024 6.2% 3.27%
2023 5.1% 6.79%
2022 7.5% 7.92%
2021 1.6% 2.52%
2020 1.1% 0.99%
2019 1.4% 1.74%
2018 1.2% 2.29%
2017 2.4% 2.56%
2016 -0.5% 1.01%
2015 1% 0.37%
2014 1.1% 1.45%
2013 1.1% 2.29%
2012 3.4% 2.57%
2011 3.5% 3.86%
2010 3.4% 2.49%
2009 -0.6% 1.96%
2008 5.3% 3.52%
2007 1.4% 2.39%
2006 1.8% 2.46%
2005 2.1% 2.09%
2004 2% 1.39%
2003 2% 1.38%
2002 2.4% 1.52%
2001 1.9% 1.53%
2000 -0.2% 1.18%
1999 1.1% 1.75%
1998 3.3% 1.82%
1997 0.4% 2.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Antigua and Barbuda has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.23%, compared with 2.4% in the United Kingdom. In 2024, inflation was 6.2% in Antigua and Barbuda and 3.27% in the United Kingdom.

Top exports between countries

Antigua
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $2M
Metals $711K
Raw materials & minerals $142K
Textiles & consumer goods $89K
Animal & marine products $23K
Wood & paper products $11K
Precious metals & jewellery $9K
Chemicals & pharma $8K
Raw agricultural goods $7K
United Kingdom
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $16M
Metals $4.43M
Textiles & consumer goods $3.61M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.59M
Chemicals & pharma $2.52M
Animal & marine products $1.6M
Wood & paper products $1.14M
Raw agricultural goods $535K
Raw materials & minerals $297K
Miscellaneous $216K

Balance of trade

Antigua United Kingdom
Current account balance
-$181M
2024
-$80.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
98/190
2024
189/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.22%
2024
-2.19%
2024
Goods imports
$726M
2024
$763B
2024
Goods exports
$72.1M
2024
$494B
2024
Service imports
$557M
2024
$411B
2024
Service exports
$1.24B
2024
$648B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
63%
2022
31.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.7%
2022
31%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Antigua United Kingdom
Economic freedom 56 70.4
Economic freedom ranking 125/197 35/197
Property rights n/a 93.6
Government integrity n/a 83
Judicial effectiveness n/a 83.1
Tax burden n/a 61.7
Government spending n/a 41.1
Fiscal health n/a 32.4
Business freedom n/a 83.6
Labor freedom n/a 61.2
Monetary freedom n/a 71.9
Trade freedom n/a 82.8
Investment freedom n/a 70
Financial freedom n/a 80

Other economic metrics

Antigua United Kingdom
Services, % of GDP
69.1%
2023
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19%
2023
17.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.94%
2023
0.64%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$1.98B
2024
$3.42T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$31,730
2024
$61,460
2024
Total reserves including gold
$358M
2024
$175B
2024
Total reserves ranking
164/177
2024
19/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$253M
2024
$42.8B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$246M
2024
-$13B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$68.4K
2024
-$72.5B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
18.6%
2017
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
19.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/antigua-and-barbuda/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1830–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.