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Economy of Austria vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Austria has a GDP of $579B compared to $472B for Malaysia, ranking 29/197 and 35/197 by economy size, respectively.

Austria has $466B in government debt (80.5% of GDP), compared to $334B (70.7% of GDP) in Malaysia.

Austria vs Malaysia GDP by year

Austria
Malaysia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Austria Malaysia
2025 $579,470,021,095 $472,193,128,645
2024 $534,790,720,467 $422,227,005,429
2023 $516,670,509,629 $399,949,418,753
2022 $473,221,298,968 $407,830,525,990
2021 $480,466,363,177 $373,784,553,030
2020 $434,397,601,558 $337,456,163,961
2019 $442,983,642,372 $365,177,721,022
2018 $452,582,294,973 $358,788,845,713
2017 $414,926,138,133 $319,109,094,160
2016 $393,687,359,770 $301,256,033,870
2015 $379,546,097,301 $301,355,266,965
2014 $438,556,021,078 $338,066,095,097
2013 $426,580,502,769 $323,276,235,524
2012 $406,750,487,604 $314,443,047,642
2011 $428,954,737,064 $297,951,668,675
2010 $389,827,789,218 $255,017,638,456
2009 $399,290,118,782 $202,257,453,037
2008 $429,234,399,096 $230,811,614,370
2007 $386,760,177,589 $193,549,569,478
2006 $333,905,979,332 $162,692,258,307
2005 $313,952,317,331 $143,534,405,819
2004 $299,210,411,455 $124,749,473,684
2003 $260,779,834,340 $110,202,368,421
2002 $212,837,224,023 $100,845,526,316
2001 $196,477,206,829 $92,783,947,368
2000 $196,181,599,831 $93,789,736,842
1999 $216,421,809,126 $79,148,421,053
1998 $217,068,085,816 $72,167,498,981
1997 $211,724,812,267 $100,005,323,302
1996 $235,952,581,232 $100,855,393,910
1995 $240,094,169,510 $88,705,342,903
1994 $202,738,023,130 $74,478,356,958
1993 $189,634,029,339 $66,894,966,969
1992 $194,314,032,056 $59,167,550,163
1991 $173,113,449,617 $49,143,148,094
1990 $165,811,372,383 $44,024,585,240
1989 $132,584,448,258 $38,847,965,293
1988 $132,817,124,707 $35,272,109,220
1987 $123,682,091,859 $32,181,210,158
1986 $98,648,254,169 $27,734,111,400
1985 $69,114,996,010 $31,199,633,353
1984 $67,719,055,773 $33,942,897,422
1983 $71,838,528,420 $30,347,442,111
1982 $70,996,111,963 $26,804,493,635
1981 $70,755,997,062 $25,004,285,792
1980 $81,737,498,405 $24,488,224,677
1979 $73,647,694,287 $21,213,264,962
1978 $61,809,208,756 $16,358,079,862
1977 $51,343,861,460 $13,139,488,633
1976 $42,791,707,448 $11,050,234,599
1975 $39,902,300,703 $9,298,800,799
1974 $35,051,468,640 $9,496,204,302
1973 $29,399,860,145 $7,662,902,678
1972 $21,973,207,929 $5,043,347,250
1971 $17,788,536,733 $4,244,395,956
1970 $15,312,791,744 $3,864,145,667
1969 $13,647,475,854 $3,664,552,041
1968 $12,499,863,917 $3,330,371,551
1967 $11,634,569,522 $3,188,924,677
1966 $10,939,526,219 $3,143,517,944
1965 $10,041,659,445 $2,956,337,669
1964 $9,213,648,656 $2,674,423,922
1963 $8,414,050,621 $2,510,110,348
1962 $7,793,042,529 $2,001,489,602
1961 $7,346,566,038 $1,901,856,123
1960 $6,624,086,313 $1,916,229,477

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Austria vs Malaysia by year

Austria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Austria Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $62,930 - $13,125 -
2024 $58,269 $73,911 $11,874 $38,779
2023 $56,580 $73,545 $11,386 $36,467
2022 $52,337 $72,065 $11,755 $34,420
2021 $53,649 $62,969 $10,903 $29,823
2020 $48,716 $58,523 $9,958 $27,475
2019 $49,886 $60,355 $10,920 $28,934
2018 $51,194 $56,636 $10,902 $27,794
2017 $47,164 $53,870 $9,863 $26,416
2016 $45,061 $52,398 $9,477 $25,286
2015 $43,915 $49,549 $9,649 $24,526
2014 $51,315 $48,355 $11,013 $24,307
2013 $50,305 $47,520 $10,714 $23,161
2012 $48,250 $46,156 $10,601 $22,639
2011 $51,117 $44,172 $10,217 $21,324
2010 $46,611 $41,735 $8,899 $20,193
2009 $47,857 $40,687 $7,191 $18,923
2008 $51,581 $41,047 $8,372 $19,480
2007 $46,623 $39,192 $7,169 $18,617
2006 $40,382 $37,388 $6,158 $17,426
2005 $38,157 $34,777 $5,556 $16,371
2004 $36,614 $33,519 $4,939 $15,416
2003 $32,110 $31,959 $4,465 $14,387
2002 $26,335 $30,952 $4,184 $13,656
2001 $24,430 $29,553 $3,944 $13,072
2000 $24,487 $29,221 $4,084 $13,027
1999 $27,079 $27,500 $3,528 $11,980
1998 $27,212 $26,531 $3,294 $11,398
1997 $26,572 $25,301 $4,679 $12,469
1996 $29,646 $24,427 $4,837 $11,709
1995 $30,207 $23,604 $4,363 $10,720
1994 $25,546 $22,553 $3,758 $9,806
1993 $23,987 $21,647 $3,462 $9,018
1992 $24,783 $21,209 $3,141 $8,224
1991 $22,323 $20,536 $2,679 $7,583
1990 $21,596 $19,396 $2,469 $6,887
1989 $17,401 - $2,244 -
1988 $17,510 - $2,100 -
1987 $16,329 - $1,977 -
1986 $13,032 - $1,760 -
1985 $9,136 - $2,046 -
1984 $8,956 - $2,300 -
1983 $9,500 - $2,124 -
1982 $9,373 - $1,938 -
1981 $9,348 - $1,866 -
1980 $10,827 - $1,886 -
1979 $9,755 - $1,680 -
1978 $8,173 - $1,327 -
1977 $6,784 - $1,092 -
1976 $5,656 - $940 -
1975 $5,265 - $811 -
1974 $4,613 - $848 -
1973 $3,875 - $701 -
1972 $2,913 - $472 -
1971 $2,372 - $407 -
1970 $2,051 - $380 -
1969 $1,834 - $368 -
1968 $1,686 - $342 -
1967 $1,577 - $335 -
1966 $1,494 - $339 -
1965 $1,381 - $326 -
1964 $1,275 - $303 -
1963 $1,173 - $291.8 -
1962 $1,093 - $238.8 -
1961 $1,037 - $232.9 -
1960 $940 - $240.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

Austria's GDP per capita is $62,930, ranking 16/197, compared to $13,125 in Malaysia, ranking 78/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Austria ranks 19th at $73,911, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,779.

Economic indicators

Austria Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$579B
2025
$472B
2025
GDP rank
29/197
2025
35/197
2025
GDP growth
0.62%
2024-2025
5.17%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$62,930
2025
$13,125
2025
GDP per capita rank
16/197
2025
78/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,911
2024
$38,779
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
19/197
2024
60/197
2024
Government debt
$466B
2025
$334B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
80.5%
2025
70.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$50,654
2025
$9,273
2025
Government debt per person rank
10/185
2025
62/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$38,467
2026
$11,034
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$211B
2025
$487B
2025
Number of billionaires
9
2026
19
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.8%
2023
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.8%
2023
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
55.2%
2025
23.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.53%
2024-2025
1.38%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.78%
2025
3.9%
2022
Population
9201502
36600906

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Austria
Spending

Debt
Malaysia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Austria Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 55.2% 80.5% 23.4% 70.7%
2024 55.2% 79.2% 24% 69.8%
2023 52.2% 77.8% 25% 69.7%
2022 53% 78.1% 24.6% 65.5%
2021 56% 82.4% 24.5% 69.2%
2020 57.3% 83.2% 25% 67.7%
2019 49.1% 71% 23.6% 57.1%
2018 49.2% 74.6% 22.8% 55.6%
2017 49.8% 79.1% 22% 54.4%
2016 50.6% 83.4% 22.9% 55.8%
2015 51.2% 85.6% 24.7% 57%
2014 52.4% 85.2% 26% 55.4%
2013 52.4% 82.4% 27.8% 55.7%
2012 51.8% 82.9% 28.5% 53.8%
2011 51.3% 83.4% 27.1% 51.9%
2010 53.4% 83.7% 26.6% 51.2%
2009 54.6% 80.8% 30.9% 50.4%
2008 50.4% 69.5% 26.9% 39.4%
2007 49.7% 65.8% 25.9% 39.3%
2006 50.9% 68.2% 25.6% 39.7%
2005 51.7% 69.4% 24.5% 40.8%
2004 54.3% 65.9% 25.9% 42%
2003 51.8% 66.4% 28.1% 41.4%
2002 51.6% 67.4% 27.1% 39.5%
2001 51.8% 67.2% 28.2% 38.1%
2000 50.9% 66.1% 25.6% 32.5%
1999 50.5% 61.3% 24.6% 34.4%
1998 54.4% 69.2% 23.1% 33.6%
1997 52.5% 63.4% 21.2% 29.6%
1996 55.9% 68.2% 22.4% 32.8%
1995 56.1% 68.2% 22.6% 38.2%
1994 54.3% 64.1% 23.3% 43.7%
1993 54.3% 61% 24.6% 51.1%
1992 49.3% 56.3% 28.2% 59.1%
1991 47.9% 56.4% 27.4% 67.3%
1990 46.8% 56.2% 30.5% 74.1%
1989 51.6% 56.6% - -
1988 53.1% 57.7% - -
1987 54.5% 55.5% - -
1986 54.3% 52% - -
1985 53.5% 47.8% - -
1984 52.6% 46% - -
1983 52.4% 43.7% - -
1982 52% 39.7% - -
1981 51.5% 37.5% - -
1980 50% 35.6% - -
1979 49.8% 34.1% - -
1978 50.8% 32.2% - -
1977 47.6% 28.5% - -
1976 47.9% 26.2% - -
1975 46.1% 22.8% - -
1974 42% 16.8% - -
1973 41.5% 16.7% - -
1972 40.1% 16.7% - -
1971 40% 17.4% - -
1970 39.5% 18.6% - -
1969 40.7% 16.8% - -
1968 40.9% 16.8% - -
1967 40.7% 15.6% - -
1966 38.7% 14.1% - -
1965 38.3% 14.8% - -
1964 38.7% 15.5% - -
1963 38.6% 15.6% - -
1962 37.6% 15.5% - -
1961 35.7% 16% - -
1960 36.3% 17.7% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, Austria's government spending was $320B, accounting for 55.2% of its GDP, while Malaysia spent $111B, or 23.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 80.5% in Austria and 70.7% in Malaysia, ranking 42/185 and 56/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Austria

Malaysia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Austria Malaysia
2025 -4.52% -3.54%
2024 -4.68% -3.45%
2023 -2.59% -4.11%
2022 -3.41% -4.56%
2021 -5.69% -6.03%
2020 -8.2% -4.9%
2019 0.54% -2.01%
2018 0.2% -2.64%
2017 -0.78% -2.41%
2016 -1.45% -2.6%
2015 -0.48% -2.55%
2014 -1.92% -2.63%
2013 -1.99% -3.48%
2012 -2.18% -3.1%
2011 -2.48% -3.57%
2010 -4.46% -4.32%
2009 -5.38% -5.88%
2008 -1.57% -3.4%
2007 -1.56% -2.57%
2006 -2.61% -2.6%
2005 -2.59% -2.83%
2004 -4.94% -3.35%
2003 -1.84% -4.6%
2002 -1.43% -3.96%
2001 -0.71% -4.36%
2000 -2.07% -6.05%
1999 -2.63% -3%
1998 -2.68% -0.63%
1997 -2.38% 4.84%
1996 -4.38% 3.27%
1995 -6.17% 3.1%
1994 -5.04% 5.45%
1993 -4.57% 3.44%
1992 -2.15% 1.81%
1991 -2.96% 1.6%
1990 -2.58% 0.15%
1989 -3.07% -
1988 -3.43% -
1987 -4.33% -
1986 -3.84% -
1985 -2.71% -
1984 -2.67% -
1983 -4.22% -
1982 -3.29% -
1981 -1.79% -
1980 -1.62% -
1979 -2.3% -
1978 -2.67% -
1977 -2.11% -
1976 -3.61% -
1975 -2.41% -
1974 1.23% -
1973 1.24% -
1972 1.97% -
1971 1.46% -
1970 1.16% -
1969 -0.08% -
1968 -0.83% -
1967 -0.56% -
1966 1.73% -
1965 1.38% -
1964 0.48% -
1963 -0.5% -
1962 1.12% -
1961 1.68% -
1960 -0.49% -
1959 -2.16% -
1958 -3.52% -
1957 -0.7% -
1956 -0.78% -
1955 -0.5% -
1954 -0.35% -
1953 -0.24% -
1952 -0.73% -
1951 -1.57% -
1950 -7.72% -
1949 -9.23% -
1948 -9.3% -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -
1938 - -
1937 -2.84% -
1936 -3.91% -
1935 -5.46% -
1934 -5.28% -
1933 -3.55% -
1932 -9.16% -
1931 -11.5% -
1930 -9.68% -
1929 -6.83% -
1928 -7.63% -
1927 -7.3% -
1926 -6.18% -
1925 -4.96% -
1924 -5.69% -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -
1912 -0.69% -
1911 0.03% -
1910 -0.42% -
1909 -5.51% -
1908 -1.24% -
1907 -2.73% -
1906 -0.05% -
1905 -0.71% -
1904 -1.12% -
1903 -0.97% -
1902 -0.75% -
1901 -0.56% -
1900 -0.05% -
1899 -0.08% -
1898 -0.17% -
1897 0.1% -
1896 0.03% -
1895 0.36% -
1894 -1.16% -
1893 -1.31% -
1892 -0.86% -
1891 -4.01% -
1890 -0.26% -
1889 -1.61% -
1888 -0.97% -
1887 -1.09% -
1886 -0.43% -
1885 -0.57% -
1884 -6.43% -
1883 -0.69% -
1882 -1.06% -
1881 -3.91% -
1880 -1.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

In 2025, Austria's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $26.2B, equivalent to 4.52% of GDP. This compares to Malaysia's deficit of $16.7B, or 3.54% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Austria recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 28 years. On average, Austria posted an annual deficit equal to 2.9% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.1% of GDP for Malaysia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Austria

Malaysia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Austria Malaysia
2025 3.53% 1.38%
2024 2.94% 1.83%
2023 7.81% 2.49%
2022 8.55% 3.38%
2021 2.77% 2.48%
2020 1.38% -1.14%
2019 1.53% 0.66%
2018 2% 0.88%
2017 2.08% 3.87%
2016 0.89% 2.09%
2015 0.9% 2.1%
2014 1.61% 3.14%
2013 2% 2.11%
2012 2.49% 1.66%
2011 3.29% 3.17%
2010 1.81% 1.62%
2009 0.51% 0.58%
2008 3.22% 5.44%
2007 2.17% 2.03%
2006 1.44% 3.61%
2005 2.3% 2.98%
2004 2.06% 1.42%
2003 1.36% 1.09%
2002 1.81% 1.81%
2001 2.65% 1.42%
2000 2.34% 1.53%
1999 0.57% 2.74%
1998 0.92% 5.27%
1997 1.31% 2.66%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Austria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.35%, compared with 2.22% in Malaysia. In 2025, inflation was 3.53% in Austria and 1.38% in Malaysia.

Top exports between countries

Austria
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $840M
Chemicals & pharma $60.1M
Manufacturing & construction services $59.5M
Metals $46.5M
Business & finance services $42.2M
Wood & paper products $14.6M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $12.9M
Animal & marine products $9.54M
Transport & tourism services $8.65M
IT & IP services $8.65M
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $500M
Raw materials & minerals $52M
Chemicals & pharma $50M
Textiles & consumer goods $5.99M
Metals $3.82M
Precious metals & jewellery $603K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $270K
Wood & paper products $115K
Animal & marine products $102K
Miscellaneous $64K

Balance of trade

Austria Malaysia
Current account balance
$10.4B
2025
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
24/190
2025
29/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.79%
2025
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$208B
2025
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$214B
2025
$248B
2024
Service imports
$98.3B
2025
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$105B
2025
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.3%
2025
65.4%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.7%
2025
71%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Austria Malaysia
Economic freedom 69.8 68
Economic freedom ranking 38/197 51/197
Property rights 95.7 62.7
Government integrity 75 52.9
Judicial effectiveness 94.8 63.4
Tax burden 45.7 83.5
Government spending 12.8 82
Fiscal health 67.1 62.5
Business freedom 78.7 79.6
Labor freedom 81.6 55.4
Monetary freedom 76.4 80.8
Trade freedom 79.4 83
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 70 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Austria
Malaysia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Austria Malaysia
2026 69.8 68
2025 69.7 67.1
2024 68.4 65.7
2023 71.1 67.3
2022 73.8 68.1
2021 73.9 74.4
2020 73.3 74.7
2019 72 74
2018 71.8 74.5
2017 72.3 73.8
2016 71.7 71.5
2015 71.2 70.8
2014 72.4 69.6
2013 71.8 66.1
2012 70.3 66.4
2011 71.9 66.3
2010 71.6 64.8
2009 71.2 64.6
2008 71.4 63.9
2007 71.6 63.8
2006 71.1 61.6
2005 68.8 61.9
2004 67.6 59.9
2003 67.6 61.1
2002 67.4 60.1
2001 68.1 60.2
2000 68.4 66
1999 64 68.9
1998 65.4 68.2
1997 65.2 66.8
1996 68.9 69.9
1995 70 71.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Austria is 69.8, ranking 38/197, compared to 68 for Malaysia, ranking 51/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Austria Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
64.1%
2025
54.8%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
24%
2025
35.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.26%
2025
8.22%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$556B
2025
$445B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$77,010
2025
$40,070
2025
Total reserves including gold
$53.4B
2025
$126B
2025
Total reserves ranking
46/177
2025
25/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$5.61B
2025
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$13.7B
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$13.8B
2024
$13B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.8%
2021
5.1%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.7%
2025
20.5%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/austria/malaysia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.