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Economy of China vs France compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

China has a GDP of $18.7T compared to $3.16T for France, ranking 2/197 and 7/197 by economy size, respectively.

China has $16.6T in government debt (88.3% of GDP), compared to $3.58T (113.1% of GDP) in France.

China vs France GDP by year

China
France
1x
Year GDP, current $
China France
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $3,160,442,622,465
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $3,056,250,648,138
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $2,794,788,137,067
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $2,966,433,692,008
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $2,647,926,055,110
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $2,722,793,515,172
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $2,781,576,320,884
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $2,588,868,323,335
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $2,470,407,619,777
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $2,442,483,452,643
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $2,861,236,112,552
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $2,816,077,607,875
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $2,683,007,095,787
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $2,870,408,553,990
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $2,646,230,027,988
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $2,700,075,882,519
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $2,926,802,941,586
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $2,655,816,911,867
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $2,317,861,544,691
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $2,192,146,403,028
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $2,109,792,297,237
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $1,835,095,983,049
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $1,492,427,756,382
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $1,370,376,677,299
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $1,360,959,069,477
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $1,486,915,879,702
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $1,496,906,382,032
1997 $967,753,570,435 $1,449,392,222,971
1996 $868,523,936,530 $1,598,889,216,566
1995 $738,190,896,228 $1,595,219,345,512
1994 $566,929,539,493 $1,385,822,778,828
1993 $446,557,291,212 $1,314,383,368,080
1992 $428,502,354,788 $1,389,663,073,110
1991 $384,510,452,962 $1,258,961,748,634
1990 $361,560,229,446 $1,257,649,439,827
1989 $348,380,566,802 $1,016,742,237,302
1988 $312,888,888,889 $1,010,827,662,152
1987 $273,455,156,951 $926,320,855,615
1986 $301,310,144,928 $764,946,585,851
1985 $310,064,625,850 $547,220,981,165
1984 $260,442,857,143 $525,033,325,828
1983 $231,130,268,199 $553,356,312,936
1982 $205,480,916,031 $578,152,310,610
1981 $196,218,253,968 $609,184,791,792
1980 $191,487,500,000 $694,529,183,483
1979 $178,573,913,043 $608,218,624,730
1978 $149,788,617,886 $501,724,418,605
1977 $175,226,595,860 $406,401,711,688
1976 $154,196,810,059 $368,363,152,144
1975 $163,687,619,736 $357,324,307,786
1974 $144,418,433,058 $282,739,225,314
1973 $138,764,340,892 $261,970,536,240
1972 $113,871,930,714 $201,738,881,664
1971 $99,959,013,880 $164,694,210,962
1970 $92,752,930,873 $147,312,861,698
1969 $79,847,786,729 $140,660,914,841
1968 $70,980,323,819 $128,710,572,572
1967 $73,011,350,596 $118,088,635,381
1966 $76,854,053,259 $109,306,730,313
1965 $70,565,994,356 $100,927,668,584
1964 $59,821,862,703 $93,424,179,943
1963 $50,812,227,919 $84,227,606,650
1962 $47,310,737,754 $75,196,980,365
1961 $50,162,299,350 $67,158,050,215
1960 $59,846,235,025 $61,959,085,885

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/france | CC BY

GDP per capita in China vs France by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
France
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China France
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,303 $27,105 $46,103 $62,557
2023 $12,951 $25,179 $44,700 $60,839
2022 $12,971 $23,032 $40,989 $57,043
2021 $12,887 $20,843 $43,725 $52,517
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $39,170 $49,482
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $40,408 $51,130
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $41,418 $46,381
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $38,687 $44,469
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $37,024 $42,880
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $36,702 $40,905
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $43,148 $40,218
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $42,669 $39,583
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $40,864 $37,671
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $43,930 $37,510
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $40,695 $35,908
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $41,728 $34,685
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $45,465 $35,053
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $41,486 $34,066
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $36,432 $32,424
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $34,696 $30,431
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $33,645 $28,921
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $29,480 $28,024
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $24,145 $28,350
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $22,332 $27,347
2000 $969 $2,964 $22,341 $26,007
1999 $881 $2,690 $24,576 $24,204
1998 $835 $2,483 $24,869 $23,263
1997 $787 $2,297 $24,169 $22,190
1996 $713 $2,088 $26,758 $21,268
1995 $613 $1,884 $26,792 $20,701
1994 $476 $1,680 $23,360 $19,892
1993 $379 $1,471 $22,239 $19,094
1992 $368 $1,276 $23,615 $18,801
1991 $334 $1,105 $21,501 $18,198
1990 $319 $991 $21,586 $17,475
1989 $311 - $17,547 -
1988 $284 - $17,550 -
1987 $252.3 - $16,176 -
1986 $282.4 - $13,430 -
1985 $295 - $9,657 -
1984 $251.2 - $9,312 -
1983 $225.9 - $9,862 -
1982 $203.7 - $10,360 -
1981 $197.4 - $10,956 -
1980 $195.1 - $12,565 -
1979 $184.3 - $11,063 -
1978 $156.7 - $9,167 -
1977 $185.7 - $7,459 -
1976 $165.7 - $6,792 -
1975 $178.6 - $6,617 -
1974 $160.4 - $5,261 -
1973 $157.3 - $4,907 -
1972 $132.1 - $3,809 -
1971 $118.8 - $3,137 -
1970 $113.3 - $2,833 -
1969 $100.3 - $2,729 -
1968 $91.6 - $2,518 -
1967 $96.8 - $2,328 -
1966 $104.5 - $2,173 -
1965 $98.7 - $2,024 -
1964 $85.7 - $1,891 -
1963 $74.5 - $1,723 -
1962 $71.1 - $1,554 -
1961 $76 - $1,402 -
1960 $89.7 - $1,307 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/france | CC BY

China's GDP per capita is $13,303, ranking 76/197, compared to $46,103 in France, ranking 27/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while France ranks 30th at $62,557.

Economic indicators

China France
Gross domestic product
$18.7T
2024
$3.16T
2024
GDP rank
2/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP growth
4.98%
2023-2024
1.19%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$46,103
2024
GDP per capita rank
76/197
2024
27/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$62,557
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
30/197
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$3.58T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
113.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$52,165
2024
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2024
8/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$35,669
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$2.37T
2018
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
2,897,000
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
52
2025
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
25%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
3%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
57.2%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.2%
2023-2024
2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.1%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
7.44%
2024
Population
1402578808
68788006

Spending and national debt comparison by year

China
Spending

Debt
France
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
China France
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 32.9% 88.3% 57.2% 113.1%
2023 32.7% 82% 56.8% 109.6%
2022 32.6% 75.5% 58.4% 111.4%
2021 31.9% 70.1% 59.5% 112.8%
2020 34.8% 69% 61.7% 114.9%
2019 33.6% 59.4% 55.3% 98.1%
2018 32.6% 55.6% 56.4% 98.5%
2017 32% 53.9% 57.7% 98.7%
2016 31.7% 49.7% 57.4% 98.1%
2015 31% 40.8% 57.6% 96.9%
2014 28.4% 39.3% 58.4% 96.1%
2013 28.1% 36.4% 58.6% 94.5%
2012 27.7% 33.8% 57.9% 91.7%
2011 26.6% 33.2% 57% 88.7%
2010 24.7% 33.3% 57.7% 86.3%
2009 25.2% 34% 58% 84.1%
2008 22.2% 26.7% 54.3% 69.8%
2007 17.9% 28.7% 53.6% 65.5%
2006 18.1% 25.2% 53.7% 65.4%
2005 18% 25.9% 54.3% 68.2%
2004 17.6% 26% 54% 66.9%
2003 18% 26.4% 54.4% 65.4%
2002 18.2% 25.6% 53.9% 61.3%
2001 17.2% 24.3% 52.8% 59.3%
2000 16.1% 22.7% 52.6% 59.7%
1999 14.9% 21.6% 53.7% 61.4%
1998 12.6% 20.4% 54% 62.1%
1997 11.5% 20.4% 55.6% 62%
1996 11% 21.2% 56% 60.6%
1995 11.1% 21.4% 56% 57.8%
1994 12.4% - 55.9% 51.6%
1993 13.4% - 56.5% 48.2%
1992 14.6% - 54% 41.7%
1991 16.5% - 52.7% 37.8%
1990 18.2% - 51.6% 36.8%
1989 18.6% - 48.9% 34%
1988 20.9% 4.46% 50.1% 33.3%
1987 23.4% 3.6% 50.7% 33.4%
1986 25.6% 3.24% 51.3% 31.1%
1985 25.8% 3.31% 51.9% 30.6%
1984 26.9% 0.97% 51.2% 29%
1983 28.3% - 50.2% 26.6%
1982 27.9% - 49.9% 25.3%
1981 - - 48.5% 22%
1980 - - 46% 20.7%
1979 - - 44.9% 21.1%
1978 - - 44.7% 21.2%
1977 - - 21.4% 15%
1976 - - 21.7% 15.1%
1975 - - 22% 16.1%
1974 - - 19.9% 15.4%
1973 - - 19.7% 15.8%
1972 - - 19.8% 17.7%
1971 - - 20% 20.1%
1970 - - 20.5% 21%
1969 - - 21.5% 14.4%
1968 - - 22.7% 15.8%
1967 - - 21.4% 16.1%
1966 - - 21.4% 15.3%
1965 - - 21.1% 17.6%
1964 - - 21% 19.6%
1963 - - 22.6% 22.2%
1962 - - 21.7% 23.6%
1961 - - 21.9% 26.3%
1960 - - 22.2% 28.5%

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/china/france | CC BY

In 2024, China's government spending was $6.18T, accounting for 32.9% of its GDP, while France spent $1.81T, or 57.2% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 88.3% in China and 113.1% in France, ranking 34/185 and 14/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
China

France
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
China France
2024 -7.34% -5.77%
2023 -6.71% -5.44%
2022 -7.32% -4.74%
2021 -5.9% -6.58%
2020 -9.56% -8.93%
2019 -6% -2.39%
2018 -4.2% -2.32%
2017 -3.34% -3.36%
2016 -3.33% -3.76%
2015 -2.5% -3.89%
2014 -0.67% -4.57%
2013 -0.82% -4.94%
2012 -0.3% -5.17%
2011 -0.1% -5.3%
2010 -0.36% -7.16%
2009 -1.72% -7.38%
2008 -0.02% -3.5%
2007 0.06% -2.99%
2006 -1.13% -2.66%
2005 -1.38% -3.5%
2004 -1.49% -3.55%
2003 -2.36% -4.09%
2002 -2.84% -3.18%
2001 -2.56% -1.42%
2000 -2.81% -1.32%
1999 -2.3% -1.55%
1998 -1.08% -2.39%
1997 -0.73% -3.71%
1996 -0.73% -3.89%
1995 -0.94% -5.11%
1994 -1.68% -5.46%
1993 -0.89% -6.4%
1992 -1.22% -4.64%
1991 -1.04% -2.89%
1990 -0.72% -2.45%
1989 -0.91% -1.9%
1988 -2.22% -2.7%
1987 -2.08% -2.13%
1986 -1.82% -3.3%
1985 -0.45% -3.08%
1984 -1.44% -2.8%
1983 -1.61% -2.58%
1982 -1.33% -2.91%
1981 - -2.39%
1980 - -0.27%
1979 - -0.36%
1978 - -1.73%
1977 - 0.9%
1976 - 1.01%
1975 - -0.28%
1974 - 3.05%
1973 - 1.97%
1972 - 1.94%
1971 - -0.13%
1970 - 0.02%
1969 - -0.49%
1968 - -2.54%
1967 - -0.8%
1966 - -0.57%
1965 - -0.07%
1964 - -0.25%
1963 - -2.24%
1962 - -1.53%
1961 - -1.36%
1960 - -1.95%
1959 - 0.56%
1958 - 0.08%
1957 - -1.99%
1956 - -2.62%
1955 - -1.04%
1954 - -0.78%
1953 - -4.79%
1952 - -6.82%
1951 - -4.42%
1950 - -5.56%
1949 - -7.31%
1948 - -9.11%
1947 - -7.6%
1946 - -8.1%
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -
1938 - -
1937 - -6.89%
1936 - -4.76%
1935 - -4.22%
1934 - -4.31%
1933 - -4.96%
1932 - -1.86%
1931 - -2.06%
1930 - -1.65%
1929 - 1.48%
1928 - 1.13%
1927 - -0.04%
1926 - -0.02%
1925 - -0.87%
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - 0.05%
1912 - 0.23%
1911 - 0.31%
1910 - -0.12%
1909 - -0.11%
1908 - -0.15%
1907 - 0.23%
1906 - -0.04%
1905 - 0.18%
1904 - 0.3%
1903 - 0.21%
1902 - -0.37%
1901 - -0.39%
1900 - 0.21%
1899 - 0.21%
1898 - 0.29%
1897 - 0.01%
1896 - -0.03%
1895 - -0.07%
1894 - -0.08%
1893 - -0.3%
1892 - -0.03%
1891 - 0.36%
1890 - 0.31%
1889 - 0.09%
1888 - 0.18%
1887 - -0.07%
1886 - -0.5%
1885 - -0.59%
1884 - -0.35%
1883 - -0.23%
1882 - -0.15%
1881 - 0.64%
1880 - 0.65%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/france | CC BY

In 2024, China's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.38T, equivalent to 7.34% of GDP. This compares to France's deficit of $182B, or 5.77% of GDP.

Over the past 43 years, China recorded a fiscal deficit in 42 of those years, while France ran a deficit in 43 years. On average, China posted an annual deficit equal to 2.28% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.9% of GDP for France.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

France
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China France
2024 0.2% 2%
2023 0.2% 4.88%
2022 2% 5.22%
2021 0.9% 1.64%
2020 2.5% 0.48%
2019 2.9% 1.11%
2018 2.1% 1.85%
2017 1.6% 1.03%
2016 2% 0.18%
2015 1.5% 0.04%
2014 2% 0.51%
2013 2.7% 0.86%
2012 2.6% 1.95%
2011 5.4% 2.11%
2010 3.3% 1.53%
2009 -0.7% 0.09%
2008 5.9% 2.81%
2007 4.7% 1.49%
2006 1.5% 1.68%
2005 1.8% 1.75%
2004 3.9% 2.14%
2003 1.1% 2.1%
2002 -0.8% 1.92%
2001 0.7% 1.63%
2000 0.4% 1.68%
1999 -1.4% 0.54%
1998 -0.8% 0.65%
1997 2.8% 1.2%

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/china/france | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 1.61% in France. In 2024, inflation was 0.2% in China and 2% in France.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $21.2B
Textiles & consumer goods $11.9B
Miscellaneous $3.37B
Chemicals & pharma $3.21B
Metals $2.22B
Business & finance services $2.03B
Transport & tourism services $1B
Raw materials & minerals $962M
Wood & paper products $801M
Manufacturing & construction services $495M
France
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $9.5B
Chemicals & pharma $5.84B
Transport & tourism services $5.29B
Textiles & consumer goods $4.92B
Business & finance services $1.77B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.58B
IT & IP services $1.13B
Raw agricultural goods $921M
Precious metals & jewellery $779M
Metals $750M

Balance of trade

China France
Current account balance
$424B
2024
$2.69B
2024
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2024
42/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.26%
2024
+0.09%
2024
Goods imports
$2.64T
2024
$733B
2024
Goods exports
$3.41T
2024
$668B
2024
Service imports
$613B
2024
$341B
2024
Service exports
$384B
2024
$403B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
34.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20%
2024
33.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

China France
Economic freedom 48.3 64.6
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 72/197
Property rights 40.9 91.2
Government integrity 42.3 73.4
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 84.7
Tax burden 69.3 54.6
Government spending 67.8 0.9
Fiscal health 4.4 34.8
Business freedom 68.7 78.4
Labor freedom 57.9 59.1
Monetary freedom 76.1 73.2
Trade freedom 73.4 79.4
Investment freedom 20 75
Financial freedom 20 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

China
France
1x
Year Economic freedom index
China France
2026 48.3 64.6
2025 49 64.4
2024 48.5 62.5
2023 48.3 63.6
2022 48 65.9
2021 58.4 65.7
2020 59.5 66
2019 58.4 63.8
2018 57.8 63.9
2017 57.4 63.3
2016 52 62.3
2015 52.7 62.5
2014 52.5 63.5
2013 51.9 64.1
2012 51.2 63.2
2011 52 64.6
2010 51 64.2
2009 53.2 63.3
2008 53.1 64.7
2007 52 62.1
2006 53.6 61.1
2005 53.7 60.5
2004 52.5 60.9
2003 52.6 59.2
2002 52.8 58
2001 52.6 58
2000 56.4 57.4
1999 54.8 59.1
1998 53.1 58.9
1997 51.7 59.1
1996 51.3 63.7
1995 52 64.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/france | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for China is 48.3, ranking 170/197, compared to 64.6 for France, ranking 72/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

China France
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
70.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
17.2%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.78%
2024
1.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$3.1T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,920
2024
$63,880
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$283B
2024
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2024
13/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$154B
2024
-$10.3B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6B
2024
$52.1B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172B
2024
$41.7B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.89%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
0%
2020
15.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.6%
2024
21.5%
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).

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

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.