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Economy of France vs United Arab Emirates compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

France has a GDP of $3.37T compared to $552B for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 7/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

France has $3.9T in government debt (116% of GDP), compared to $193B (34.3% of GDP) in the United Arab Emirates.

France vs United Arab Emirates GDP by year

France
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP, current $
France UAE
2025 $3,366,315,927,447 -
2024 $3,160,442,622,465 $552,324,919,096
2023 $3,056,250,648,138 $522,622,268,401
2022 $2,794,788,137,067 $511,403,404,642
2021 $2,966,433,692,008 $422,441,282,436
2020 $2,647,926,055,110 $357,161,776,271
2019 $2,722,793,515,172 $433,926,218,686
2018 $2,781,576,320,884 $440,560,003,161
2017 $2,588,868,323,335 $403,365,056,079
2016 $2,470,407,619,777 $381,717,208,621
2015 $2,442,483,452,643 $381,973,135,513
2014 $2,861,236,112,552 $424,935,834,104
2013 $2,816,077,607,875 $409,632,574,703
2012 $2,683,007,095,787 $392,793,559,051
2011 $2,870,408,553,990 $368,881,033,963
2010 $2,646,230,027,988 $307,736,348,527
2009 $2,700,075,882,519 $253,547,358,747
2008 $2,926,802,941,586 $315,474,615,741
2007 $2,655,816,911,867 $257,916,148,767
2006 $2,317,861,544,691 $222,116,532,963
2005 $2,192,146,403,028 $180,617,467,954
2004 $2,109,792,297,237 $147,824,249,958
2003 $1,835,095,983,049 $124,346,476,180
2002 $1,492,427,756,382 $109,816,091,079
2001 $1,370,376,677,299 $103,311,631,797
2000 $1,360,959,069,477 $104,337,463,730
1999 $1,486,915,879,702 $84,445,399,335
1998 $1,496,906,382,032 $75,674,384,205
1997 $1,449,392,222,971 $78,838,886,862
1996 $1,598,889,216,566 $73,571,217,377
1995 $1,595,219,345,512 $65,743,604,966
1994 $1,385,822,778,828 $59,305,111,228
1993 $1,314,383,368,080 $55,625,269,485
1992 $1,389,663,073,110 $54,239,188,746
1991 $1,258,961,748,634 $51,552,058,250
1990 $1,257,649,439,827 $50,701,374,187
1989 $1,016,742,237,302 $41,464,966,302
1988 $1,010,827,662,152 $36,275,613,877
1987 $926,320,855,615 $36,384,802,310
1986 $764,946,585,851 $33,943,568,481
1985 $547,220,981,165 $40,603,631,079
1984 $525,033,325,828 $41,807,931,453
1983 $553,356,312,936 $42,803,373,390
1982 $578,152,310,610 $46,622,715,281
1981 $609,184,791,792 $49,333,471,895
1980 $694,529,183,483 $43,599,134,193
1979 $608,218,624,730 $31,225,557,022
1978 $501,724,418,605 $23,775,718,541
1977 $406,401,711,688 $24,871,660,292
1976 $368,363,152,144 $19,213,212,475
1975 $357,324,307,786 $14,720,729,969
1974 $282,739,225,314 $11,651,505,689
1973 $261,970,536,240 $4,231,243,616
1972 $201,738,881,664 $1,415,086,929
1971 $164,694,210,962 $939,893,600
1970 $147,312,861,698 $685,986,701
1969 $140,660,914,841 -
1968 $128,710,572,572 -
1967 $118,088,635,381 -
1966 $109,306,730,313 -
1965 $100,927,668,584 -
1964 $93,424,179,943 -
1963 $84,227,606,650 -
1962 $75,196,980,365 -
1961 $67,158,050,215 -
1960 $61,959,085,885 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

GDP per capita in France vs United Arab Emirates by year

France
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
United Arab Emirates
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
France UAE
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $48,986 - - -
2024 $46,103 $62,557 $50,274 $79,229
2023 $44,700 $60,839 $49,851 $77,955
2022 $40,989 $57,043 $50,760 $75,072
2021 $43,725 $52,517 $44,118 $68,580
2020 $39,170 $49,482 $37,992 $66,791
2019 $40,408 $51,130 $45,939 $79,816
2018 $41,418 $46,381 $47,135 $77,446
2017 $38,687 $44,469 $43,734 $70,282
2016 $37,024 $42,880 $42,721 $69,987
2015 $36,702 $40,905 $44,910 $73,986
2014 $43,148 $40,218 $52,725 $87,478
2013 $42,669 $39,583 $53,247 $87,526
2012 $40,864 $37,671 $53,142 $89,198
2011 $43,930 $37,510 $51,922 $89,665
2010 $40,695 $35,908 $44,795 $85,120
2009 $41,728 $34,685 $37,803 $84,780
2008 $45,465 $35,053 $50,054 $94,628
2007 $41,486 $34,066 $45,855 $100,813
2006 $36,432 $32,424 $44,343 $106,814
2005 $34,696 $30,431 $38,719 $101,301
2004 $33,645 $28,921 $33,377 $98,661
2003 $29,480 $28,024 $29,660 $92,636
2002 $24,145 $28,350 $27,754 $88,467
2001 $22,332 $27,347 $27,745 $90,370
2000 $22,341 $26,007 $29,866 $92,899
1999 $24,576 $24,204 $25,856 $87,658
1998 $24,869 $23,263 $24,889 $90,229
1997 $24,169 $22,190 $27,983 $96,009
1996 $26,758 $21,268 $28,323 $94,620
1995 $26,792 $20,701 $27,003 $93,702
1994 $23,360 $19,892 $25,473 $89,959
1993 $22,239 $19,094 $25,033 $86,330
1992 $23,615 $18,801 $25,648 $87,509
1991 $21,501 $18,198 $25,691 $87,250
1990 $21,586 $17,475 $26,710 $88,455
1989 $17,547 - $23,167 -
1988 $17,550 - $21,570 -
1987 $16,176 - $23,113 -
1986 $13,430 - $23,132 -
1985 $9,657 - $29,468 -
1984 $9,312 - $32,012 -
1983 $9,862 - $34,650 -
1982 $10,360 - $39,972 -
1981 $10,956 - $44,855 -
1980 $12,565 - $42,925 -
1979 $11,063 - $34,238 -
1978 $9,167 - $29,379 -
1977 $7,459 - $35,020 -
1976 $6,792 - $31,197 -
1975 $6,617 - $27,117 -
1974 $5,261 - $23,823 -
1973 $4,907 - $9,696 -
1972 $3,809 - $3,675 -
1971 $3,137 - $2,805 -
1970 $2,833 - $2,394 -
1969 $2,729 - - -
1968 $2,518 - - -
1967 $2,328 - - -
1966 $2,173 - - -
1965 $2,024 - - -
1964 $1,891 - - -
1963 $1,723 - - -
1962 $1,554 - - -
1961 $1,402 - - -
1960 $1,307 - - -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

France's GDP per capita is $48,986, ranking 27/197, compared to $50,274 in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 25/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), France ranks 30th at $62,557, while the United Arab Emirates ranks 16th at $79,229.

Economic indicators

France UAE
Gross domestic product
$3.37T
2025
$552B
2024
GDP rank
7/197
2025
31/197
2024
GDP growth
0.84%
2024-2025
3.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$48,986
2025
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank
27/197
2025
25/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$62,557
2024
$79,229
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
30/197
2024
16/197
2024
Government debt
$3.9T
2025
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
116%
2025
34.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$56,819
2025
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank
8/185
2025
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$35,062
2026
$40,096
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.37T
2018
$1.11T
2025
Number of millionaires
2,388,000
2026
183,000
2026
Number of billionaires
51
2026
6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
25%
2023
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2023
2.8%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
57.5%
2025
22.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.94%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
3.65%
2025
Unemployment rate
7.7%
2025
1.88%
2024
Population
68871753
11885001

Spending and national debt comparison by year

France
Spending

Debt
United Arab Emirates
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
France UAE
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 57.5% 116% 22.6% 34.3%
2024 57.3% 113.2% 21.4% 34.9%
2023 56.8% 109.6% 22.7% 31.9%
2022 58.4% 111.4% 22.7% 31.5%
2021 59.5% 112.8% 25.9% 35.7%
2020 61.7% 114.9% 30.5% 30.1%
2019 55.3% 98.2% 27.4% 25.8%
2018 56.4% 98.5% 25.9% 20.7%
2017 57.7% 98.8% 27.2% 21.2%
2016 57.4% 98.1% 31.7% 18.6%
2015 57.6% 97% 26.4% 15.6%
2014 58.4% 96.2% 31.4% 13.5%
2013 58.6% 94.6% 28.9% 15.3%
2012 57.9% 91.7% 27.8% 20.2%
2011 57% 88.7% 29.6% 20.4%
2010 57.7% 86.3% 30.4% 18.3%
2009 58% 84.1% 35% 21.1%
2008 54.3% 69.8% 22% 8.95%
2007 53.6% 65.5% 17.7% 8.89%
2006 53.7% 65.4% 15.6% 5.05%
2005 54.3% 68.2% 15.7% 4.48%
2004 54% 66.9% 17.7% 4.08%
2003 54.4% 65.4% 20% 3.33%
2002 53.9% 61.3% 21.3% 3.43%
2001 52.8% 59.3% 25.2% 2.69%
2000 52.6% 59.7% 21.8% 3.12%
1999 53.7% 61.4% 24.3% 4.73%
1998 54% 62.1% 25.8% 4.18%
1997 55.6% 62% 22.6% 2.86%
1996 56% 60.6% 27.6% 3.48%
1995 56% 57.8% 26.1% 5.06%
1994 55.9% 51.6% 30.1% 5.58%
1993 56.5% 48.2% 31.5% 6.01%
1992 54% 41.7% 29.6% 5.31%
1991 52.7% 37.8% 36% 4.97%
1990 51.6% 36.8% - -
1989 48.9% 34% - -
1988 50.1% 33.3% - -
1987 50.7% 33.4% - -
1986 51.3% 31.1% - -
1985 51.9% 30.6% - -
1984 51.2% 29% - -
1983 50.2% 26.6% - -
1982 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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1998, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, France's government spending was $1.93T, accounting for 57.5% of its GDP, while the United Arab Emirates spent $118B, or 22.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 116% in France and 34.3% in the United Arab Emirates, ranking 13/185 and 146/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
France

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
France UAE
2025 -5.11% 5.15%
2024 -5.79% 6.41%
2023 -5.44% 5.82%
2022 -4.74% 9.8%
2021 -6.58% 3.96%
2020 -8.93% -2.42%
2019 -2.39% 2.5%
2018 -2.32% 3.65%
2017 -3.36% -0.16%
2016 -3.76% -2.95%
2015 -3.89% -6.35%
2014 -4.57% 1.74%
2013 -4.94% 7.99%
2012 -5.17% 8.59%
2011 -5.3% 5.05%
2010 -7.16% 0.52%
2009 -7.38% -6.13%
2008 -3.5% 17.6%
2007 -2.99% 17.1%
2006 -2.66% 20.2%
2005 -3.5% 16%
2004 -3.55% 6.4%
2003 -4.09% 2.35%
2002 -3.18% -1.24%
2001 -1.42% 1.21%
2000 -1.32% 10.7%
1999 -1.55% 1.31%
1998 -2.39% 1%
1997 -3.71% 6.71%
1996 -3.89% 0.92%
1995 -5.11% 3.58%
1994 -5.46% -1.78%
1993 -6.4% -2.89%
1992 -4.64% 3.34%
1991 -2.89% 3.89%
1990 -2.45% -
1989 -1.9% -
1988 -2.7% -
1987 -2.13% -
1986 -3.3% -
1985 -3.08% -
1984 -2.8% -
1983 -2.58% -
1982 -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 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, France's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $183B, equivalent to 5.79% of GDP. This compares to the United Arab Emirates' surplus of $35.4B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, France recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while the United Arab Emirates ran a deficit in 8 years. On average, France posted an annual deficit equal to 4.23% of GDP, compared to surplus of 4.25% of GDP for the United Arab Emirates.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
France

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
France UAE
2025 0.94% 1.3%
2024 2% 1.7%
2023 4.88% 1.6%
2022 5.22% 4.8%
2021 1.64% -0.1%
2020 0.48% -2.1%
2019 1.11% -1.9%
2018 1.85% 3.1%
2017 1.03% 2%
2016 0.18% 1.6%
2015 0.04% 4.1%
2014 0.51% 2.3%
2013 0.86% 1.1%
2012 1.95% 0.7%
2011 2.11% 0.9%
2010 1.53% 0.9%
2009 0.09% -4.7%
2008 2.81% 12.3%
2007 1.49% 11.1%
2006 1.68% 9.3%
2005 1.75% 6.2%
2004 2.14% 5%
2003 2.1% 3.1%
2002 1.92% 2.9%
2001 1.63% 2.8%
2000 1.68% 1.3%
1999 0.54% 2.1%
1998 0.65% 2%
1997 1.2% 3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, France has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.59%, compared with 2.7% in the United Arab Emirates. In 2025, inflation was 0.94% in France and 1.3% in the United Arab Emirates.

Top exports between countries

France
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $6.24B
Chemicals & pharma $1.83B
Textiles & consumer goods $1.15B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $498M
Precious metals & jewellery $408M
Metals $205M
Animal & marine products $151M
Raw materials & minerals $104M
Raw agricultural goods $47.7M
Wood & paper products $41.8M
UAE
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1.13B
Precious metals & jewellery $809M
Textiles & consumer goods $146M
Metals $118M
Chemicals & pharma $113M
Raw materials & minerals $57.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $44.4M
Wood & paper products $43.3M
Animal & marine products $9.78M
Raw agricultural goods $8.27M

Balance of trade

France UAE
Current account balance
-$9.24B
2025
$80B
2024
Current account balance ranking
173/190
2025
9/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-0.27%
2025
+14.5%
2024
Goods imports
$770B
2025
$400B
2024
Goods exports
$704B
2025
$467B
2024
Service imports
$370B
2025
$117B
2024
Service exports
$429B
2025
$181B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
33.8%
2025
92.2%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
33.4%
2025
106.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

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

France UAE
Economic freedom 64.6 71.9
Economic freedom ranking 72/197 29/197
Property rights 91.2 62.9
Government integrity 73.4 65.3
Judicial effectiveness 84.7 34.4
Tax burden 54.6 99.9
Government spending 0.9 85.1
Fiscal health 34.8 97.6
Business freedom 78.4 84.5
Labor freedom 59.1 63.2
Monetary freedom 73.2 81.2
Trade freedom 79.4 78.6
Investment freedom 75 50
Financial freedom 70 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

France
United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Economic freedom index
France UAE
2026 64.6 71.9
2025 64.4 71.6
2024 62.5 71.1
2023 63.6 70.9
2022 65.9 70.2
2021 65.7 76.9
2020 66 76.2
2019 63.8 77.6
2018 63.9 77.6
2017 63.3 76.9
2016 62.3 72.6
2015 62.5 72.4
2014 63.5 71.4
2013 64.1 71.1
2012 63.2 69.3
2011 64.6 67.8
2010 64.2 67.3
2009 63.3 64.7
2008 64.7 62.6
2007 62.1 62.6
2006 61.1 62.2
2005 60.5 65.2
2004 60.9 67.2
2003 59.2 73.4
2002 58 73.6
2001 58 74.9
2000 57.4 74.2
1999 59.1 71.5
1998 58.9 72.2
1997 59.1 71.9
1996 63.7 71.6
1995 64.4 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/france/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for France is 64.6, ranking 72/197, compared to 71.9 for the United Arab Emirates, ranking 29/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

France UAE
Services, % of GDP
70.9%
2025
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
16.8%
2025
44.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.4%
2025
0.77%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$3.34T
2025
$566B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$65,110
2025
$81,640
2024
Total reserves including gold
$428B
2025
$292B
2025
Total reserves ranking
12/177
2025
14/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$7.24B
2025
$31.5B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$52.1B
2024
$45.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$41.7B
2024
$77.2B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
15.6%
2021
19.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.9%
2025
26.6%
2023

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).

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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 (1880–1998, 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 (2024–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.