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Economy of Italy vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a GDP of $2.38T compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 8/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

Italy has $3.22T in government debt (135.3% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

Italy vs Singapore GDP by year

Italy
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Italy Singapore
2024 $2,380,825,077,244 $547,386,645,892
2023 $2,316,727,999,333 $505,439,514,078
2022 $2,104,067,630,319 $509,017,841,147
2021 $2,179,207,773,596 $436,591,382,250
2020 $1,907,481,094,079 $349,165,858,545
2019 $2,019,606,796,584 $376,161,998,830
2018 $2,099,435,266,459 $377,123,710,561
2017 $1,970,720,904,585 $343,673,334,902
2016 $1,887,111,188,177 $319,646,468,521
2015 $1,845,428,048,839 $307,998,545,269
2014 $2,173,255,507,986 $314,863,580,758
2013 $2,153,225,581,941 $307,576,360,585
2012 $2,097,929,495,122 $295,092,888,077
2011 $2,306,974,020,278 $279,356,499,090
2010 $2,144,936,254,535 $239,807,980,591
2009 $2,209,484,319,013 $194,150,283,772
2008 $2,417,508,414,187 $193,617,323,539
2007 $2,222,524,108,128 $180,941,701,358
2006 $1,958,563,654,386 $148,627,286,361
2005 $1,864,982,261,287 $127,807,848,728
2004 $1,812,808,753,295 $115,033,593,101
2003 $1,582,930,016,539 $97,646,401,096
2002 $1,281,746,271,196 $92,538,372,870
2001 $1,172,041,488,806 $89,793,790,670
2000 $1,149,661,363,439 $96,076,539,926
1999 $1,255,004,736,464 $86,286,849,755
1998 $1,272,729,786,997 $85,728,207,782
1997 $1,244,988,176,444 $100,123,787,215
1996 $1,314,776,508,972 $96,293,086,513
1995 $1,177,369,428,266 $87,812,540,788
1994 $1,101,750,159,702 $73,688,724,431
1993 $1,067,412,587,671 $60,603,815,716
1992 $1,323,204,350,354 $52,131,320,033
1991 $1,249,092,439,519 $45,466,164,978
1990 $1,183,945,130,899 $36,144,336,769
1989 $930,801,709,004 $30,465,364,739
1988 $893,663,934,841 $25,371,462,488
1987 $807,570,134,449 $20,919,215,578
1986 $641,862,313,287 $18,586,746,057
1985 $453,259,761,687 $19,156,532,746
1984 $438,896,930,791 $19,749,361,098
1983 $444,063,496,940 $17,784,112,150
1982 $428,257,421,618 $16,084,252,378
1981 $431,695,533,981 $14,175,228,844
1980 $478,356,755,596 $11,896,256,783
1979 $394,584,507,108 $9,296,921,724
1978 $315,784,469,541 $7,517,176,355
1977 $258,190,019,750 $6,618,585,074
1976 $225,235,205,862 $6,327,077,974
1975 $228,220,643,535 $5,633,673,930
1974 $200,024,444,775 $5,221,534,956
1973 $175,896,529,392 $3,696,213,333
1972 $145,594,833,997 $2,721,440,981
1971 $124,959,712,859 $2,263,785,444
1970 $113,656,669,765 $1,920,574,150
1969 $100,996,667,239 $1,659,893,768
1968 $91,485,448,148 $1,425,706,091
1967 $84,401,995,573 $1,238,035,816
1966 $76,622,444,787 $1,096,425,608
1965 $70,717,012,186 $974,644,096
1964 $65,720,771,779 $894,153,311
1963 $60,035,924,618 $917,608,012
1962 $52,413,872,628 $826,239,212
1961 $46,649,487,320 $764,629,788
1960 $42,012,422,612 $704,751,700

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

GeoRank.org/economy/italy/singapore | CC BY

GDP per capita in Italy vs Singapore by year

Italy
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Italy Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $40,385 $62,014 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $39,277 $60,030 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $35,654 $57,261 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $36,853 $49,825 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $32,091 $44,436 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $33,813 $46,662 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $34,904 $43,387 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $32,844 $42,142 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $31,392 $40,483 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $30,640 $37,384 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $36,028 $36,666 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $35,702 $36,459 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $34,854 $36,281 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $38,432 $36,392 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $35,857 $34,974 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $37,100 $34,502 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $40,829 $35,422 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $37,826 $34,108 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $33,537 $32,454 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $32,063 $30,138 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $31,348 $29,581 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $27,578 $29,249 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $22,451 $28,833 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $20,570 $28,134 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $20,190 $27,152 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $22,050 $25,655 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $22,365 $25,075 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $21,884 $23,937 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $23,123 $23,101 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $20,712 $22,446 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $19,382 $21,369 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $18,782 $20,485 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $23,297 $20,196 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $22,007 $19,596 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $20,874 $18,680 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $16,424 - $10,395 -
1988 $15,781 - $8,914 -
1987 $14,268 - $7,539 -
1986 $11,341 - $6,800 -
1985 $8,009 - $7,002 -
1984 $7,758 - $7,228 -
1983 $7,851 - $6,633 -
1982 $7,574 - $6,078 -
1981 $7,640 - $5,597 -
1980 $8,476 - $4,928 -
1979 $7,006 - $3,901 -
1978 $5,623 - $3,194 -
1977 $4,614 - $2,846 -
1976 $4,042 - $2,759 -
1975 $4,116 - $2,490 -
1974 $3,629 - $2,342 -
1973 $3,213 - $1,685 -
1972 $2,677 - $1,264 -
1971 $2,311 - $1,071 -
1970 $2,112 - $926 -
1969 $1,886 - $813 -
1968 $1,718 - $709 -
1967 $1,595 - $626 -
1966 $1,459 - $567 -
1965 $1,357 - $517 -
1964 $1,272 - $486 -
1963 $1,171 - $511 -
1962 $1,030 - $472 -
1961 $923 - $449 -
1960 $837 - $428 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/italy/singapore | CC BY

Italy's GDP per capita is $40,385, ranking 29/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Italy ranks 31st at $62,014, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Italy Singapore
Gross domestic product
$2.38T
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
8/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
0.69%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$40,385
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
29/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$62,014
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
31/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$3.22T
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
135.3%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$54,652
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
6/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,800
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$587B
2014
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires
1,344,000
2025
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires
74
2025
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.6%
2024
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.98%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
6.5%
2024
2.74%
2024
Population
58562681
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Italy
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Italy Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 50.6% 135.3% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 54% 134.6% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 54.9% 138.3% 15% 154.3%
2021 56% 145.8% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 56.8% 154.4% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 48.4% 133.9% 14% 127.9%
2018 48.3% 134.2% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 48.8% 133.7% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 49% 134.2% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 50.2% 134.8% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 50.7% 134.8% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 50.9% 131.9% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 50.5% 125.9% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 49% 119.1% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 49.8% 118.8% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 51.1% 116.1% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 47.8% 105.8% 14% 97.9%
2007 46.6% 103.5% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 47.6% 106.3% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 47.1% 106.2% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 46.7% 104.7% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 47% 105.1% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 46.5% 105.9% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 47.1% 108.5% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 46.4% 108.7% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 47.1% 113.1% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 48% 113.9% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 49.3% 116.5% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 51.3% 118.9% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 51.4% 119.1% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 55.1% 130.8% 11.7% 70.7%
1993 57.8% 124.1% 14.5% 71.2%
1992 56.8% 113% 14.5% 79%
1991 55.3% 105.3% 15.9% 76.4%
1990 54.2% 101.7% 15.1% 73.5%
1989 51.6% 91.8% - -
1988 50.4% 89.2% - -
1987 49.8% 87.4% - -
1986 50.5% 83.4% - -
1985 49.8% 79.1% - -
1984 49.1% 73.1% - -
1983 48.9% 67.8% - -
1982 46.7% 61.8% - -
1981 44.6% 57.3% - -
1980 40.8% 55.1% - -
1979 40.1% 58.9% - -
1978 40.9% 59.9% - -
1977 38.5% 56% - -
1976 38.1% 57.3% - -
1975 39.1% 57.9% - -
1974 34.8% 50.8% - -
1973 35.3% 51.1% - -
1972 36.4% 48.2% - -
1971 34.4% 42.4% - -
1970 32.3% 37.8% - -
1969 32.1% 37% - -
1968 32.6% 36.4% - -
1967 17.9% 33.3% - -
1966 19.1% 33.4% - -
1965 18.6% 28.4% - -
1964 18.2% 27.2% - -
1963 16.7% 27.2% - -
1962 17.5% 29% - -
1961 17.3% 30% - -
1960 16.5% 31.4% - -

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/italy/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Italy's government spending was $1.2T, accounting for 50.6% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 135.3% in Italy and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 8/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Italy

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Italy Singapore
2024 -3.45% 4.44%
2023 -7.24% 3.47%
2022 -8.11% 1.21%
2021 -8.88% 1.13%
2020 -9.38% -6.73%
2019 -1.45% 3.77%
2018 -2.19% 3.68%
2017 -2.51% 5.24%
2016 -2.4% 3.25%
2015 -2.46% 2.86%
2014 -2.82% 4.6%
2013 -2.87% 5.96%
2012 -2.99% 7.34%
2011 -3.52% 7.96%
2010 -4.16% 5.68%
2009 -5.06% -0.09%
2008 -2.58% 3.59%
2007 -1.33% 7.12%
2006 -3.61% 2.16%
2005 -4.1% 2.56%
2004 -3.46% 2.06%
2003 -3.23% 0.68%
2002 -2.88% 2.23%
2001 -3.18% 1.2%
2000 -2.42% 4.59%
1999 -1.77% 5.2%
1998 -2.99% 2.41%
1997 -2.98% 5.66%
1996 -6.61% 1.98%
1995 -7.2% 4.8%
1994 -8.84% 7.9%
1993 -9.76% 4.36%
1992 -10.1% 2.7%
1991 -11.1% 0.68%
1990 -11.1% 1.97%
1989 -11.4% -
1988 -11% -
1987 -11.5% -
1986 -12% -
1985 -12.4% -
1984 -11.5% -
1983 -10.1% -
1982 -10% -
1981 -10.9% -
1980 -6.97% -
1979 -8.23% -
1978 -8.47% -
1977 -6.96% -
1976 -7.88% -
1975 -10.3% -
1974 -6.24% -
1973 -6.36% -
1972 -6.84% -
1971 -4.71% -
1970 -3.22% -
1969 -2.85% -
1968 -2.55% -
1967 -0.97% -
1966 -1.59% -
1965 -2.67% -
1964 -2.35% -
1963 -0.3% -
1962 -0.95% -
1961 -0.57% -
1960 -0.28% -
1959 -1% -
1958 -0.98% -
1957 -1.09% -
1956 -1.46% -
1955 -2.03% -
1954 -1.84% -
1953 -2.33% -
1952 -4.08% -
1951 -3.86% -
1950 -2.42% -
1949 -2.82% -
1948 -4.58% -
1947 -6.62% -
1946 -9.82% -
1945 -16.9% -
1944 -35.1% -
1943 -16.1% -
1942 -26.9% -
1941 -25.1% -
1940 -24.3% -
1939 -9.49% -
1938 -5.97% -
1937 -5.78% -
1936 -7.93% -
1935 -9.83% -
1934 -2.5% -
1933 -4.85% -
1932 -3.06% -
1931 -2.14% -
1930 -0.55% -
1929 -0.59% -
1928 -2.09% -
1927 -1.71% -
1926 -0.09% -
1925 1.7% -
1924 1.19% -
1923 -3.21% -
1922 -11% -
1921 -7.77% -
1920 -5.89% -
1919 -11.2% -
1918 -22.7% -
1917 -27.6% -
1916 -28.2% -
1915 -25.8% -
1914 -12.4% -
1913 -0.86% -
1912 -1.86% -
1911 -0.63% -
1910 -0.32% -
1909 -0.69% -
1908 -1.31% -
1907 -0.51% -
1906 -0.69% -
1905 -1.57% -
1904 0.58% -
1903 0.32% -
1902 0.48% -
1901 0.36% -
1900 0.28% -
1899 -0.11% -
1898 -0.21% -
1897 0.009% -
1896 -0.43% -
1895 -0.69% -
1894 -0.23% -
1893 -0.49% -
1892 -0.25% -
1891 -1.41% -
1890 -0.32% -
1889 -1.32% -
1888 -2.11% -
1887 -1.94% -
1886 -0.5% -
1885 0.2% -
1884 -1.46% -
1883 -0.51% -
1882 -0.5% -
1881 -0.04% -
1880 0.38% -
1879 0.73% -
1878 0.09% -
1877 -0.009% -
1876 -0.05% -
1875 0.58% -
1874 -0.08% -
1873 0.21% -
1872 0% -
1871 -0.13% -
1870 -0.82% -
1869 0.33% -
1868 -0.79% -
1867 -1.45% -
1866 -3.1% -
1865 -2.72% -
1864 -3.06% -
1863 -4.16% -
1862 -3.96% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1862–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/italy/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Italy's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $82B, equivalent to 3.45% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Italy recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Italy posted an annual deficit equal to 4.82% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Italy

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Italy Singapore
2024 0.98% 2.39%
2023 5.62% 4.83%
2022 8.2% 6.13%
2021 1.87% 2.32%
2020 -0.14% -0.17%
2019 0.61% 0.57%
2018 1.14% 0.44%
2017 1.23% 0.58%
2016 -0.09% -0.53%
2015 0.04% -0.52%
2014 0.24% 1.03%
2013 1.22% 2.36%
2012 3.04% 4.58%
2011 2.78% 5.25%
2010 1.53% 2.83%
2009 0.77% 0.59%
2008 3.35% 6.64%
2007 1.83% 2.11%
2006 2.09% 0.97%
2005 1.99% 0.43%
2004 2.21% 1.66%
2003 2.67% 0.51%
2002 2.47% -0.39%
2001 2.79% 1%
2000 2.54% 1.36%
1999 1.66% 0.02%
1998 1.96% -0.27%
1997 2.04% 2%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/italy/singapore | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Italy has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.02%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 0.98% in Italy and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Italy
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $2.07B
Business & finance services $628M
Chemicals & pharma $543M
Textiles & consumer goods $399M
Transport & tourism services $237M
Metals $137M
IT & IP services $136M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $130M
Precious metals & jewellery $100M
Raw materials & minerals $69M
Singapore
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $580M
Chemicals & pharma $255M
Precious metals & jewellery $143M
Miscellaneous $108M
Textiles & consumer goods $88.7M
Metals $18.2M
Animal & marine products $13.3M
Wood & paper products $8.02M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4.05M
Raw materials & minerals $3.88M

Balance of trade

Italy Singapore
Current account balance
$25.8B
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
19/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+1.08%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$562B
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$621B
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$160B
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$155B
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
30.3%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
32.5%
2024
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Italy Singapore
Economic freedom 63.3 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 80/197 1/197
Property rights 84.8 89.2
Government integrity 60.8 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 80.9 58.3
Tax burden 57.5 89.5
Government spending 15.3 93.4
Fiscal health 17.2 80
Business freedom 74.5 90.6
Labor freedom 70.6 77
Monetary freedom 79.1 83.5
Trade freedom 79.4 95
Investment freedom 80 90
Financial freedom 60 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Italy
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Italy Singapore
2026 63.3 84.4
2025 60.9 84.1
2024 60.1 83.5
2023 62.3 83.9
2022 65.4 84.4
2021 64.9 89.7
2020 63.8 89.4
2019 62.2 89.4
2018 62.5 88.8
2017 62.5 88.6
2016 61.2 87.8
2015 61.7 89.4
2014 60.9 89.4
2013 60.6 88
2012 58.8 87.5
2011 60.3 87.2
2010 62.7 86.1
2009 61.4 87.1
2008 62.6 87.3
2007 62.8 87.1
2006 62 88
2005 64.9 88.6
2004 64.2 88.9
2003 64.3 88.2
2002 63.6 87.4
2001 63 87.8
2000 61.9 87.7
1999 61.6 86.9
1998 59.1 87
1997 58.1 87.3
1996 60.8 86.5
1995 61.2 86.3

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

GeoRank.org/economy/italy/singapore | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Italy is 63.3, ranking 80/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Italy Singapore
Services, % of GDP
65%
2024
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2%
2024
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.28T
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$61,620
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$291B
2024
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
12/177
2024
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$19B
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$26.9B
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$45.9B
2024
$55.3B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.1%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.6%
2024
22.2%
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) | Public Finances in Modern History (1862–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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 (2022–2024, 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.

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.