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Economy of Japan vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a GDP of $4.03T compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 4/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.51T in government debt (236.1% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

Japan vs Singapore GDP by year

Japan
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Singapore
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 $547,386,645,892
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 $505,439,514,078
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 $509,017,841,147
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 $436,591,382,250
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 $349,165,858,545
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 $376,161,998,830
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 $377,123,710,561
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 $343,673,334,902
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 $319,646,468,521
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $307,998,545,269
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $314,863,580,758
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $307,576,360,585
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $295,092,888,077
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $279,356,499,090
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $239,807,980,591
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $194,150,283,772
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $193,617,323,539
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 $180,941,701,358
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 $148,627,286,361
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 $127,807,848,728
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 $115,033,593,101
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 $97,646,401,096
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 $92,538,372,870
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 $89,793,790,670
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 $96,076,539,926
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 $86,286,849,755
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 $85,728,207,782
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 $100,123,787,215
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 $96,293,086,513
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 $87,812,540,788
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 $73,688,724,431
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 $60,603,815,716
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 $52,131,320,033
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 $45,466,164,978
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 $36,144,336,769
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 $30,465,364,739
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 $25,371,462,488
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 $20,919,215,578
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 $18,586,746,057
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 $19,156,532,746
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 $19,749,361,098
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 $17,784,112,150
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 $16,084,252,378
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 $14,175,228,844
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 $11,896,256,783
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 $9,296,921,724
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 $7,517,176,355
1977 $737,069,290,928 $6,618,585,074
1976 $598,883,902,156 $6,327,077,974
1975 $532,861,438,885 $5,633,673,930
1974 $490,035,789,970 $5,221,534,956
1973 $441,460,582,536 $3,696,213,333
1972 $324,933,841,269 $2,721,440,981
1971 $245,364,056,622 $2,263,785,444
1970 $217,223,652,719 $1,920,574,150
1969 $184,298,841,305 $1,659,893,768
1968 $156,897,496,759 $1,425,706,091
1967 $132,475,614,227 $1,238,035,816
1966 $113,046,784,179 $1,096,425,608
1965 $97,338,107,606 $974,644,096
1964 $87,490,590,818 $894,153,311
1963 $74,379,284,603 $917,608,012
1962 $64,987,857,542 $826,239,212
1961 $57,266,758,180 $764,629,788
1960 $47,419,238,274 $704,751,700

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

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

GDP per capita in Japan vs Singapore by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $32,487 $52,039 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $33,836 $50,662 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $34,066 $47,192 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $40,095 $44,355 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $40,029 $42,426 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $40,416 $42,678 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $39,751 $42,142 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $38,834 $41,444 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $39,375 $40,597 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $34,961 $40,899 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $38,475 $39,555 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $40,899 $39,402 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $49,145 $37,606 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $48,760 $36,214 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $44,968 $35,336 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $41,309 $33,543 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $39,876 $35,274 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $35,779 $35,015 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $35,992 $33,632 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $37,813 $32,170 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $38,299 $30,832 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $35,387 $29,392 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $32,821 $28,624 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $34,406 $27,943 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $39,169 $27,288 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $36,610 $25,736 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $32,424 $25,508 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $35,638 $25,619 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $39,150 $24,999 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $44,198 $23,858 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $39,934 $22,823 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $36,345 $22,168 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $31,993 $21,825 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $29,428 $21,227 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $25,801 $19,912 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $25,266 - $10,395 -
1988 $25,500 - $8,914 -
1987 $21,142 - $7,539 -
1986 $17,452 - $6,800 -
1985 $11,809 - $7,002 -
1984 $11,207 - $7,228 -
1983 $10,652 - $6,633 -
1982 $9,780 - $6,078 -
1981 $10,583 - $5,597 -
1980 $9,669 - $4,928 -
1979 $9,301 - $3,901 -
1978 $9,012 - $3,194 -
1977 $6,473 - $2,846 -
1976 $5,310 - $2,759 -
1975 $4,776 - $2,490 -
1974 $4,448 - $2,342 -
1973 $4,061 - $1,685 -
1972 $3,031 - $1,264 -
1971 $2,321 - $1,071 -
1970 $2,101 - $926 -
1969 $1,803 - $813 -
1968 $1,553 - $709 -
1967 $1,326 - $626 -
1966 $1,144 - $567 -
1965 $994 - $517 -
1964 $903 - $486 -
1963 $776 - $511 -
1962 $685 - $472 -
1961 $609 - $449 -
1960 $509 - $428 -

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

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

Japan's GDP per capita is $32,487, ranking 38/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

Japan Singapore
Gross domestic product
$4.03T
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
4/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
0.1%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
38/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.31T
2024
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires
2,732,000
2025
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires
42
2025
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.74%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
2.74%
2024
Population
122677250
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 39.1% 236.1% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 39.2% 240.5% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 41.8% 248.2% 15% 154.3%
2021 42.5% 253.7% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 44.5% 258.4% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 37.3% 236.4% 14% 127.9%
2018 36.7% 232.4% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 36.7% 231.3% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 37.2% 232.4% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 37.3% 228.3% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 38.4% 233.3% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 38.8% 229.5% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 38.6% 226.1% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 38.6% 219.2% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 37.7% 205.9% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 38.7% 198.8% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 34.1% 180.9% 14% 97.9%
2007 33.1% 173% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 33.1% 174.1% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 33.5% 174.6% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 33.7% 169.5% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 35% 160% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 35.4% 154.1% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 35.2% 145.1% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 36% 135.6% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 35.6% 129.5% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 38.6% 116% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 33.1% 105% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 33.8% 98.1% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 33.4% 92.5% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 32.8% 84.4% 11.7% 70.7%
1993 32.1% 72.8% 14.5% 71.2%
1992 30.3% 66.8% 14.5% 79%
1991 29.3% 62.4% 15.9% 76.4%
1990 29.5% 63.2% 15.1% 73.5%
1989 29.2% 65.7% - -
1988 29.9% 71.9% - -
1987 30.6% 75.8% - -
1986 30.4% 74.1% - -
1985 30.4% 68.3% - -
1984 31.2% 65.6% - -
1983 31.8% 63.5% - -
1982 31.7% 57.7% - -
1981 31.5% 52.8% - -
1980 33.5% 47.8% - -
1979 33.2% 43.8% - -
1978 32.1% 39% - -
1977 30.4% 31.1% - -
1976 29.1% 26.1% - -
1975 28.5% 20.9% - -
1974 25.5% 16.7% - -
1973 23.3% 15.9% - -
1972 23.1% 16.3% - -
1971 21.8% 12.6% - -
1970 20.2% 11.2% - -
1969 19.8% 11.4% - -
1968 20.1% 11.8% - -
1967 19.9% 11.4% - -
1966 20.8% 11.2% - -
1965 20.4% 9.78% - -
1964 19.8% 8.53% - -
1963 20% 8.66% - -
1962 19.4% 9.01% - -
1961 18.2% 8.44% - -
1960 18.4% 10.4% - -

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/japan/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, Japan's government spending was $1.57T, accounting for 39.1% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 236.1% in Japan and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 3/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Singapore
2024 -1.53% 4.44%
2023 -2.26% 3.47%
2022 -4.21% 1.21%
2021 -6.13% 1.13%
2020 -9.08% -6.73%
2019 -3.04% 3.77%
2018 -2.47% 3.68%
2017 -3.1% 5.24%
2016 -3.6% 3.25%
2015 -3.68% 2.86%
2014 -5.62% 4.6%
2013 -7.61% 5.96%
2012 -8.2% 7.34%
2011 -8.99% 7.96%
2010 -9.08% 5.68%
2009 -9.69% -0.09%
2008 -4.11% 3.59%
2007 -2.9% 7.12%
2006 -3.03% 2.16%
2005 -4.44% 2.56%
2004 -5.31% 2.06%
2003 -7.43% 0.68%
2002 -7.34% 2.23%
2001 -6.2% 1.2%
2000 -7.28% 4.59%
1999 -6.75% 5.2%
1998 -10% 2.41%
1997 -3.53% 5.66%
1996 -4.87% 1.98%
1995 -4.3% 4.8%
1994 -3.76% 7.9%
1993 -2.39% 4.36%
1992 0.57% 2.7%
1991 1.67% 0.68%
1990 1.96% 1.97%
1989 1.23% -
1988 0.49% -
1987 -0.36% -
1986 -1.36% -
1985 -1.37% -
1984 -2.62% -
1983 -3.95% -
1982 -3.81% -
1981 -3.85% -
1980 -4.66% -
1979 -5% -
1978 -5.79% -
1977 -4.02% -
1976 -3.89% -
1975 -2.92% -
1974 0.38% -
1973 0.56% -
1972 -0.13% -
1971 1.21% -
1970 1.74% -
1969 1.26% -
1968 0.88% -
1967 0.8% -
1966 -0.34% -
1965 0.48% -
1964 0.85% -
1963 1.08% -
1962 1.49% -
1961 2.58% -
1960 1.85% -
1959 0.97% -
1958 -0.1% -
1957 1.27% -
1956 1.39% -
1955 -0.67% -
1954 0.7% -
1953 1.65% -
1952 2.22% -
1951 5.06% -
1950 6.99% -
1949 12.5% -
1948 7.53% -
1947 6.09% -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 0.32% -
1942 -0.13% -
1941 -0.19% -
1940 0.31% -
1939 0.11% -
1938 0.45% -
1937 0.71% -
1936 0.34% -
1935 0.26% -
1934 0.34% -
1933 0.28% -
1932 0.31% -
1931 0.23% -
1930 0.19% -
1929 0.5% -
1928 0.42% -
1927 0.58% -
1926 0.65% -
1925 0.75% -
1924 0.84% -
1923 0.87% -
1922 0.89% -
1921 1.43% -
1920 1.19% -
1919 1.21% -
1918 1.58% -
1917 1.54% -
1916 1.37% -
1915 1.41% -
1914 1.31% -
1913 1.21% -
1912 1.27% -
1911 1.21% -
1910 1.57% -
1909 1.51% -
1908 1.63% -
1907 1.77% -
1906 0.46% -
1905 -0.68% -
1904 -0.81% -
1903 0.19% -
1902 0.44% -
1901 0.21% -
1900 0.53% -
1899 0.2% -
1898 0.6% -
1897 0.33% -
1896 0.88% -
1895 0.28% -
1894 -0.24% -
1893 0.6% -
1892 0.63% -
1891 0.61% -
1890 0.74% -
1889 0.18% -
1888 0.13% -
1887 0.11% -
1886 0.03% -
1885 0.01% -
1884 0.001% -
1883 0.03% -
1882 0.001% -
1881 0.001% -
1880 0.004% -
1879 0.02% -
1878 0.02% -
1877 -0.29% -
1876 -0.42% -
1875 0.005% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $61.6B, equivalent to 1.53% of GDP. This compares to Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 32 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 4.79% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Singapore
2024 2.74% 2.39%
2023 3.27% 4.83%
2022 2.5% 6.13%
2021 -0.23% 2.32%
2020 -0.02% -0.17%
2019 0.47% 0.57%
2018 0.99% 0.44%
2017 0.48% 0.58%
2016 -0.13% -0.53%
2015 0.8% -0.52%
2014 2.76% 1.03%
2013 0.34% 2.36%
2012 -0.04% 4.58%
2011 -0.27% 5.25%
2010 -0.73% 2.83%
2009 -1.35% 0.59%
2008 1.38% 6.64%
2007 0.06% 2.11%
2006 0.25% 0.97%
2005 -0.28% 0.43%
2004 -0.009% 1.66%
2003 -0.26% 0.51%
2002 -0.92% -0.39%
2001 -0.74% 1%
2000 -0.68% 1.36%
1999 -0.34% 0.02%
1998 0.66% -0.27%
1997 1.75% 2%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.44%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 2.74% in Japan and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $8.62B
Business & finance services $7.49B
Miscellaneous $4.08B
Transport & tourism services $3.36B
Precious metals & jewellery $2.31B
Chemicals & pharma $1.84B
Manufacturing & construction services $1.64B
IT & IP services $1.3B
Raw materials & minerals $1.19B
Metals $719M
Singapore
Export category Export value
Government & miscellaneous services $14.5B
Machinery & equipment $12.6B
Transport & tourism services $5.21B
Business & finance services $3.91B
IT & IP services $3.46B
Chemicals & pharma $1.93B
Miscellaneous $694M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $692M
Manufacturing & construction services $502M
Raw materials & minerals $491M

Balance of trade

Japan Singapore
Current account balance
$194B
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.82%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$719B
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$694B
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$246B
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$228B
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.8%
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.

Japan Singapore
Economic freedom 70.3 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 1/197
Property rights 94.2 89.2
Government integrity 81.1 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 97.9 58.3
Tax burden 63 89.5
Government spending 52 93.4
Fiscal health 41.7 80
Business freedom 77.8 90.6
Labor freedom 65.9 77
Monetary freedom 74.3 83.5
Trade freedom 76.2 95
Investment freedom 60 90
Financial freedom 60 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Japan
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Japan Singapore
2026 70.3 84.4
2025 70.2 84.1
2024 67.5 83.5
2023 69.3 83.9
2022 69.9 84.4
2021 74.1 89.7
2020 73.3 89.4
2019 72.1 89.4
2018 72.3 88.8
2017 69.6 88.6
2016 73.1 87.8
2015 73.3 89.4
2014 72.4 89.4
2013 71.8 88
2012 71.6 87.5
2011 72.8 87.2
2010 72.9 86.1
2009 72.8 87.1
2008 73 87.3
2007 72.7 87.1
2006 73.3 88
2005 67.3 88.6
2004 64.3 88.9
2003 67.6 88.2
2002 66.7 87.4
2001 70.9 87.8
2000 70.7 87.7
1999 69.1 86.9
1998 70.2 87
1997 70.3 87.3
1996 72.6 86.5
1995 75 86.3

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Japan is 70.3, ranking 36/197, 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

Japan Singapore
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.94%
2023
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$55,490
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
2/177
2024
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$191B
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$16.2B
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$203B
2024
$55.3B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.2%
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).

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

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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 (1875–1989, 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 (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.