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Economy of Japan vs Taiwan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Japan has a GDP of $4.44T compared to $802B for Taiwan, ranking 4/197 and 22/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.16T in government debt (206.5% of GDP), compared to $215B (22.4% of GDP) in Taiwan.

Japan vs Taiwan GDP by year

Japan
Taiwan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Taiwan
2025 $4,435,162,999,977 -
2024 $4,190,008,188,359 $801,529,000,000
2023 $4,384,854,269,962 $757,328,000,000
2022 $4,447,976,207,315 $765,529,000,000
2021 $5,225,933,520,753 $777,062,000,000
2020 $5,189,197,543,645 $676,935,000,000
2019 $5,245,755,000,479 $613,453,000,000
2018 $5,154,293,721,630 $610,744,000,000
2017 $5,038,231,631,661 $591,734,000,000
2016 $5,110,357,383,254 $543,002,000,000
2015 $4,534,438,580,495 $534,474,000,000
2014 $4,985,763,289,561 $535,332,000,000
2013 $5,272,297,037,397 $512,957,000,000
2012 $6,333,803,928,788 $495,536,000,000
2011 $6,279,422,550,219 $483,957,000,000
2010 $5,811,578,109,447 $444,245,000,000
2009 $5,336,765,697,589 $390,788,000,000
2008 $5,160,197,175,876 $415,824,000,000
2007 $4,624,670,179,655 $406,940,000,000
2006 $4,648,058,930,707 $386,492,000,000
2005 $4,875,648,486,366 $374,042,000,000
2004 $4,941,485,123,807 $346,881,000,000
2003 $4,573,413,206,709 $317,374,000,000
2002 $4,245,946,980,572 $307,429,000,000
2001 $4,438,792,748,062 $299,303,000,000
2000 $5,042,381,838,343 $330,725,000,000
1999 $4,688,983,449,627 $303,827,000,000
1998 $4,150,359,076,370 $279,926,000,000
1997 $4,579,780,793,432 $303,315,000,000
1996 $5,021,441,618,840 $292,473,000,000
1995 $5,639,649,753,986 $279,013,000,000
1994 $5,104,063,486,348 $256,213,000,000
1993 $4,632,480,515,091 $234,943,000,000
1992 $4,064,529,567,505 $222,947,000,000
1991 $3,724,887,648,862 $187,100,000,000
1990 $3,252,994,239,867 $166,392,000,000
1989 $3,174,934,735,896 $152,687,000,000
1988 $3,191,546,727,316 $126,378,000,000
1987 $2,635,094,473,494 $104,956,000,000
1986 $2,164,729,071,349 $78,347,000,000
1985 $1,457,070,301,468 $63,599,000,000
1984 $1,374,165,212,365 $61,036,000,000
1983 $1,297,622,008,229 $54,155,000,000
1982 $1,183,132,285,328 $49,540,000,000
1981 $1,271,443,597,067 $49,047,000,000
1980 $1,153,159,955,513 $42,292,000,000
1979 $1,100,608,979,757 $33,875,000,000
1978 $1,057,419,758,047 $27,373,000,000
1977 $752,590,681,822 $22,252,000,000
1976 $611,495,350,304 $18,988,000,000
1975 $544,082,569,364 $15,836,000,000
1974 $500,355,087,138 $14,739,000,000
1973 $450,756,970,744 $10,940,000,000
1972 $331,776,379,992 $8,063,000,000
1971 $250,530,994,765 $6,727,000,000
1970 $221,798,003,144 $5,785,000,000
1969 $188,179,852,753 $5,017,000,000
1968 $160,201,483,788 $4,325,000,000
1967 $135,265,319,098 $3,709,000,000
1966 $115,427,351,851 $3,207,000,000
1965 $99,387,878,008 $2,869,000,000
1964 $89,332,989,729 $2,592,000,000
1963 $75,945,582,324 $2,218,000,000
1962 $66,356,388,224 $1,960,000,000
1961 $58,472,696,006 $1,778,000,000
1960 $48,417,804,545 $1,743,000,000
1959 - $1,444,000,000
1958 - $1,836,000,000
1957 - $1,636,000,000
1956 - $1,399,000,000
1955 - $1,940,000,000
1954 - $1,628,000,000
1953 - $1,481,000,000
1952 - $1,677,000,000
1951 - $1,197,000,000

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Japan vs Taiwan by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Taiwan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Taiwan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $35,951 - - -
2024 $33,797 $52,039 $34,238 -
2023 $35,215 $50,662 $32,444 -
2022 $35,548 $47,192 $32,827 -
2021 $41,581 $44,355 $33,111 -
2020 $41,099 $42,426 $28,705 -
2019 $41,425 $42,678 $25,998 -
2018 $40,645 $42,142 $25,901 -
2017 $39,680 $41,444 $25,121 $50,500
2016 $40,215 $40,597 $23,091 -
2015 $35,665 $40,899 $22,780 $46,800
2014 $39,173 $39,555 $22,874 -
2013 $41,369 $39,402 $21,973 $39,600
2012 $49,627 $37,606 $21,295 $39,400
2011 $49,122 $36,214 $20,866 $38,200
2010 $45,378 $35,336 $19,197 $35,700
2009 $41,678 $33,543 $16,933 $32,000
2008 $40,294 $35,274 $18,081 $31,100
2007 $36,130 $35,015 $17,757 $30,100
2006 $36,354 $33,632 $16,934 $29,500
2005 $38,159 $32,170 $16,456 $27,500
2004 $38,678 $30,832 $15,317 $25,300
2003 $35,809 $29,392 $14,066 $23,400
2002 $33,316 $28,624 $13,686 $18,000
2001 $34,910 $27,943 $13,397 $17,200
2000 $39,753 $27,288 $14,908 $17,400
1999 $37,029 $25,736 $13,804 $16,100
1998 $32,835 $25,508 $12,820 -
1997 $36,331 $25,619 $14,020 -
1996 $39,930 $24,999 $13,641 -
1995 $44,947 $23,858 $13,119 -
1994 $40,774 $22,823 $12,150 -
1993 $37,111 $22,168 $11,242 -
1992 $32,667 $21,825 $10,768 -
1991 $30,048 $21,227 $9,125 -
1990 $26,345 $19,912 $8,205 -
1989 $25,798 - $7,613 -
1988 $26,037 - $6,370 -
1987 $21,587 - $5,350 -
1986 $17,819 - $4,036 -
1985 $12,058 - $3,314 -
1984 $11,443 - $3,224 -
1983 $10,876 - $2,903 -
1982 $9,986 - $2,699 -
1981 $10,806 - $2,720 -
1980 $9,872 - $2,389 -
1979 $9,497 - $1,950 -
1978 $9,202 - $1,606 -
1977 $6,609 - $1,330 -
1976 $5,422 - $1,158 -
1975 $4,876 - $985 -
1974 $4,542 - $934 -
1973 $4,147 - $706 -
1972 $3,095 - $530 -
1971 $2,370 - $451 -
1970 $2,145 - $397 -
1969 $1,841 - $357 -
1968 $1,586 - $319 -
1967 $1,354 - $280.8 -
1966 $1,168 - $249.1 -
1965 $1,015 - $229.3 -
1964 $922 - $213.6 -
1963 $792 - $188.6 -
1962 $699 - $172 -
1961 $622 - $161.2 -
1960 $519 - $163.4 -
1959 - - $140.4 -
1958 - - $185.1 -
1957 - - $170.5 -
1956 - - $150.6 -
1955 - - $216.3 -
1954 - - $188.3 -
1953 - - $177.7 -
1952 - - $208.4 -
1951 - - $154.3 -

Data sources: National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2017, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Japan's GDP per capita is $35,951, ranking 34/197, compared to $34,238 in Taiwan, ranking 38/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Taiwan ranks 44th at $50,500.

Economic indicators

Japan Taiwan
Gross domestic product
$4.44T
2025
$802B
2024
GDP rank
4/197
2025
22/197
2024
GDP growth
1.19%
2024-2025
2.16%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
$34,238
2024
GDP per capita rank
34/197
2025
38/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$50,500
2017
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
44/197
2017
Government debt
$9.16T
2025
$215B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
206.5%
2025
22.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$74,248
2025
$9,170
2024
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2025
64/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,962
2026
$18,863
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$7.61T
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
2,902,000
2026
772,000
2026
Number of billionaires
41
2026
66
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.3%
2020
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2020
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2025
15.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.17%
2024-2025
1.7%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
2%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
3.35%
2025
Population
122704252
23229461

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Taiwan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Taiwan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 36.9% 206.5% - 22.4%
2024 37.3% 214.5% 15.8% 26.8%
2023 37.8% 220.3% 17.1% 29%
2022 40.2% 227.8% 16% 29.5%
2021 41.3% 222.7% 15.4% 30.1%
2020 43.6% 228.8% 16.2% 32%
2019 36.4% 206.3% 15.3% 32.6%
2018 36% 203.7% 15.4% 33.8%
2017 35.9% 203.1% 15.4% 34.5%
2016 36.5% 202.1% 15.6% 35.4%
2015 36.6% 200.1% 15.5% 35.9%
2014 37.8% 203.6% - 37.5%
2013 38.4% 201.2% - 38.9%
2012 38.4% 197.1% - 39.2%
2011 38.4% 190.6% 18.3% 38.3%
2010 37.4% 178.6% - 36.9%
2009 38.3% 172.9% - 36.7%
2008 33.7% 153.6% - 33.4%
2007 32.8% 150.4% - 32.2%
2006 32.7% 152.1% - 33.3%
2005 33.2% 153.4% - 34.1%
2004 33.3% 148.8% - 33.4%
2003 34.6% 140.2% - 32.1%
2002 34.9% 134.6% - 29.8%
2001 34.7% 126.8% 22.4% 30.1%
2000 35.4% 118.5% - 26.2%
1999 35.2% 113.5% - 23.7%
1998 38.1% 101.6% - 23.7%
1997 32.4% 91.3% - 25%
1996 33.1% 85.3% - -
1995 32.8% 80.7% - -
1994 32.1% 73.3% - -
1993 31.4% 63.2% - -
1992 29.6% 57.9% - -
1991 28.6% 54.1% 25.4% -
1990 28.8% 54.8% - -
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% 23.6% -
1980 33.5% 47.8% - -
1979 33.2% 43.8% - -
1978 32.1% 39% - -
1977 30.4% 31.1% - -
1976 29.1% 26.1% 20.3% -
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 (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Japan's government spending was $1.63T, accounting for 36.9% of its GDP, while Taiwan spent $127B, or 15.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 206.5% in Japan and 22.4% in Taiwan, ranking 3/185 and 170/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Taiwan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Taiwan
2025 -1.05% -
2024 -1.67% 0.43%
2023 -2.39% -0.61%
2022 -4.23% 0.17%
2021 -6.32% -0.18%
2020 -9.04% -1.03%
2019 -3.05% 0.11%
2018 -2.44% 0.02%
2017 -3.05% -0.14%
2016 -3.58% -0.31%
2015 -3.64% 0.1%
2014 -5.58% -
2013 -7.62% -
2012 -8.22% -
2011 -9.02% -2.15%
2010 -9.05% -
2009 -9.62% -
2008 -4.07% -
2007 -2.86% -
2006 -3% -
2005 -4.39% -
2004 -5.26% -
2003 -7.35% -
2002 -7.22% -
2001 -6.11% -3.7%
2000 -7.17% -
1999 -6.68% -
1998 -9.91% -
1997 -3.44% -
1996 -4.75% -
1995 -4.22% -
1994 -3.7% -
1993 -2.34% -
1992 0.56% -
1991 1.64% -4.5%
1990 1.91% -
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% -0.78%
1980 -4.66% -
1979 -5% -
1978 -5.79% -
1977 -4.02% -
1976 -3.89% 1.32%
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 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2024, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $69.9B, equivalent to 1.67% of GDP. This compares to Taiwan's surplus of $3.45B, or 0.43% of GDP.

Over the past 49 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 44 of those years, while Taiwan ran a deficit in 9 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 4.2% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.75% of GDP for Taiwan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Taiwan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Taiwan
2025 3.17% 1.7%
2024 2.74% 2.2%
2023 3.27% 2.5%
2022 2.5% 2.9%
2021 -0.23% 2%
2020 -0.02% -0.2%
2019 0.47% 0.6%
2018 0.99% 1.4%
2017 0.48% 0.6%
2016 -0.13% 1.4%
2015 0.8% -0.3%
2014 2.76% 1.2%
2013 0.34% 0.8%
2012 -0.04% 1.9%
2011 -0.27% 1.4%
2010 -0.73% 1%
2009 -1.35% -0.9%
2008 1.38% 3.5%
2007 0.06% 1.8%
2006 0.25% 0.6%
2005 -0.28% 2.3%
2004 -0.009% 1.6%
2003 -0.26% -0.3%
2002 -0.92% -0.2%
2001 -0.74% 0%
2000 -0.68% 1.2%
1999 -0.34% 0.2%
1998 0.66% 1.7%
1997 1.75% 0.9%

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/japan/taiwan | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.54%, compared with 1.16% in Taiwan. In 2025, inflation was 3.17% in Japan and 1.7% in Taiwan.

Balance of trade

Japan Taiwan
Current account balance
$216B
2025
$113B
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2025
5/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.86%
2025
+14.1%
2024
Goods imports
$729B
2025
n/a
Goods exports
$725B
2025
n/a
Service imports
$269B
2025
n/a
Service exports
$246B
2025
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.9%
2024
54.5%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22%
2024
73.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan Taiwan
Economic freedom 70.3 79.8
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 6/197
Property rights 94.2 83.4
Government integrity 81.1 74.3
Judicial effectiveness 97.9 94.3
Tax burden 63 78.9
Government spending 52 90
Fiscal health 41.7 92.9
Business freedom 77.8 78.6
Labor freedom 65.9 69
Monetary freedom 74.3 80.3
Trade freedom 76.2 86
Investment freedom 60 70
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Japan
Taiwan
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Japan Taiwan
2026 70.3 79.8
2025 70.2 79.7
2024 67.5 80
2023 69.3 80.7
2022 69.9 80.1
2021 74.1 78.6
2020 73.3 77.1
2019 72.1 77.3
2018 72.3 76.6
2017 69.6 76.5
2016 73.1 74.7
2015 73.3 75.1
2014 72.4 73.9
2013 71.8 72.7
2012 71.6 71.9
2011 72.8 70.8
2010 72.9 70.4
2009 72.8 69.5
2008 73 70.3
2007 72.7 69.4
2006 73.3 69.7
2005 67.3 71.3
2004 64.3 69.6
2003 67.6 71.7
2002 66.7 71.3
2001 70.9 72.8
2000 70.7 72.5
1999 69.1 71.5
1998 70.2 70.4
1997 70.3 70
1996 72.6 74.1
1995 75 74.2

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Japan is 70.3, ranking 36/197, compared to 79.8 for Taiwan, ranking 6/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Japan Taiwan
Services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
58.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
40.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.96%
2024
1.46%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.73T
2025
$832B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$58,920
2025
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$1.37T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
3/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$172B
2025
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.9B
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$207B
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
1.5%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.7%
2024
26.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); National Statistics, Taiwan (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. 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.