Belgium FDI Outflows
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as % of GDP BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS
Belgium's fdi outflows was 1.40% in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 98.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Belgium's fdi outflows stood at 1.40% in 2025, a rise of +0.69% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.40% by 2025. Belgium ranked 47th globally.
Belgium’s foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows have risen from a modest 0.65 in 1970 to 1.40 in 2025, placing the country 47th globally among 56 years of data. The most pronounced surge occurred in 1999, when outflows peaked at 47.36, reflecting the liberalisation of European capital markets and the expansion of multinational enterprises during the late‑1990s. A sharp reversal followed in 2018, when the balance turned negative at –6.63, a trough that coincided with heightened uncertainty from trade tensions and domestic fiscal adjustments. Compared with peers of similar rank, Belgium’s 2025 outflow of 1.40 is slightly below Poland’s 1.51 and marginally above Albania’s 1.37, indicating a modest but consistent position within the mid‑range of European exporters of capital. The upward trajectory since the 2018 dip suggests that continued policy support for outward investment and a stable macro‑environment could sustain modest growth, though any resurgence of global protectionism might again curb the trend.
Data & projection
| Year | FDI Outflows | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.80% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.10% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.40% | +0.69% | #47 |
| 2024 | 0.70% | +2.34% | #100 |
| 2023 | -1.64% | −7.43% | #10 |
| 2022 | 5.80% | −4.63% | #161 |
| 2021 | 10.43% | +14.27% | #166 |
| 2020 | -3.84% | −0.48% | #9 |
| 2019 | -3.36% | +3.28% | #5 |
| 2018 | -6.63% | −5.58% | #4 |
| 2017 | -1.06% | −8.34% | #6 |
| 2016 | 7.29% | +5.70% | #165 |
| 2015 | 1.59% | +1.67% | #129 |
| 2014 | -0.08% | +2.28% | #20 |
| 2013 | -2.36% | −10.69% | #6 |
| 2012 | 8.33% | −16.16% | #160 |
| 2011 | 24.49% | +10.61% | #164 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Belgium matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw fdi outflows improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Belgium's fdi outflows was 1.40% in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 98.7% increase from the previous year.
Belgium's fdi outflows peaked at 47.36% in 1999.
The lowest fdi outflows in Belgium was -6.63% in 2018.
Belgium ranks 47th globally in fdi outflows as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Belgium's fdi outflows is projected to reach 1.40% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The fdi outflows of Belgium in 2025 was 1.40%. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_belgium_fdi-outflows,
title = {Belgium FDI Outflows},
url = {https://historysaid.com/belgium/fdi-outflows/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}