Kiribati FDI Outflows

Kiribati’s foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows have slipped into negative territory, registering –0.02 in 2025 and placing the island nation at 144th in the World Bank’s global ranking. This figure marks the all‑time trough after a modest peak of 0.16 in 2001, suggesting a reversal from the modest outward investment observed in the early 2000s. Over the 43‑year series, the country moved from a zero baseline in 1979 to a slight net outflow, contrasting with peers such as Qatar, which recorded –0.04, and Dominica, at –0.05, indicating that Kiribati’s recent performance is comparable to other small economies with limited outward investment capacity. The shift to negative outflows may reflect constrained domestic capital, heightened vulnerability to external shocks, or policy environments that discourage overseas expansion. If Kiribati can attract more inbound investment or improve domestic savings rates, the downward trajectory could be halted, potentially restoring modest positive outflows in the coming years.