FDI Outflows - Ranking 1970

The 2025 data on FDI outflows as a percentage of GDP reveals a sharp divide between small, financially integrated economies and those serving as conduits for capital. The top of the ranking is dominated by jurisdictions that function as tax-efficient hubs or resource-rich states with sovereign wealth funds. Malta, at 69.01%, and Hong Kong SAR, China, at 22.89%, exemplify this: their high outflows reflect not domestic production but the channelling of multinational capital through their financial systems. The Cayman Islands (16.31%) and the United Arab Emirates (11.63%) follow the same pattern. In contrast, the bottom is marked by Hungary at -88.79%, indicating massive net inward investment that likely reflects a single large acquisition or corporate restructuring, rather than a sustained trend. This negative figure is structurally tied to the country’s role as a recipient of foreign capital, often in manufacturing or logistics. As global tax harmonisation efforts progress, jurisdictions like Malta and Hong Kong may see their outflow figures moderate, potentially reshuffling the leaderboard.