Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka increased by 179 USD Million in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment, Net Inflows - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) registered a growth equal to 0.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with a growth equal to 0.5 % in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment: % of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2002 to Jun 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4.0 % in Jun 2018 and a record low 0.2 % in Sep 2017.

CEIC calculates Foreign Direct Investment as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Foreign Direct Investment and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Foreign Direct Investment in USD based on BPM6. The Department of Census and Statistics provides Nominal GDP in local currency based on SNA 2008. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Foreign Direct Investment as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q1 2015 is calculated from Nominal GDP based on old methodology. Foreign Direct Investment as % of Nominal GDP prior to Q1 2012 is calculated from Foreign Direct Investment based on BPM5 and Nominal GDP based on SNA 1993.


Related information about Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 500.6 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 179.0 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 23.5 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 329.4 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 24.6 USD bn in Jun 2025.

Key information about Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment

• Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 179.0 USD mn in Jun 2025, compared with an increase of 135.4 USD mn in the previous quarter.
• Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment: USD mn net flows data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1977 to Jun 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 961.4 USD mn in Dec 2017 and a record low of -0.8 USD mn in Mar 1977.

CEIC extends history for quarterly Foreign Direct Investment. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka provides Foreign Direct Investment in USD based on BPM6. Foreign Direct Investment prior to Q1 2012 is based on BPM5 and prior to Q1 1997 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Related information about Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment

• In the latest reports of Sri Lanka, Current Account recorded a surplus of 500.6 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Sri Lanka Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 23.5 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment fell by 329.4 USD mn in Jun 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 24.6 USD bn in Jun 2025.

Monthly and long-term Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

Actual value and historical data chart for Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment Net Inflows Percent Of GDP

China (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Utilized: Asia: Sri Lanka data was reported at 0.220 USD mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.200 USD mn for 2016. China (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Utilized: Asia: Sri Lanka data is updated yearly, averaging 0.645 USD mn from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.260 USD mn in 2004 and a record low of 0.030 USD mn in 2015. China (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Utilized: Asia: Sri Lanka data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Commerce. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Investment – Table CN.OA: Foreign Direct Investment: Capital Utilized: by Country.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Direct Investment, billion USD: The latest value from 2024 is 0.76 billion U.S. dollars, an increase from 0.71 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 7.99 billion U.S. dollars, based on data from 183 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1970 to 2024 is 0.33 billion U.S. dollars. The minimum value, -0 billion U.S. dollars, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 1.61 billion U.S. dollars was recorded in 2018.

Actual value and historical data chart for Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment Net Outflows Bop Current Us$

Sri Lanka: Percent of world Foreign Direct Investment: The latest value from 2023 is 0.08 percent, an increase from 0.05 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.54 percent, based on data from 185 countries. Historically, the average for Sri Lanka from 1993 to 2023 is 0.04 percent. The minimum value, 0.01 percent, was reached in 1999 while the maximum of 0.15 percent was recorded in 2018.

Historical dataset showing Sri Lanka foreign direct investment by year from 1970 to 2023.

Net FDI outflows (% of GDP) of Sri Lanka rocketed by 98.59% from 0.0 % in 2022 to 0.0 % in 2023. Since the 80.16% slump in 2020, net FDI outflows (% of GDP) shot up by 135.06% in 2023. Foreign direct investment are the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world and is divided by GDP.

Actual value and historical data chart for Sri Lanka Foreign Direct Investment Net Inflows Bop Us Dollar

India Foreign Direct Investment: Inflow: Sri Lanka data was reported at 820.000 INR mn in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,965.660 INR mn for 2017. India Foreign Direct Investment: Inflow: Sri Lanka data is updated yearly, averaging 91.460 INR mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2018, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,965.660 INR mn in 2017 and a record low of 0.000 INR mn in 2000. India Foreign Direct Investment: Inflow: Sri Lanka data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.OA022: Foreign Direct Investment: Inflow: Annual: by Country.

71,18,26,200 (US dollars) in 2023. Foreign direct investment are the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Laos (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Sri Lanka data was reported at 0.000 USD th in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 USD th for 2016. Laos (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Sri Lanka data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 USD th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2017, with 18 observations. Laos (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Sri Lanka data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Planning and Investment. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.O002: Foreign Direct Investment: By Country.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Direct Investment, billion USD: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Sri Lanka de 1970 à 2024. La valeur moyenne pour Sri Lanka pendant cette période était de 0.33 billion U.S. dollars avec un minimum de -0 billion U.S. dollars en 1970 et un maximum de 1.61 billion U.S. dollars en 2018.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Direct Investment, percent of GDP: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Sri Lanka de 1970 à 2023. La valeur moyenne pour Sri Lanka pendant cette période était de 0.91 pour cent avec un minimum de -0.03 pour cent en 1977 et un maximum de 2.85 pour cent en 1997.

India Foreign Direct Investment: Outflow: Sri Lanka data was reported at 10.157 USD mn in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.084 USD mn for Sep 2018. India Foreign Direct Investment: Outflow: Sri Lanka data is updated monthly, averaging 4.785 USD mn from Jul 2007 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 135 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 155.485 USD mn in Jul 2008 and a record low of 0.007 USD mn in Feb 2009. India Foreign Direct Investment: Outflow: Sri Lanka data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Investment – Table IN.OA026: Foreign Direct Investment: Outflow: by Country.

Time series data for the statistic Foreign_Direct_Investment_Net_Inflows_$ and country Sri Lanka. Indicator Definition:Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.The statistic "Foreign Direct Investment Net Inflows $" stands at 761,144,550.00 Sri Lankan Rupees as of 12/31/2024. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 49,318,349.51 Sri Lankan Rupees compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change is 49,318,349.51 Sri Lankan Rupees.The 3 year change is 168,854,580.10 Sri Lankan Rupees.The 5 year change is 17,678,318.53 Sri Lankan Rupees.The 10 year change is -132,484,430.29 Sri Lankan Rupees.The Serie's long term average value is 334,778,788.99 Sri Lankan Rupees. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 426,365,761.01 Sri Lankan Rupees higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in Sri Lankan Rupees from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1977, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +762,363,117.21 .The Serie's change in Sri Lankan Rupees from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2018, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -852,899,459.23 .

Sri Lanka LK: BOP: Financial Account: Foreign Direct Investment: Net Inflows: % of GDP data was reported at 1.577 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.097 % for 2016. Sri Lanka LK: BOP: Financial Account: Foreign Direct Investment: Net Inflows: % of GDP data is updated yearly, averaging 1.064 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.850 % in 1997 and a record low of -0.030 % in 1977. Sri Lanka LK: BOP: Financial Account: Foreign Direct Investment: Net Inflows: % of GDP data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank: Balance of Payments: Capital and Financial Account. Foreign direct investment are the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, World Bank, International Debt Statistics, and World Bank and OECD GDP estimates.; Weighted average; Note: Data starting from 2005 are based on the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6).