Thailand Foreign Direct Investment

Net inflows of foreign direct investment, current US dollars.

Foreign Direct Investment in Thailand increased to 18.53 USD billion in 2025 from 14.30 USD billion in 2024.

$18.53B
▲ +4.222025 · previous $14.30BAnnual · US$ billion · Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators

Thailand Foreign Direct Investment — History

Drag or pinch to zoom.

Loading chart…

Thailand Foreign Direct Investment — analysis in simple words

Latest reading

Foreign Direct Investment in Thailand increased to 18.53 USD billion in 2025 from 14.30 USD billion in 2024.

Over the last three years it rose twice and fell once.

Recent trend

A year earlier (2024) it was $14.30B, so the latest figure is $4.22B higher.

Over the past five years the average was $14.08B, with a range from $10.33B to $18.53B. The latest value is above that five-year average.

Historical context

This data series starts in 1970 and has 56 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 98% of all of them.

The highest value on record is $18.53B (2025) and the lowest is -$4.29B (2020). The long-run average is $4.61B.

Compared with other countries

Among 202 economies with recent data, Thailand ranks 25th from the top. The median across all these economies is $0.87B, so Thailand is above the typical country.

Within East Asia & Pacific (33 economies with data) it ranks 9th; the regional median is $1.07B.

Statistics

Latest
$18.53B2025
Previous
$14.30B
5-year average
$14.08B
Long-run average
$4.61Bsince 1970
All-time high
$18.53B2025
All-time low
-$4.29B2020
Observations
56Annual

Recent Data

PeriodValueChange
2025$18.53B▲ +4.22
2024$14.30B▲ +3.97
2023$10.33B▼ −1.53
2022$11.85B▼ −3.53
2021$15.39B▲ +19.68
2020-$4.29B▼ −9.83
2019$5.53B▼ −8.21
2018$13.75B▲ +5.46
2017$8.29B▲ +4.80
2016$3.49B▼ −5.44
2015$8.93B▲ +3.95
2014$4.98B▼ −10.96
2013$15.94B▲ +3.04
2012$12.90B▲ +10.43
2011$2.47B▼ −12.27
2010$14.75B▲ +8.34
2009$6.41B▼ −2.15
2008$8.56B▼ −0.07
2007$8.63B▼ −0.28
2006$8.92B▲ +0.70
2005$8.22B▲ +2.36
2004$5.86B▲ +0.63
2003$5.23B▲ +1.89
2002$3.34B▼ −1.73
2001$5.07B▲ +1.70
2000$3.37B▼ −2.74
1999$6.10B▼ −1.21
1998$7.31B▲ +3.42
1997$3.89B▲ +1.56
1996$2.34B

Foreign Direct Investment — Thailand vs Peers

Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Thailand highlighted.

Loading chart…

More Thailand indicators

Understanding Foreign Direct Investment — a simple guide

What it measures

Net inflows of foreign direct investment — long-term investment by foreign companies in local businesses — in current US dollars.

How it is calculated

New long-term investment by foreign companies (factories, stakes of 10% or more) in the country, net, in US dollars.

Simple example

A foreign carmaker building a plant counts as FDI.

▲ When it is high or rising

High FDI brings capital, technology and jobs.

▼ When it is low or falling

Low FDI may reflect weaker investor interest or one-off factors.

Why it matters for the economy and markets

FDI is considered a stable source of external financing and brings technology and capital.

How to read it

Annual figures can be lumpy because of single large deals.

Data source

World Bank — World Development Indicators (series BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD), annual data from 1970 to 2025. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.

How to use the chart

Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current foreign direct investment of Thailand?
Thailand foreign direct investment was $18.53B in 2025, compared with $14.30B in the previous period, according to World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the highest and lowest foreign direct investment of Thailand?
Since 1970, the highest reading was $18.53B (2025) and the lowest was -$4.29B (2020).
What does foreign direct investment measure?
Net inflows of foreign direct investment — long-term investment by foreign companies in local businesses — in current US dollars.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.