Two-way investment brief

Australia–France

At the end of 2025, investors from France held A$25.1 bn of direct investment in Australia, making it Australia’s 10th-largest source of foreign direct investment (1.9% of the total). That stock rose 9.5% over the year and has grown 14.6% a year on average over the past decade. Australian direct investment in France was A$4.2 bn — the 12th-largest destination for Australian direct investment abroad. The relationship is weighted towards France investing in Australia (5.9× Australia’s direct investment there). France was Australia’s 29th-largest two-way trading partner in 2025 (goods and services, A$3.6 bn; 0.3% of Australia’s trade). Globally, France was the world’s 15th-largest source of FDI outflows in 2024 ($41.7 bn, World Bank).

Data (CSV)France global profile

France direct investment in Australia

A$25.1 bn

+9.5%vs 202410th largest

Total France investment in Australia

A$71.0 bn

13th largest · 1.4%

Australian direct investment in France

A$4.2 bn

−12.7%vs 202412th largest destination

Total Australian investment in France

A$97.4 bn

Levels at 31 Dec 2025

Trend

Direct investment in both directions

Direct investment levels, Australia–France

France in Australia
Australia in France

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

France’s investment in Australia by type

Direct investment
Portfolio investment
Other investment

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Annual direct investment flows

Net transactions during the year; negative = net disinvestment

France → Australia
Australia → France

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Trade relationship

Australia–France trade

Investment and trade move together: the partners that invest most in Australia are usually major trading partners too. Goods trade is recorded monthly (latest: July 2026); services annually.

Two-way trade, 2025

A$3.6 bn

29th largest partner · 0.3%

Goods exports to France, 2025

—

Goods imports from France, 2025

—

Services trade, 2025

A$3.6 bn

Exports A$1.6 bn · imports A$2.0 bn

Goods trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS merchandise trade)

Exports to France
Imports from France

Source: ABS, International Merchandise Trade (MERCH_EXP / MERCH_IMP), summed to calendar years.

Services trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS international trade in services by country)

Exports to France
Imports from France

Source: ABS, International Trade in Services by Country, calendar years.

Economic outlook

France’s economy

IMF World Economic Outlook	2024	2025	2026forecast	2027forecast	2028forecast
Real GDP growth	1.1%	0.9%	0.9%	0.9%	1.2%
Inflation	2.3%	0.9%	1.8%	1.7%	1.9%
Unemployment rate	7.4%	7.6%	7.9%	7.9%	7.7%
Current account, % GDP	0.1%	−0.4%	−0.3%	−0.2%	0.2%
Fiscal balance, % GDP	−5.8%	−5.1%	−4.9%	−4.8%	−4.3%
Government gross debt, % GDP	113.2%	116.0%	118.4%	120.5%	121.1%

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook via the IMF DataMapper API. Years from 2026 are IMF projections; recent years may be estimates and are revised in each WEO round (April and October).

2025 at a glance

New FDI from France: A$1.4 bn
New Australian FDI in France: −A$1.1 bn
Direct investment income paid to investors: A$564 m
Direct investment income earned by Australians: —

France globally (World Bank)

FDI outflows, 2024: $41.7 bn · 15th
FDI inflows, 2025: $73.0 bn
GDP, 2025: $3.37 tn
Region · income: Europe & Central Asia · High income

Regulatory openness (OECD FDIRRI)

OECD index data loading — see FDI openness

Sources: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (cat. 5352.0), 2025 release, released 2026-05-06 — levels at 31 December and calendar-year flows and income, A$ millions, immediate counterparty basis (investment routed via third economies is attributed to the intermediate economy). World Bank WDI (US$). OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index. np = not published for confidentiality; included in totalsPrepared independently by FDIstats from public statistics; not an Australian Government publication and not investment advice. For foreign investment rules, see the Treasury and FIRB.