Pacific island small states vs Palau: Foreign direct investment, net inflows

Pacific island small states
2.9%
in 2024
Palau
21.5%
in 2024
Pacific island small states rank
6th
Palau rank
8th

Foreign direct investment, net inflows over time

  • Pacific island small states
  • Palau
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How they compare

Palau currently reports 21.5% against 2.9% in Pacific island small states, a difference of 18.6%.

That makes Palau's figure about 7.4 times Pacific island small states's.

The two have swapped places 9 times across 30 shared years of data; in 1989 it was Pacific island small states ahead.

Pacific island small states ranks 6th and Palau ranks 8th of 47 groups.

Across the 5 decades both report, Pacific island small states averaged higher in 3 and Palau in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Pacific island small states Palau Difference Ahead
1980s 2.8% 1.2% 1.7% Pacific island small states
1990s 1.1% 0.7% 0.4% Pacific island small states
2000s 6.2% 3.5% 2.6% Pacific island small states
2010s 5.4% 12.4% 7.0% Palau
2020s 3.5% 22.2% 18.8% Palau

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher foreign direct investment, net inflows, Pacific island small states or Palau?
Palau, at 21.5% against 2.9% in Pacific island small states as of 2024.
What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net inflows between Pacific island small states and Palau?
18.6%, with Palau ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Pacific island small states and Palau?
30 years are reported by both, from 1989 to 2024.
How do Pacific island small states and Palau rank globally for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
Pacific island small states ranks 6th and Palau ranks 8th of 47 groups.
Where does this data come from?
International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Pacific island small states vs Palau: Foreign direct investment, net inflows. Statizoid, drawing on International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/compare/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-percent-of-gdp/pacific-island-small-states/palau/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 11,875 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Foreign direct investment is 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.