Least developed countries vs United States of America: Foreign direct investment, net outflows
Foreign direct investment, net outflows over time
- Least developed countries
- United States of America
How they compare
United States of America currently reports 1.4% against 0.1% in Least developed countries, a difference of 1.3%.
That makes United States of America's figure about 12.1 times Least developed countries's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1979 it was United States of America ahead.
Least developed countries ranks 39th and United States of America ranks 40th of 47 groups.
United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Least developed countries | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | United States of America |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.3% | United States of America |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% | United States of America |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 1.6% | 1.5% | United States of America |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 1.5% | 1.3% | United States of America |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 1.4% | 1.3% | United States of America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher foreign direct investment, net outflows, Least developed countries or United States of America?
- United States of America, at 1.4% against 0.1% in Least developed countries as of 2025.
- What is the difference in foreign direct investment, net outflows between Least developed countries and United States of America?
- 1.3%, with United States of America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Least developed countries and United States of America?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1979 to 2023.
- How do Least developed countries and United States of America rank globally for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Least developed countries ranks 39th and United States of America ranks 40th of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as Foreign direct investment, net outflows (% of GDP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an 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. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world, and is divided by GDP.