Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Central America
Central America: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 48,873 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Central America, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Central America is 48,873 million current US$, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Central America peaked at 58,444 million current US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3,056 million current US$, in 1990.
That places Central America 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Central America, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,056 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 5,273 million current US$ | +72.6% |
| 1992 | 4,980 million current US$ | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 5,070 million current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 11,837 million current US$ | +133.5% |
| 1995 | 10,365 million current US$ | -12.4% |
| 1996 | 10,308 million current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 14,991 million current US$ | +45.4% |
| 1998 | 16,660 million current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 16,381 million current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 20,612 million current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2001 | 32,425 million current US$ | +57.3% |
| 2002 | 26,201 million current US$ | -19.2% |
| 2003 | 20,777 million current US$ | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 28,577 million current US$ | +37.5% |
| 2005 | 30,065 million current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 27,380 million current US$ | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 40,128 million current US$ | +46.6% |
| 2008 | 37,413 million current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 22,492 million current US$ | -39.9% |
| 2010 | 33,581 million current US$ | +49.3% |
| 2011 | 34,730 million current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 30,998 million current US$ | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 58,444 million current US$ | +88.5% |
| 2014 | 42,132 million current US$ | -27.9% |
| 2015 | 47,115 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 41,833 million current US$ | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 45,333 million current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 44,355 million current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 44,530 million current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 33,589 million current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2021 | 44,648 million current US$ | +32.9% |
| 2022 | 45,756 million current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 46,962 million current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 48,873 million current US$ | +4.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Central America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +133.5% | 5,070 million current US$ | 11,837 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,892 million current US$ | 3,056 million current US$ | 16,660 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 28,607 million current US$ | 20,612 million current US$ | 40,128 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 42,305 million current US$ | 30,998 million current US$ | 58,444 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 43,966 million current US$ | 33,589 million current US$ | 48,873 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Central America
- 16 Spain 30,543 million current US$ compare
- 17 India 27,556 million current US$ compare
- 18 Italy 24,726 million current US$ compare
- 19 Indonesia 24,212 million current US$ compare
- 20 Viet Nam 20,170 million current US$ compare
- 20 Vietnam 20,170 million current US$ compare
- 22 Sweden 18,288 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Central America
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 3.84 million (2027)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita, 2015 prices 0.8466 % (2024)
- GDP Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation Deflator — Value US$, 2015 prices 1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, annual growth rate 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices, annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Value US$, annual growth rate 4.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 2.98 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 1.66 million million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 3.99 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Central America?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Central America was 48,873 million current US$ in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Central America?
- The highest recorded value was 58,444 million current US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Central America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,056 million current US$ in 1990.
- How does Central America rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Central America ranks 19th out of 35 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Central America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Central America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States dollars). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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