Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Central America
Central America: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 48,873 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Central America, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Central America is 48,873, 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 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3,056, in 1990.
That places Central America 19th out of 36 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 in Central America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,056 | — |
| 1991 | 5,273 | +72.6% |
| 1992 | 4,980 | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 5,070 | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 11,837 | +133.5% |
| 1995 | 10,365 | -12.4% |
| 1996 | 10,308 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 14,991 | +45.4% |
| 1998 | 16,660 | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 16,381 | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 20,612 | +25.8% |
| 2001 | 32,425 | +57.3% |
| 2002 | 26,201 | -19.2% |
| 2003 | 20,777 | -20.7% |
| 2004 | 28,577 | +37.5% |
| 2005 | 30,065 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 27,380 | -8.9% |
| 2007 | 40,128 | +46.6% |
| 2008 | 37,413 | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 22,492 | -39.9% |
| 2010 | 33,581 | +49.3% |
| 2011 | 34,730 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 30,998 | -10.7% |
| 2013 | 58,444 | +88.5% |
| 2014 | 42,132 | -27.9% |
| 2015 | 47,115 | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 41,833 | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 45,333 | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 44,355 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 44,530 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 33,589 | -24.6% |
| 2021 | 44,648 | +32.9% |
| 2022 | 45,756 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 46,962 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 48,873 | +4.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 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 | 11,837 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,892 | 3,056 | 16,660 | 10 |
| 2000s | 28,607 | 20,612 | 40,128 | 10 |
| 2010s | 42,305 | 30,998 | 58,444 | 10 |
| 2020s | 43,966 | 33,589 | 48,873 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Central America
More economy & growth data for Central America
- Gross Domestic Product, GDP in millions constant 2021 international $ 3.84 million (2027)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ 2.24 million million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita 12,233 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$ per capita, 2015 prices 9,068 USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Value US$, 2015 prices 1.66 million million USD (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ 3.99 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita 2.98 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$, 2015 prices 1.84 % (2024)
- Gross Domestic Product — Annual growth US$ per capita, 2015 prices 0.8466 % (2024)
- Gross Fixed Capital Formation — Annual growth US$ 4.73 % (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 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 in 2013.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Central America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,056 in 1990.
- How does Central America rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Central America ranks 19th out of 36 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.
Download this data
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