Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Laos
Laos: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 988.46 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
988.46 million current US$
Change on year
down 40.7%
World rank
109th
of 224 countries
All-time high
1,686 million current US$
in 2017
All-time low
4.5 million current US$
in 2002
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Laos, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos stood at 988.46 million current US$.
The figure is down 40.7% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos peaked at 1,686 million current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.5 million current US$, in 2002.
That places Laos 109th out of 224 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Laos, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 6.9 million current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1992 | 7.8 million current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1993 | 29.9 million current US$ | +283.3% |
| 1994 | 59.2 million current US$ | +98.0% |
| 1995 | 95.1 million current US$ | +60.6% |
| 1996 | 159.8 million current US$ | +68.0% |
| 1997 | 86.3 million current US$ | -46.0% |
| 1998 | 45.3 million current US$ | -47.5% |
| 1999 | 51.61 million current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 33.89 million current US$ | -34.3% |
| 2001 | 23.9 million current US$ | -29.5% |
| 2002 | 4.5 million current US$ | -81.2% |
| 2003 | 19.4 million current US$ | +331.1% |
| 2004 | 17 million current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 27.7 million current US$ | +62.9% |
| 2006 | 187.4 million current US$ | +576.5% |
| 2007 | 323.5 million current US$ | +72.6% |
| 2008 | 227.7 million current US$ | -29.6% |
| 2009 | 189.5 million current US$ | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 278.8 million current US$ | +47.1% |
| 2011 | 300.75 million current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 617.75 million current US$ | +105.4% |
| 2013 | 681.4 million current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 867.65 million current US$ | +27.3% |
| 2015 | 1,078 million current US$ | +24.2% |
| 2016 | 935.3 million current US$ | -13.2% |
| 2017 | 1,686 million current US$ | +80.3% |
| 2018 | 1,358 million current US$ | -19.5% |
| 2019 | 755.52 million current US$ | -44.4% |
| 2020 | 967.71 million current US$ | +28.1% |
| 2021 | 1,072 million current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 635.82 million current US$ | -40.7% |
| 2023 | 1,668 million current US$ | +162.4% |
| 2024 | 988.46 million current US$ | -40.7% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 988.46 million current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46 million current US$, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 988.46 million current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 857.11 million current US$, 1.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +576.5% | 27.7 million current US$ | 187.4 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.79 million current US$ | 6 million current US$ | 159.8 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 105.45 million current US$ | 4.5 million current US$ | 323.5 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 855.92 million current US$ | 278.8 million current US$ | 1,686 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,066 million current US$ | 635.82 million current US$ | 1,668 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 106 Nigeria 1,080 million current US$ compare
- 107 Chad 1,019 million current US$ compare
- 108 Honduras 993.9 million current US$ compare
- 109 Lao People's Democratic Republic 988.46 million current US$ compare
- 111 Tunisia 936.46 million current US$ compare
- 112 Kosovo 926.87 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Laos
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.39 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 60.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0083 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 19.21 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 52.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 14.03 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos was 988.46 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 1,686 million current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 million current US$ in 2002.
- How does Laos rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Laos ranks 109th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).