Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Laos
Laos: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 988.46 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Laos, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos stood at 988.46.
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 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.5, in 2002.
That places Laos 108th out of 222 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 in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6 | — |
| 1991 | 6.9 | +15.0% |
| 1992 | 7.8 | +13.0% |
| 1993 | 29.9 | +283.3% |
| 1994 | 59.2 | +98.0% |
| 1995 | 95.1 | +60.6% |
| 1996 | 159.8 | +68.0% |
| 1997 | 86.3 | -46.0% |
| 1998 | 45.3 | -47.5% |
| 1999 | 51.61 | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 33.89 | -34.3% |
| 2001 | 23.9 | -29.5% |
| 2002 | 4.5 | -81.2% |
| 2003 | 19.4 | +331.1% |
| 2004 | 17 | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 27.7 | +62.9% |
| 2006 | 187.4 | +576.5% |
| 2007 | 323.5 | +72.6% |
| 2008 | 227.7 | -29.6% |
| 2009 | 189.5 | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 278.8 | +47.1% |
| 2011 | 300.75 | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 617.75 | +105.4% |
| 2013 | 681.4 | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 867.65 | +27.3% |
| 2015 | 1,078 | +24.2% |
| 2016 | 935.3 | -13.2% |
| 2017 | 1,686 | +80.3% |
| 2018 | 1,358 | -19.5% |
| 2019 | 755.52 | -44.4% |
| 2020 | 967.71 | +28.1% |
| 2021 | 1,072 | +10.8% |
| 2022 | 635.82 | -40.7% |
| 2023 | 1,668 | +162.4% |
| 2024 | 988.46 | -40.7% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 988.46 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 988.46 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 857.11, 1.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows 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 | 187.4 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.79 | 6 | 159.8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 105.45 | 4.5 | 323.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 855.92 | 278.8 | 1,686 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,066 | 635.82 | 1,668 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More economy & growth data for Laos
- 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 6,670 BoP, current US$ (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.0009 BoP, current US$ per person (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 988.46 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -44.51 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0599 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 127.22 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 25.05 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Laos was 988.46 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 in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5 in 2002.
- How does Laos rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Laos ranks 108th out of 222 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.
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