Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Nepal
Nepal: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows was 57 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Nepal, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 57 for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.8% on the previous year and up 88.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Nepal peaked at 197.78 in 2017 and was at its lowest, -6.65, in 2006.
Nepal ranks 175th of 222 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.94 | — |
| 1991 | 2.22 | -62.6% |
| 1996 | 19.16 | +763.1% |
| 1997 | 23.06 | +20.4% |
| 1998 | 12.02 | -47.9% |
| 1999 | 4.35 | -63.8% |
| 2000 | -0.4848 | -111.1% |
| 2001 | 20.85 | -4400.5% |
| 2002 | -5.95 | -128.5% |
| 2003 | 1.79 | -130.0% |
| 2004 | -0.4173 | -123.4% |
| 2005 | 2.45 | -687.5% |
| 2006 | -6.65 | -371.1% |
| 2007 | 5.89 | -188.6% |
| 2008 | 1.01 | -82.8% |
| 2009 | 38.55 | +3714.2% |
| 2010 | 86.63 | +124.7% |
| 2011 | 95.49 | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 91.98 | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 71.32 | -22.5% |
| 2014 | 30.19 | -57.7% |
| 2015 | 51.56 | +70.8% |
| 2016 | 106.13 | +105.9% |
| 2017 | 197.78 | +86.3% |
| 2018 | 67.06 | -66.1% |
| 2019 | 185 | +175.9% |
| 2020 | 126.49 | -31.6% |
| 2021 | 195.96 | +54.9% |
| 2022 | 65.13 | -66.8% |
| 2023 | 73.88 | +13.4% |
| 2024 | 57 | -22.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 57 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46, 6% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 57 is below the median for South Asia, which is 783.67, 7% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +4400.5% | -0.4848 | 20.85 |
| 2009 | +3714.2% | 1.01 | 38.55 |
| 1996 | +763.1% | 2.22 | 19.16 |
| 2005 | +687.5% | -0.4173 | 2.45 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.13 | 2.22 | 23.06 | 6 |
| 2000s | 5.7 | -6.65 | 38.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.31 | 30.19 | 197.78 | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.69 | 57 | 195.96 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 172 Djibouti 67.82 compare
- 173 Dominica 66 compare
- 174 Cabo Verde 63.81 compare
- 176 Saint Kitts and Nevis 52.31 compare
- 177 Turks and Caicos Islands 44 compare
- 178 Haiti 40.87 compare
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 0 BoP, current US$ (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0 BoP, current US$ per person (1989)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 56.90 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -23.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0013 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.92 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.15 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Nepal?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Nepal was 57 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 197.78 in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.65 in 2006.
- How does Nepal rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Nepal ranks 175th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 88.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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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