Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Nepal
Nepal: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 57 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
57 million current US$
Change on year
down 22.8%
World rank
176th
of 224 countries
All-time high
197.78 million current US$
in 2017
All-time low
-6.65 million current US$
in 2006
Years of data
31
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Nepal, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 57 million current US$ 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 million current US$ in 2017 and was at its lowest, -6.65 million current US$, in 2006.
Nepal ranks 176th of 224 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.94 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 2.22 million current US$ | -62.6% |
| 1996 | 19.16 million current US$ | +763.1% |
| 1997 | 23.06 million current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1998 | 12.02 million current US$ | -47.9% |
| 1999 | 4.35 million current US$ | -63.8% |
| 2000 | -0.4848 million current US$ | -111.1% |
| 2001 | 20.85 million current US$ | -4400.5% |
| 2002 | -5.95 million current US$ | -128.5% |
| 2003 | 1.79 million current US$ | -130.0% |
| 2004 | -0.4173 million current US$ | -123.4% |
| 2005 | 2.45 million current US$ | -687.5% |
| 2006 | -6.65 million current US$ | -371.1% |
| 2007 | 5.89 million current US$ | -188.6% |
| 2008 | 1.01 million current US$ | -82.8% |
| 2009 | 38.55 million current US$ | +3714.2% |
| 2010 | 86.63 million current US$ | +124.7% |
| 2011 | 95.49 million current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2012 | 91.98 million current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 71.32 million current US$ | -22.5% |
| 2014 | 30.19 million current US$ | -57.7% |
| 2015 | 51.56 million current US$ | +70.8% |
| 2016 | 106.13 million current US$ | +105.9% |
| 2017 | 197.78 million current US$ | +86.3% |
| 2018 | 67.06 million current US$ | -66.1% |
| 2019 | 185 million current US$ | +175.9% |
| 2020 | 126.49 million current US$ | -31.6% |
| 2021 | 195.96 million current US$ | +54.9% |
| 2022 | 65.13 million current US$ | -66.8% |
| 2023 | 73.88 million current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2024 | 57 million current US$ | -22.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 57 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 936.46 million current US$, 6% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 57 million current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is 783.67 million current US$, 7% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Nepal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +4400.5% | -0.4848 million current US$ | 20.85 million current US$ |
| 2009 | +3714.2% | 1.01 million current US$ | 38.55 million current US$ |
| 1996 | +763.1% | 2.22 million current US$ | 19.16 million current US$ |
| 2005 | +687.5% | -0.4173 million current US$ | 2.45 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.13 million current US$ | 2.22 million current US$ | 23.06 million current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 5.7 million current US$ | -6.65 million current US$ | 38.55 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.31 million current US$ | 30.19 million current US$ | 197.78 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.69 million current US$ | 57 million current US$ | 195.96 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 173 Djibouti 67.82 million current US$ compare
- 174 Dominica 66 million current US$ compare
- 175 Cabo Verde 63.81 million current US$ compare
- 177 Saint Kitts and Nevis 52.31 million current US$ compare
- 178 Turks and Caicos Islands 44 million current US$ compare
- 179 Haiti 40.87 million current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 25.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -15.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0031 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 4.82 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -19.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0023 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 3.52 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 Nepal?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Nepal was 57 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 197.78 million current US$ in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.65 million current US$ in 2006.
- How does Nepal rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Nepal ranks 176th out of 224 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).