Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) was 761.14 million current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
761.14 million current US$
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
120th
of 224 countries
All-time high
1,614 million current US$
in 2018
All-time low
43.35 million current US$
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Sri Lanka, 1990–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in million current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sri Lanka stood at 761.14 million current US$.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,614 million current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 43.35 million current US$, in 1990.
Sri Lanka ranks 120th of 224 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (millions of United States) in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | million current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.35 million current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 67 million current US$ | +54.6% |
| 1992 | 122.63 million current US$ | +83.0% |
| 1993 | 194.49 million current US$ | +58.6% |
| 1994 | 166.41 million current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1995 | 65 million current US$ | -60.9% |
| 1996 | 133 million current US$ | +104.6% |
| 1997 | 433 million current US$ | +225.6% |
| 1998 | 150 million current US$ | -65.4% |
| 1999 | 201 million current US$ | +34.0% |
| 2000 | 175.13 million current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 81.89 million current US$ | -53.2% |
| 2002 | 192 million current US$ | +134.5% |
| 2003 | 198.7 million current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 223 million current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2005 | 272 million current US$ | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 480 million current US$ | +76.5% |
| 2007 | 603.4 million current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2008 | 752.2 million current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2009 | 404 million current US$ | -46.3% |
| 2010 | 477.6 million current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 955.91 million current US$ | +100.1% |
| 2012 | 941.12 million current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 932.55 million current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 893.63 million current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 679.66 million current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 897.05 million current US$ | +32.0% |
| 2017 | 1,373 million current US$ | +53.0% |
| 2018 | 1,614 million current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2019 | 743.47 million current US$ | -53.9% |
| 2020 | 434.08 million current US$ | -41.6% |
| 2021 | 592.29 million current US$ | +36.4% |
| 2022 | 884.15 million current US$ | +49.3% |
| 2023 | 713.01 million current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2024 | 761.14 million current US$ | +6.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 761.14 million current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 926.87 million current US$, 82% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 761.14 million current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is 783.67 million current US$, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 157.59 million current US$ | 43.35 million current US$ | 433 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 338.23 million current US$ | 81.89 million current US$ | 752.2 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 950.77 million current US$ | 477.6 million current US$ | 1,614 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 676.94 million current US$ | 434.08 million current US$ | 884.15 million current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 314.98 % change on previous year (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -66.71 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.0483 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -68.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.0353 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 33.41 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sri Lanka?
- Foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows in Sri Lanka was 761.14 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,614 million current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.35 million current US$ in 1990.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows?
- Sri Lanka ranks 120th out of 224 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment (fdi) inflows rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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