Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP was 2.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
2.5%
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
12th
of 37 groups
All-time high
4.1%
in 2015
All-time low
1.6%
in 2005
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 2000–2024

012342000201220242000: 1.7 %2001: 2.9 %2002: 2.6 %2003: 3.5 %2004: 3 %2005: 1.6 %2006: 2.1 %2007: 2.5 %2008: 3 %2009: 2.5 %2010: 2.6 %2011: 2.9 %2012: 3.6 %2013: 2.7 %2014: 3 %2015: 4.1 %2016: 2.8 %2017: 2.1 %2018: 1.7 %2019: 1.8 %2020: 1.9 %2021: 2.1 %2022: 1.7 %2023: 2.4 %2024: 2.5 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is 2.5%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) peaked at 4.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2005.

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 12th of 37 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%) in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 1.7%
2001 2.9% +66.1%
2002 2.6% -11.0%
2003 3.5% +38.8%
2004 3.0% -15.1%
2005 1.6% -46.3%
2006 2.1% +33.1%
2007 2.5% +14.9%
2008 3.0% +20.7%
2009 2.5% -16.6%
2010 2.6% +6.3%
2011 2.9% +9.6%
2012 3.6% +23.9%
2013 2.7% -24.3%
2014 3.0% +9.0%
2015 4.1% +37.3%
2016 2.8% -32.0%
2017 2.1% -25.6%
2018 1.7% -18.6%
2019 1.8% +8.3%
2020 1.9% +6.6%
2021 2.1% +9.8%
2022 1.7% -18.6%
2023 2.4% +42.1%
2024 2.5% +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.5% 1.6% 3.5% 10
2010s 2.7% 1.7% 4.1% 10
2020s 2.1% 1.7% 2.5% 5

Countries ranked near Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

  1. 9 Mauritania 13.2% compare
  2. 10 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12.0% compare
  3. 11 Egypt 12.0% compare
  4. 12 Grenada 11.9% compare
  5. 13 Mongolia 11.7% compare
  6. 14 Oman 11.6% compare
  7. 15 Timor-Leste 11.6% compare
  8. 15 Timor-Leste 11.6% compare

See the full ranking of 249 places →

More economy & growth data for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

All data for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was 2.5% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 2015.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp recorded in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2005.
How does Least Developed Countries (LDCs) rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp?
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 12th out of 37 groups with data for 2024.
Is foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of gdp rising or falling in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Least Developed Countries (LDCs) data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-as-a-proportion-of-gdp-percent/least-developed-countries-ldcs/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment, net inflows, as a proportion of GDP (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
249 places, 6,020 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed