Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Gambia
Gambia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 9.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Gambia, 1970–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Gambia is 9.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 12.0% on the previous year and up 416.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Gambia peaked at 12.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, -1.1%, in 1986.
That places Gambia 21st out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.2% | — |
| 1971 | 3.1% | +1495.3% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | -5.8% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | -35.2% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | -32.7% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | -93.1% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | +824.0% |
| 1977 | -0.4% | -150.6% |
| 1978 | 1.2% | -402.1% |
| 1979 | 6.0% | +387.4% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -98.1% |
| 1981 | 0.9% | +691.0% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -86.4% |
| 1983 | -0.2% | -250.0% |
| 1984 | -1.0% | +411.5% |
| 1985 | -0.2% | -76.9% |
| 1986 | -1.1% | +383.9% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -164.5% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -36.1% |
| 1989 | 4.8% | +993.0% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | -69.8% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -34.1% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +60.7% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -24.4% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +27.7% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +94.3% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | +115.3% |
| 2000 | 5.6% | -8.5% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +43.5% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -49.3% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | +53.9% |
| 2005 | 5.2% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | +49.4% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -21.7% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | -25.7% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -40.0% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -11.5% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +13.7% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | +70.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -62.3% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | +179.0% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +14.5% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -20.0% |
| 2020 | 10.5% | +166.9% |
| 2021 | 12.5% | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | -17.8% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | +12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.7% | -0.4% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | -1.1% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 0.9% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 2.7% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 1.9% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.4% | 8.6% | 12.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 18 Seychelles 10.1% compare
- 19 Cambodia 9.9% compare
- 20 Liberia 9.9% compare
- 22 Zambia 9.3% compare
- 23 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.9% compare
- 24 New Caledonia 8.5% compare
More economy & growth data for Gambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.69 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.02 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate 45.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4039 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 371.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 54.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 28.97 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 26,629 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 8.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3259 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Gambia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Gambia was 9.7% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.1% in 1986.
- How does Gambia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Gambia ranks 21st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 416.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.