Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Lebanon
Lebanon: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 7.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Lebanon, 1988–2024
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
In 2024, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Lebanon stood at 7.1%.
The figure is up 117.3% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Lebanon peaked at 14.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1988.
That places Lebanon 28th 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -817.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +288.4% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -84.7% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +809.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -70.5% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +152.2% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +27.1% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +95.7% |
| 1997 | 11.4% | +1855.1% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | -42.4% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | -23.8% |
| 2000 | 5.8% | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +43.1% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | +104.2% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | -37.0% |
| 2005 | 12.2% | +36.0% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 13.6% | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 14.9% | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 13.6% | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 11.1% | -18.0% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | -29.4% |
| 2012 | 7.1% | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 5.7% | -19.7% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | -27.3% |
| 2016 | 5.0% | +16.1% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -23.7% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | +37.2% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -48.8% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 3.3% | +30.1% |
| 2024 | 7.1% | +117.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 0.0% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 5.8% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | 3.7% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 2.5% | 7.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
- 25 United Arab Emirates 8.3% compare
- 26 Montenegro 7.3% compare
- 27 Saint Lucia 7.3% compare
- 29 Nicaragua 6.9% compare
- 30 Dominica 6.8% compare
- 31 Andorra 6.6% compare
More economy & growth data for Lebanon
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.87 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -0 Percent per annum (2022)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0035 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 15.49 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 3.47 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.5892 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 2,635 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 52,730 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Lebanon?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Lebanon was 7.1% 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1988.
- How does Lebanon rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Lebanon ranks 28th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.