Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Panama
Panama: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Panama, 1977–2025
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 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Panama stood at 1.0%.
That represents a change of down 57.0% on the previous year and down 88.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Panama peaked at 15.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -7.8%, in 1988.
That places Panama 143rd out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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, net inflows as share of GDP in Panama, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.4% | — |
| 1978 | -0.1% | -119.4% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | -1844.7% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | +306.8% |
| 1981 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -78.9% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | -73.2% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +186.6% |
| 1986 | 1.9% | +80.3% |
| 1987 | -6.6% | -453.6% |
| 1988 | -7.8% | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -111.2% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +142.0% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -16.3% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +112.7% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -31.5% |
| 1996 | 4.7% | +58.5% |
| 1997 | 13.0% | +180.1% |
| 1998 | 11.9% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -25.0% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | -22.7% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -28.4% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -61.0% |
| 2003 | 7.7% | +300.1% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -21.5% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | +137.5% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -35.1% |
| 2008 | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -58.0% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +115.9% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +46.1% |
| 2012 | 8.1% | -34.0% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | +19.8% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -27.7% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | -2.9% | -142.6% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -195.1% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +13.7% |
| 2023 | 3.3% | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -26.1% |
| 2025 | 1.0% | -57.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | -0.1% | 1.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | -7.8% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 1.8% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 1.9% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 6.3% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | -2.9% | 3.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More economy & growth data for Panama
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.82 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 842.84 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.249 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 4,928 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.249 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4,928 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Panama?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Panama was 1.0% in 2025, 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.8% in 1988.
- How does Panama rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Panama ranks 143rd out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 88.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama 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.