Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square was 1,672 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Least developed countries, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in BoP, current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Least developed countries is 1,672 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 39.7% on the previous year and up 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Least developed countries peaked at 1,886 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2015 and was at its lowest, -2.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre, in 1983.
Least developed countries ranks 38th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.29 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1971 | 1.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -79.8% |
| 1972 | 7.82 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +367.3% |
| 1973 | 13.43 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +71.6% |
| 1974 | 13.06 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 15.89 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +21.6% |
| 1976 | 29.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +85.6% |
| 1977 | 22.6 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -23.4% |
| 1978 | 32.35 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +43.1% |
| 1979 | 28.61 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 30.02 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 31.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 20.52 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -35.4% |
| 1983 | -2.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -113.6% |
| 1984 | 9.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -445.8% |
| 1985 | 27.18 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +181.8% |
| 1986 | 11.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -57.7% |
| 1987 | 21.49 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +87.1% |
| 1988 | 34.92 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +62.5% |
| 1989 | 71.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +105.2% |
| 1990 | 24.48 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -65.8% |
| 1991 | 82.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +236.2% |
| 1992 | 84.9 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 102.61 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +20.9% |
| 1994 | 57.02 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -44.4% |
| 1995 | 81.36 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +42.7% |
| 1996 | 87.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 158.96 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +81.3% |
| 1998 | 199.88 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +25.7% |
| 1999 | 302.08 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +51.1% |
| 2000 | 213.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -29.4% |
| 2001 | 341.53 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +60.1% |
| 2002 | 334.45 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 527.6 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +57.8% |
| 2004 | 512.04 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 327.25 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -36.1% |
| 2006 | 506.11 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +54.7% |
| 2007 | 698.65 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +38.0% |
| 2008 | 1,036 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +48.3% |
| 2009 | 856.8 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -17.3% |
| 2010 | 1,001 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +16.8% |
| 2011 | 1,309 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +30.8% |
| 2012 | 1,464 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 1,238 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 1,448 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +17.0% |
| 2015 | 1,886 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +30.2% |
| 2016 | 1,272 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -32.5% |
| 2017 | 1,031 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -19.0% |
| 2018 | 898.68 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 973.44 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 1,093 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +12.3% |
| 2021 | 1,324 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +21.1% |
| 2022 | 1,196 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 1,672 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | +39.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square in Least developed countries changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +445.8% | -2.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 9.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
| 1972 | +367.3% | 1.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 7.82 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17.32 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1.67 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 32.35 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.59 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | -2.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 71.64 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 118.13 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 24.48 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 302.08 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 535.41 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 213.31 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1,036 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,252 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 898.68 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1,886 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,321 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1,093 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 1,672 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 35 Spain 93,981 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 36 Naoero 72,314 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 37 Slovenia 71,898 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 38 Lebanon 64,070 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 39 Dominica 64,021 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 40 Lithuania 61,200 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 41 Croatia 59,720 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre compare
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1042 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.7176 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 116.01 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0852 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 277.65 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 5.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 141.86 current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 10.25 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -71.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Least developed countries?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square in Least developed countries was 1,672 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 1,886 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.79 BoP, current US$ per square kilometre in 1983.
- How does Least developed countries rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square?
- Least developed countries ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows (bop, current us$), per square rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.