Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 276.31 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean, 1970–2025
Source: 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. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Latin America & Caribbean recorded 276.31 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
That represents a change of up 22.9% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 344.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 918.61 million BoP, current US$, in 1972.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.43 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1972 | 918.61 million BoP, current US$ | -48.2% |
| 1973 | 2.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +144.4% |
| 1974 | 2.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 1975 | 3.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.5% |
| 1976 | 2.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.4% |
| 1977 | 2.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.9% |
| 1978 | 3.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.0% |
| 1979 | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.4% |
| 1980 | 6.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.1% |
| 1981 | 8.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.3% |
| 1982 | 7.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1983 | 5.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.7% |
| 1984 | 5.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.5% |
| 1985 | 6.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.9% |
| 1986 | 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 1987 | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1988 | 8.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.1% |
| 1989 | 8.32 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 8.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 13.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +55.4% |
| 1992 | 14.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 14.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 29.82 billion BoP, current US$ | +99.0% |
| 1995 | 30.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 48.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.3% |
| 1997 | 73.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.5% |
| 1998 | 85.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1999 | 104.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 97.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 78.63 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 2002 | 60.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.6% |
| 2003 | 57.42 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 99.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.0% |
| 2005 | 79.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.2% |
| 2006 | 113.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.4% |
| 2007 | 192.65 billion BoP, current US$ | +69.5% |
| 2008 | 222.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 155.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.2% |
| 2010 | 234.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.0% |
| 2011 | 294.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 297.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 344.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2014 | 280.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2015 | 322.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 219.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.7% |
| 2017 | 203.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 209.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 202.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 138.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.5% |
| 2021 | 196.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.0% |
| 2022 | 249.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.6% |
| 2023 | 207.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.7% |
| 2024 | 224.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 276.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 918.61 million BoP, current US$ | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.63 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.73 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.49 billion BoP, current US$ | 104.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 115.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 57.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 222.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 260.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 202.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 344.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 215.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 138.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 276.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 11 Japan 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 12 Mexico 44.58 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 13 British Virgin Islands 42.91 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 14 India 40.79 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 15 United Kingdom 37.59 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 16 Australia 37.44 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 17 Cayman Islands 35.78 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7,621 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1,502 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 90.45 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6869 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0082 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 6,410 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5777 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1354 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.5 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean was 276.31 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to 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.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 344.00 billion BoP, current US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 918.61 million BoP, current US$ in 1972.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean data come from?
- The figures come from 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, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.