Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 195.67 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 195.67 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 214.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, 828.18 million BoP, current US$, in 1972.
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 18th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 1.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.2% |
| 1972 | 828.18 million BoP, current US$ | -51.8% |
| 1973 | 2.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +158.7% |
| 1974 | 1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1975 | 3.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.2% |
| 1976 | 2.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.8% |
| 1977 | 2.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.0% |
| 1978 | 3.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.1% |
| 1979 | 5.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.2% |
| 1980 | 6.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.2% |
| 1981 | 8.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.7% |
| 1982 | 6.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.8% |
| 1983 | 5.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.8% |
| 1984 | 4.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.2% |
| 1985 | 6.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.0% |
| 1986 | 4.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.5% |
| 1987 | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 8.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +61.2% |
| 1989 | 8.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 8.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 13.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.5% |
| 1992 | 14.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 1993 | 13.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 28.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +107.5% |
| 1995 | 30.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 45.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +48.9% |
| 1997 | 66.58 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.2% |
| 1998 | 72.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 89.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.3% |
| 2000 | 79.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.0% |
| 2001 | 72.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 2002 | 52.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.4% |
| 2003 | 44.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.1% |
| 2004 | 67.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +49.9% |
| 2005 | 76.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2006 | 75.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 127.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +67.5% |
| 2008 | 149.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.7% |
| 2009 | 92.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -38.4% |
| 2010 | 170.27 billion BoP, current US$ | +84.7% |
| 2011 | 211.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.1% |
| 2012 | 214.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 203.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 193.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 175.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 167.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 160.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 174.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2019 | 161.16 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 104.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.2% |
| 2021 | 146.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.3% |
| 2022 | 205.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.1% |
| 2023 | 172.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2024 | 188.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2025 | 195.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 828.18 million BoP, current US$ | 5.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 89.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 44.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 149.57 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 183.15 billion BoP, current US$ | 160.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 214.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 168.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 104.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 205.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 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
- 18 Saudi Arabia 32.63 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 19 Spain 28.61 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 20 Israel 26.24 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 21 Indonesia 22.70 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,700 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.136 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1,472 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6893 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7,460 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.157 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 6.39 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 195.67 billion BoP, current US$ 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 214.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 828.18 million BoP, current US$ in 1972.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 18th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.