Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Nepal
Nepal: Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) was 43.55 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal, 1972–2025
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$.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 43.55 million BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2025.
The figure is down 23.5% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal peaked at 196.33 million BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -6.65 million BoP, current US$, in 2006.
Nepal ranks 163rd of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 30,000 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1973 | -10,000 BoP, current US$ | -133.3% |
| 1974 | 250,000 BoP, current US$ | -2600.0% |
| 1976 | -40,000 BoP, current US$ | -116.0% |
| 1977 | 0 BoP, current US$ | -100.0% |
| 1978 | 410,000 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 300,000 BoP, current US$ | -26.8% |
| 1980 | 300,000 BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1981 | -230,000 BoP, current US$ | -176.7% |
| 1982 | -30,000 BoP, current US$ | -87.0% |
| 1983 | -600,000 BoP, current US$ | +1900.0% |
| 1984 | 950,000 BoP, current US$ | -258.3% |
| 1985 | 650,000 BoP, current US$ | -31.6% |
| 1986 | 1.17 million BoP, current US$ | +80.0% |
| 1987 | 1.39 million BoP, current US$ | +18.8% |
| 1988 | 680,000 BoP, current US$ | -51.1% |
| 1989 | 420,000 BoP, current US$ | -38.2% |
| 1990 | 5.94 million BoP, current US$ | +1314.3% |
| 1991 | 2.22 million BoP, current US$ | -62.6% |
| 1996 | 19.16 million BoP, current US$ | +763.1% |
| 1997 | 23.06 million BoP, current US$ | +20.3% |
| 1998 | 12.02 million BoP, current US$ | -47.8% |
| 1999 | 4.35 million BoP, current US$ | -63.8% |
| 2000 | -484,827 BoP, current US$ | -111.1% |
| 2001 | 20.85 million BoP, current US$ | -4400.5% |
| 2002 | -5.95 million BoP, current US$ | -128.5% |
| 2003 | 14.78 million BoP, current US$ | -348.3% |
| 2004 | -417,346 BoP, current US$ | -102.8% |
| 2005 | 2.45 million BoP, current US$ | -687.5% |
| 2006 | -6.65 million BoP, current US$ | -371.1% |
| 2007 | 5.74 million BoP, current US$ | -186.4% |
| 2008 | 995,124 BoP, current US$ | -82.7% |
| 2009 | 38.27 million BoP, current US$ | +3745.9% |
| 2010 | 87.74 million BoP, current US$ | +129.3% |
| 2011 | 94.02 million BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 91.95 million BoP, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 74.18 million BoP, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 2014 | 30.40 million BoP, current US$ | -59.0% |
| 2015 | 51.90 million BoP, current US$ | +70.7% |
| 2016 | 106.00 million BoP, current US$ | +104.2% |
| 2017 | 196.26 million BoP, current US$ | +85.2% |
| 2018 | 68.26 million BoP, current US$ | -65.2% |
| 2019 | 185.56 million BoP, current US$ | +171.8% |
| 2020 | 126.63 million BoP, current US$ | -31.8% |
| 2021 | 196.33 million BoP, current US$ | +55.0% |
| 2022 | 66.06 million BoP, current US$ | -66.4% |
| 2023 | 74.82 million BoP, current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2024 | 56.90 million BoP, current US$ | -24.0% |
| 2025 | 43.55 million BoP, current US$ | -23.5% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 43.55 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 642.40 million BoP, current US$, 7% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 43.55 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is 950.51 million BoP, current US$, 5% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +4400.5% | -484,827 BoP, current US$ | 20.85 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2009 | +3745.9% | 995,124 BoP, current US$ | 38.27 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1974 | +2600.0% | -10,000 BoP, current US$ | 250,000 BoP, current US$ |
| 1983 | -1900.0% | -30,000 BoP, current US$ | -600,000 BoP, current US$ |
| 1990 | +1314.3% | 420,000 BoP, current US$ | 5.94 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1996 | +763.1% | 2.22 million BoP, current US$ | 19.16 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 134,286 BoP, current US$ | -40,000 BoP, current US$ | 410,000 BoP, current US$ | 7 |
| 1980s | 470,000 BoP, current US$ | -600,000 BoP, current US$ | 1.39 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.13 million BoP, current US$ | 2.22 million BoP, current US$ | 23.06 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | 6.96 million BoP, current US$ | -6.65 million BoP, current US$ | 38.27 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.63 million BoP, current US$ | 30.40 million BoP, current US$ | 196.26 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.05 million BoP, current US$ | 43.55 million BoP, current US$ | 196.33 million BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 160 Eswatini 53.07 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 161 Dominica 49.48 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 162 Central African Republic 43.82 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 164 Turks and Caicos Islands 42.06 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 165 Senegal 36.58 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 166 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 35.42 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 25.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.28 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate -15.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0031 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 4.82 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -19.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0023 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 3.52 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal was 43.55 million 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 196.33 million BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2006.
- How does Nepal rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Nepal ranks 163rd out of 204 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.