Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 6.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.0%
Change on year
down 46.7%
World rank
38th
of 200 countries
All-time high
11.2%
in 2023
All-time low
-0.1%
in 1985
Years of data
41
1984–2024

Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1984–2024

02.557.5101984200420241984: 0 % of GDP1985: -0.068 % of GDP1986: 0 % of GDP1987: 0 % of GDP1988: 0.334 % of GDP1989: 0.56 % of GDP1990: 0.693 % of GDP1991: 0.671 % of GDP1992: 0.692 % of GDP1993: 2.3 % of GDP1994: 3.8 % of GDP1995: 5.4 % of GDP1996: 8.5 % of GDP1997: 5.2 % of GDP1998: 3.6 % of GDP1999: 5.4 % of GDP2000: 2 % of GDP2001: 1.4 % of GDP2002: 0.253 % of GDP2003: 0.963 % of GDP2004: 0.715 % of GDP2005: 1 % of GDP2006: 5.4 % of GDP2007: 7.7 % of GDP2008: 4.2 % of GDP2009: 5.5 % of GDP2010: 3.9 % of GDP2011: 3.4 % of GDP2012: 6.1 % of GDP2013: 5.7 % of GDP2014: 6.5 % of GDP2015: 7.5 % of GDP2016: 5.9 % of GDP2017: 9.9 % of GDP2018: 7.5 % of GDP2019: 4 % of GDP2020: 5.1 % of GDP2021: 5.7 % of GDP2022: 4.7 % of GDP2023: 11.2 % of GDP2024: 6 % of GDP

Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.

Analysis

Lao People's Democratic Republic recorded 6.0% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.

The figure is down 46.7% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 11.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 1985.

That places Lao People's Democratic Republic 38th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1984 to 2024.
Year % of GDP Change
1984 0.0%
1985 -0.1%
1986 0.0% -100.0%
1987 0.0%
1988 0.3%
1989 0.6% +67.8%
1990 0.7% +23.7%
1991 0.7% -3.2%
1992 0.7% +3.0%
1993 2.3% +225.6%
1994 3.8% +70.3%
1995 5.4% +40.6%
1996 8.5% +58.2%
1997 5.2% -38.9%
1998 3.6% -31.2%
1999 5.4% +51.3%
2000 2.0% -63.9%
2001 1.4% -31.0%
2002 0.3% -81.3%
2003 1.0% +280.4%
2004 0.7% -25.8%
2005 1.0% +41.7%
2006 5.4% +435.0%
2007 7.7% +41.3%
2008 4.2% -45.4%
2009 5.5% +30.5%
2010 3.9% -28.4%
2011 3.4% -12.1%
2012 6.1% +76.3%
2013 5.7% -6.2%
2014 6.5% +14.9%
2015 7.5% +14.3%
2016 5.9% -21.3%
2017 9.9% +68.1%
2018 7.5% -24.2%
2019 4.0% -46.1%
2020 5.1% +26.5%
2021 5.7% +11.7%
2022 4.7% -17.5%
2023 11.2% +139.5%
2024 6.0% -46.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.1% -0.1% 0.6% 6
1990s 3.6% 0.7% 8.5% 10
2000s 2.9% 0.3% 7.7% 10
2010s 6.0% 3.4% 9.9% 10
2020s 6.5% 4.7% 11.2% 5

Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic

  1. 35 Senegal 6.3% compare
  2. 36 Albania 6.1% compare
  3. 37 Uganda 6.0% compare
  4. 39 Bahrain 5.7% compare
  5. 40 Guinea 5.6% compare
  6. 41 Gabon 5.5% compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More economy & growth data for Lao People's Democratic Republic

All data for Lao People's Democratic Republic →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 6.0% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2023.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 1985.
How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 38th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic data come from?
The figures come from International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lao People's Democratic Republic. Statizoid, drawing on International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-percent-of-gdp/lao-pdr/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)
Unit
% of GDP
Source
International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
247 places, 11,875 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.