Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean, 1970–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean is 2.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 6.6% on the previous year and down 46.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 5.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1972.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 7th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, 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 Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.9% | — |
| 1971 | 1.0% | +11.4% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | -53.9% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | +82.0% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -30.2% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | +41.7% |
| 1976 | 0.5% | -37.9% |
| 1977 | 0.6% | +28.3% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | +10.7% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +19.0% |
| 1980 | 0.9% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | +17.0% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | -11.6% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -10.7% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -23.0% |
| 1985 | 0.8% | +37.1% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -20.1% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +47.5% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -7.1% |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +44.1% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | -21.1% |
| 1994 | 1.7% | +77.9% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +37.8% |
| 1997 | 3.0% | +32.8% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +7.1% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +39.0% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -19.9% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -18.9% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -15.6% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | +29.2% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +12.3% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | +29.4% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 2.7% | -28.7% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +35.7% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +26.4% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -31.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | -16.1% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | +20.9% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -19.4% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | -6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 0.8% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.1% | 2.3% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More economy & growth data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,782 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1354 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (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$) 7,621 current US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5777 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1607 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6869 current US$ per US$ of GDP (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 2.7% in 2025, 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1972.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 7th 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 46.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.
Download this data
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About this data
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.