Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 2.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Least developed countries, 1972–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 2.5% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Least developed countries peaked at 4.1% in 2015 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1983.
Least developed countries ranks 12th of 47 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.3% | — |
| 1973 | 0.4% | +30.4% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | -27.6% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | +129.8% |
| 1977 | 0.5% | -37.7% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | +21.0% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | -18.1% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | -13.8% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | +7.2% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -36.6% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | -114.6% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -424.3% |
| 1985 | 0.3% | +152.8% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -51.9% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +74.3% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | +50.3% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +91.5% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -72.9% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | +212.2% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +31.5% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | +24.7% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -43.2% |
| 1995 | 0.9% | +39.8% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 1.6% | +74.1% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +23.7% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | +45.9% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -38.7% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | +66.1% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | +38.8% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | -46.3% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +33.1% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +20.7% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -16.6% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +13.4% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | +19.5% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -22.3% |
| 2014 | 3.0% | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +36.9% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | -32.9% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -26.3% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 1.7% | -19.3% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +41.6% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 8 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | -0.0% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 0.2% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 1.6% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 1.6% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 9 Mozambique 15.4% compare
- 10 Namibia 14.2% compare
- 11 Timor-Leste 13.3% compare
- 12 Mauritania 13.2% compare
- 13 Antigua and Barbuda 12.1% compare
- 14 Grenada 12.0% compare
- 15 Mongolia 11.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- Industry (including construction), value added 4.9% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 260.34 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 4.0% (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 513.09 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 185.44 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 7.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 490.85 billion current US$ (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 402.31 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 1,302 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added 44.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Least developed countries?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Least developed countries was 2.5% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 4.1% in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1983.
- How does Least developed countries rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Least developed countries ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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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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.