Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon

Lebanon: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 7.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
7.1%
Change on year
up 117.3%
World rank
30th
of 200 countries
All-time high
14.9%
in 2008
All-time low
-0.0%
in 1988
Years of data
37
1988–2024

Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon, 1988–2024

0510151988200620241988: -0.008 % of GDP1989: 0.058 % of GDP1990: 0.227 % of GDP1991: 0.035 % of GDP1992: 0.316 % of GDP1993: 0.093 % of GDP1994: 0.235 % of GDP1995: 0.299 % of GDP1996: 0.584 % of GDP1997: 11.4 % of GDP1998: 6.6 % of GDP1999: 5 % of GDP2000: 5.8 % of GDP2001: 8.2 % of GDP2002: 7 % of GDP2003: 14.2 % of GDP2004: 9 % of GDP2005: 12.2 % of GDP2006: 12.1 % of GDP2007: 13.6 % of GDP2008: 14.9 % of GDP2009: 13.6 % of GDP2010: 11.1 % of GDP2011: 7.9 % of GDP2012: 7.1 % of GDP2013: 5.7 % of GDP2014: 6 % of GDP2015: 4.3 % of GDP2016: 5 % of GDP2017: 4.8 % of GDP2018: 4.8 % of GDP2019: 3.7 % of GDP2020: 5.1 % of GDP2021: 2.6 % of GDP2022: 2.5 % of GDP2023: 3.3 % of GDP2024: 7.1 % of GDP

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

Analysis

In 2024, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon stood at 7.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 117.3% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon peaked at 14.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1988.

Lebanon ranks 30th of 200 countries 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 Lebanon, year by year

Annual values for Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) in Lebanon, 1988 to 2024.
Year % of GDP Change
1988 -0.0%
1989 0.1% -817.9%
1990 0.2% +288.4%
1991 0.0% -84.7%
1992 0.3% +809.0%
1993 0.1% -70.5%
1994 0.2% +152.2%
1995 0.3% +27.1%
1996 0.6% +95.7%
1997 11.4% +1855.1%
1998 6.6% -42.4%
1999 5.0% -23.8%
2000 5.8% +14.8%
2001 8.2% +43.1%
2002 7.0% -15.3%
2003 14.2% +104.2%
2004 9.0% -37.0%
2005 12.2% +36.0%
2006 12.1% -0.5%
2007 13.6% +12.0%
2008 14.9% +9.4%
2009 13.6% -8.8%
2010 11.1% -18.0%
2011 7.9% -29.4%
2012 7.1% -10.0%
2013 5.7% -19.7%
2014 6.0% +4.9%
2015 4.3% -27.3%
2016 5.0% +16.1%
2017 4.8% -5.3%
2018 4.8% +1.8%
2019 3.7% -23.7%
2020 5.1% +37.2%
2021 2.6% -48.8%
2022 2.5% -3.2%
2023 3.3% +30.1%
2024 7.1% +117.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.0% -0.0% 0.1% 2
1990s 2.5% 0.0% 11.4% 10
2000s 11.1% 5.8% 14.9% 10
2010s 6.0% 3.7% 11.1% 10
2020s 4.1% 2.5% 7.1% 5

Countries ranked near Lebanon

  1. 27 United Arab Emirates 8.3% compare
  2. 28 Montenegro 7.3% compare
  3. 29 Saint Lucia 7.3% compare
  4. 31 Nicaragua 6.9% compare
  5. 32 Dominica 6.8% compare
  6. 33 Andorra 6.6% compare

See the full ranking of 247 places →

More economy & growth data for Lebanon

All data for Lebanon →

Frequently asked questions

What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon?
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Lebanon was 7.1% 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 Lebanon?
The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2008.
What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Lebanon?
The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1988.
How does Lebanon rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
Lebanon ranks 30th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Lebanon?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Lebanon 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 Lebanon. Statizoid, drawing on International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-direct-investment-net-inflows-percent-of-gdp/lebanon/

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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.