Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal
Nepal: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 0.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal, 1972–2024
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 Nepal stood at 0.1%.
That represents a change of down 27.9% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal peaked at 0.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 2002.
Nepal ranks 173rd of 200 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 in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | -0.0% | -135.1% |
| 1974 | 0.0% | -2095.4% |
| 1976 | -0.0% | -113.4% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | -36.6% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -4.9% |
| 1981 | -0.0% | -165.6% |
| 1982 | -0.0% | -87.6% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | +1857.7% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | -250.1% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -32.6% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | +65.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | +14.5% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -58.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -38.9% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | +1274.4% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -65.4% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | +648.5% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | +10.6% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -47.2% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | -65.1% |
| 2000 | -0.0% | -110.2% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -4033.4% |
| 2002 | -0.1% | -128.3% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -337.3% |
| 2004 | -0.0% | -102.5% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | -625.6% |
| 2006 | -0.1% | -343.8% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -175.6% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -85.7% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +3653.3% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | +84.2% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -20.5% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -21.0% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -60.0% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | +59.3% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | +102.9% |
| 2017 | 0.7% | +56.7% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -69.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | +163.3% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -30.2% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +40.4% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -69.8% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | +13.6% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -27.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 7 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More economy & growth data for Nepal
- 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2615 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 401.59 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 8.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3372 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 517.97 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 11.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 45.96 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nepal was 0.1% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 2002.
- How does Nepal rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Nepal ranks 173rd out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.