Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 6.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nicaragua, 1970–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 6.9% for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.
That represents a change of up 9.7% on the previous year and down 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nicaragua peaked at 9.6% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1988.
That places Nicaragua 31st 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.9% | — |
| 1971 | 1.6% | -16.7% |
| 1972 | 1.1% | -29.1% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | -24.9% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | -24.0% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | -36.1% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | -26.7% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | -45.7% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | +227.2% |
| 1981 | -0.0% | -100.2% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -33595.6% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -99.1% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +6474.1% |
| 1985 | -0.0% | -100.2% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -658.0% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +2909.8% |
| 1988 | -0.0% | -105.5% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -8178.5% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -76.0% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | +4150.4% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -70.3% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | +164.0% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | -45.3% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +77.6% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | +29.7% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +66.3% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | +47.6% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | -24.9% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -46.2% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +39.1% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 5.1% | +21.3% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +43.6% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | -29.2% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | +71.3% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | -23.1% |
| 2013 | 8.8% | +19.3% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | -16.4% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -14.4% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | -38.4% |
| 2020 | 5.9% | +48.1% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | +25.6% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | +11.7% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | -24.0% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.9% | 0.2% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 0.1% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 2.8% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 4.0% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 5.9% | 8.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More economy & growth data for Nicaragua
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.29 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 73.80 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0037 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.67 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 21.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0687 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 195.53 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 36.36 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nicaragua?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Nicaragua was 6.9% 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1988.
- How does Nicaragua rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Nicaragua ranks 31st out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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.