Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama
Panama: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama, 1977–2025
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 Panama is 1.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 57.0% on the previous year and down 88.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama peaked at 15.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -7.8%, in 1988.
That places Panama 145th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.4% | — |
| 1978 | -0.1% | -119.4% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | -1844.7% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | +306.8% |
| 1981 | 5.8% | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 6.4% | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | -78.9% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | -73.2% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +186.6% |
| 1986 | 1.9% | +80.3% |
| 1987 | -6.6% | -453.6% |
| 1988 | -7.8% | +18.9% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -111.2% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +142.0% |
| 1991 | 1.8% | -16.3% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +112.7% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -31.5% |
| 1996 | 4.7% | +58.5% |
| 1997 | 13.0% | +180.1% |
| 1998 | 11.9% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -25.0% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | -22.7% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -28.4% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -61.0% |
| 2003 | 7.7% | +300.1% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -21.5% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | +137.5% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -35.1% |
| 2008 | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -58.0% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +115.9% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +46.1% |
| 2012 | 8.1% | -34.0% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | +19.8% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -27.7% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | -2.9% | -142.6% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -195.1% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | +13.7% |
| 2023 | 3.3% | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -26.1% |
| 2025 | 1.0% | -57.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | -0.1% | 1.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | -7.8% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 1.8% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 1.9% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 6.3% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | -2.9% | 3.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More economy & growth data for Panama
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.82 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -7.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2986 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,722 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate -4.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3932 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 7,533 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate -4.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.3932 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Panama was 1.0% 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.8% in 1988.
- How does Panama rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Panama ranks 145th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 88.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama 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.