Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was -3.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago, 1970–2025
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 Trinidad and Tobago is -3.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 73.2% on the previous year and down 564.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago peaked at 17.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -7.0%, in 2012.
That places Trinidad and Tobago 195th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Trinidad and Tobago, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.1% | — |
| 1971 | 11.5% | +13.8% |
| 1972 | 7.9% | -31.0% |
| 1973 | 5.0% | -36.9% |
| 1974 | 5.9% | +17.4% |
| 1975 | 3.8% | -35.3% |
| 1976 | 5.3% | +38.9% |
| 1977 | 2.7% | -49.6% |
| 1978 | 3.6% | +35.9% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | -43.6% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | +45.2% |
| 1981 | 3.7% | +24.7% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | -32.3% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -39.4% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -98.9% |
| 1986 | -0.3% | -1988.2% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -327.9% |
| 1988 | 1.4% | +102.5% |
| 1989 | 3.4% | +146.2% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | -37.3% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | +47.8% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 8.1% | +148.3% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | +28.5% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | -46.2% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +10.0% |
| 1997 | 17.4% | +182.3% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | -30.7% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | -21.8% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | -11.8% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | +13.5% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | +18.3% |
| 2003 | 7.1% | -36.1% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | -21.8% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -18.3% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -20.2% |
| 2008 | 10.0% | +162.0% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -63.2% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -33.0% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -93.5% |
| 2012 | -7.0% | -4446.4% |
| 2013 | -4.0% | -43.6% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | -156.7% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -70.6% |
| 2016 | -0.1% | -115.2% |
| 2017 | -2.0% | +1878.1% |
| 2018 | -2.9% | +48.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | -126.7% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | +545.1% |
| 2021 | -3.9% | -176.3% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -207.2% |
| 2023 | -6.0% | -244.7% |
| 2024 | -1.8% | -70.5% |
| 2025 | -3.1% | +73.2% |
Trinidad and Tobago compared with similar countries
- Trinidad and Tobago's -3.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%. (72 countries reporting)
- Trinidad and Tobago's -3.1% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.5%. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | -4446.4% | 0.2% | -7.0% |
| 1986 | -1988.2% | 0.0% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | -1878.1% | -0.1% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | +545.1% | 0.8% | 5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.8% | 2.0% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | -0.3% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 2.2% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 3.7% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.0% | -7.0% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.9% | -6.0% | 5.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Trinidad and Tobago
More economy & growth data for Trinidad and Tobago
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.73 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.79 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -390.11 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.015 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -285.22 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -794.39 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -75.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0306 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -580.8 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -10.46 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Trinidad and Tobago was -3.1% 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 1997.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.0% in 2012.
- How does Trinidad and Tobago rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Trinidad and Tobago ranks 195th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Trinidad and Tobago?
- Over the last ten years it is down 564.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Trinidad and Tobago 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.
Download this data
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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.