Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Uruguay
Uruguay: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 1.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay is 1.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 127.4% on the previous year and down 71.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Uruguay peaked at 12.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, -6.6%, in 2023.
That places Uruguay 137th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.1% | — |
| 1971 | -0.0% | -129.7% |
| 1972 | -0.1% | +76.1% |
| 1973 | 0.0% | -167.3% |
| 1974 | -0.0% | -105.6% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | -32814.5% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -86.6% |
| 1977 | 1.6% | +1767.4% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | +63.5% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 2.8% | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -84.6% |
| 1982 | -0.1% | -133.9% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -173.5% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -36.1% |
| 1985 | -0.2% | -338.2% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -476.9% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | -16.2% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -21.6% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -35.4% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -69.6% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | +671.1% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | +30.7% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | -8.2% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | -17.8% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -29.2% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +36.9% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | +51.8% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +29.0% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 3.3% | +152.9% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -22.9% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | +84.7% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +60.5% |
| 2007 | 5.7% | -25.3% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 4.9% | -28.8% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 5.3% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 11.8% | +120.6% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | -86.4% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | +312.9% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | -30.2% |
| 2016 | -0.9% | -119.4% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | -560.7% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -36.1% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | -22.9% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +367.9% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | +45.4% |
| 2023 | -6.6% | -153.6% |
| 2024 | -4.8% | -27.8% |
| 2025 | 1.3% | -127.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.8% | -0.1% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | -0.2% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 1.2% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | -0.9% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | -6.6% | 12.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
- 134 New Zealand 1.4% compare
- 135 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 1.4% compare
- 136 Slovakia 1.3% compare
- 138 United States of America 1.3% compare
- 139 Bermuda 1.3% compare
- 140 Guinea-Bissau 1.2% compare
More economy & growth data for Uruguay
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 4.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1315 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 3,317 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2265 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 5,710 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 9.33 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Uruguay?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Uruguay was 1.3% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.6% in 2023.
- How does Uruguay rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Uruguay ranks 137th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.