Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Liberia
Liberia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Liberia, 1979–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Liberia is 1.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.5% on the previous year and up 242.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Liberia peaked at 167.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -202.8%, in 1998.
Liberia ranks 34th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 27.6% | — |
| 1981 | 5.0% | -82.1% |
| 1982 | 18.7% | +276.8% |
| 1983 | 7.4% | -60.3% |
| 1984 | 7.0% | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 30.0% | +327.4% |
| 1986 | -31.8% | -206.1% |
| 1987 | 6.2% | -119.6% |
| 1988 | 19.5% | +212.0% |
| 1989 | 8.2% | -57.9% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | -81.2% |
| 1991 | 105.3% | +6711.5% |
| 1992 | 26.2% | -75.1% |
| 1993 | 31.8% | +21.2% |
| 1994 | 69.1% | +117.5% |
| 1995 | -7.2% | -110.4% |
| 1996 | -15.3% | +113.1% |
| 1997 | 167.3% | -1190.9% |
| 1998 | -202.8% | -221.2% |
| 1999 | 70.3% | -134.7% |
| 2000 | 89.2% | +26.9% |
| 2001 | -32.2% | -136.1% |
| 2002 | 43.5% | -234.9% |
| 2003 | 23.1% | -46.8% |
| 2004 | 33.9% | +46.8% |
| 2005 | 46.0% | +35.6% |
| 2006 | 31.0% | -32.8% |
| 2007 | 26.4% | -14.7% |
| 2008 | -6.4% | -124.4% |
| 2009 | -5.1% | -20.8% |
| 2010 | 76.0% | -1593.0% |
| 2011 | -9.3% | -112.2% |
| 2012 | 49.7% | -636.5% |
| 2013 | 10.3% | -79.3% |
| 2014 | -1.1% | -110.7% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -185.5% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +423.9% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | -67.6% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | +53.7% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +25.1% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -86.3% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | +329.7% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | +30.7% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -14.2% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | -22.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | -31.8% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.6% | -202.8% | 167.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.9% | -32.2% | 89.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | -9.3% | 76.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 0.4% | 2.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More economy & growth data for Liberia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.97 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.15 Percent per annum (2029)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 5.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.3265 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 298.89 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.2899 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 265.33 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU) 2.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant LCU), per 0.292 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Liberia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Liberia was 1.6% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 167.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was -202.8% in 1998.
- How does Liberia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp?
- Liberia ranks 34th out of 189 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 242.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (Balance of Payments), UNCTAD, and national sources, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net outflows of foreign direct investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world.