Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Panama
Panama: Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP was -1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of GDP in Panama, 1977–2025
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 Panama is -1.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1,088.0% on the previous year and down 146.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Panama peaked at 4.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -5.3%, in 2020.
Panama ranks 180th of 189 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Panama, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.7% | — |
| 1984 | 2.6% | +248.2% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | -39.0% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | +43.4% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -90.0% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -67.4% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | +12.9% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +622.7% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | -77.1% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | +693.2% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +142.7% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -31.0% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | -33.1% |
| 2002 | 1.2% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | +47.7% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -34.4% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +89.3% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -29.6% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -36.9% |
| 2009 | -0.6% | -166.1% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -175.4% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | +742.7% |
| 2012 | -0.2% | -106.2% |
| 2013 | 1.2% | -584.0% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +38.7% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | +23.8% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -43.8% |
| 2017 | -0.5% | -145.5% |
| 2018 | 0.7% | -224.7% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | +60.7% |
| 2020 | -5.3% | -605.8% |
| 2021 | -0.2% | -95.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -229.0% |
| 2023 | 1.7% | +454.0% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -94.4% |
| 2025 | -1.0% | -1088.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | 0.7% | 2.6% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 2.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | -0.6% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.1% | -0.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7% | -5.3% | 1.7% | 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 842.84 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.249 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 4,928 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 2.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.249 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4,928 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Panama?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp in Panama was -1.0% in 2025, 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.3% in 2020.
- How does Panama rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp?
- Panama ranks 180th out of 189 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 146.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama 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.