Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 137.84 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Latin America & Caribbean, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Latin America & Caribbean recorded 137.84 billion BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
The figure is up 80.4% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 174.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2015 and was at its lowest, -345.20 million BoP, current US$, in 1990.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 18th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 23.22 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 3.87 million BoP, current US$ | -83.3% |
| 1972 | 23.53 million BoP, current US$ | +508.0% |
| 1973 | 33.11 million BoP, current US$ | +40.7% |
| 1974 | 69.34 million BoP, current US$ | +109.4% |
| 1975 | 147.53 million BoP, current US$ | +112.8% |
| 1976 | 221.01 million BoP, current US$ | +49.8% |
| 1977 | 214.79 million BoP, current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 152.91 million BoP, current US$ | -28.8% |
| 1979 | 173.08 million BoP, current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 584.78 million BoP, current US$ | +237.9% |
| 1981 | 133.65 million BoP, current US$ | -77.1% |
| 1982 | 483.61 million BoP, current US$ | +261.8% |
| 1983 | 306.69 million BoP, current US$ | -36.6% |
| 1984 | 409.61 million BoP, current US$ | +33.6% |
| 1985 | 469.27 million BoP, current US$ | +14.6% |
| 1986 | 1.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +163.0% |
| 1987 | 409.91 million BoP, current US$ | -66.8% |
| 1988 | 579.36 million BoP, current US$ | +41.3% |
| 1989 | 4.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +628.5% |
| 1990 | -345.20 million BoP, current US$ | -108.2% |
| 1991 | 3.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -1087.7% |
| 1992 | 2.72 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.2% |
| 1993 | 7.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +192.8% |
| 1994 | 6.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.0% |
| 1995 | 7.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.9% |
| 1996 | 7.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 16.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +103.6% |
| 1998 | 15.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 22.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.4% |
| 2000 | 52.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +130.5% |
| 2001 | 40.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.5% |
| 2002 | 8.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -78.7% |
| 2003 | 27.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +221.1% |
| 2004 | 34.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
| 2005 | 43.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.2% |
| 2006 | 81.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +88.1% |
| 2007 | 91.40 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 2008 | 99.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 62.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -37.3% |
| 2010 | 137.83 billion BoP, current US$ | +121.2% |
| 2011 | 142.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 130.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.7% |
| 2013 | 141.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 150.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 174.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2016 | 74.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -57.2% |
| 2017 | 91.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2018 | 71.85 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.3% |
| 2019 | 90.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2020 | 19.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -78.0% |
| 2021 | 99.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +403.9% |
| 2022 | 115.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2023 | 86.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.6% |
| 2024 | 76.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.0% |
| 2025 | 137.84 billion BoP, current US$ | +80.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Latin America & Caribbean changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1087.7% | -345.20 million BoP, current US$ | 3.41 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1989 | +628.5% | 579.36 million BoP, current US$ | 4.22 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1972 | +508.0% | 3.87 million BoP, current US$ | 23.53 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2021 | +403.9% | 19.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 99.68 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 106.24 million BoP, current US$ | 3.87 million BoP, current US$ | 221.01 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 883.17 million BoP, current US$ | 133.65 million BoP, current US$ | 4.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -345.20 million BoP, current US$ | 22.83 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 54.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 99.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 120.45 billion BoP, current US$ | 71.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 174.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 89.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 19.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 137.84 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 15 British Virgin Islands 47.15 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 16 South Korea 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 17 India 38.21 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 18 Switzerland 32.31 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 19 Brazil 30.18 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 20 Saudi Arabia 27.03 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 21 Cayman Islands 25.25 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,782 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.1354 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 1,502 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.6869 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 2.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 7,621 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1607 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 5.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Latin America & Caribbean was 137.84 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 174.39 billion BoP, current US$ in 2015.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was -345.20 million BoP, current US$ in 1990.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 18th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in an economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. This series shows net outflows of investment from the reporting economy to the rest of the world. Data are in current U.S. dollars.