Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) was 938.27 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries, 1971–2025
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$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries stood at 938.27 million BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.6% on the previous year and up 107.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries peaked at 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ in 2010 and was at its lowest, -987.61 million BoP, current US$, in 1998.
That places Least developed countries 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1973 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1974 | 3.93 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1975 | 1.74 million BoP, current US$ | -55.7% |
| 1976 | 6.08 million BoP, current US$ | +249.3% |
| 1977 | 7.71 million BoP, current US$ | +26.8% |
| 1978 | 982,713 BoP, current US$ | -87.3% |
| 1979 | 14.29 million BoP, current US$ | +1354.0% |
| 1980 | 233.91 million BoP, current US$ | +1537.0% |
| 1981 | 56.25 million BoP, current US$ | -76.0% |
| 1982 | 183.68 million BoP, current US$ | +226.5% |
| 1983 | 62.24 million BoP, current US$ | -66.1% |
| 1984 | 61.32 million BoP, current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 259.63 million BoP, current US$ | +323.4% |
| 1986 | -267.74 million BoP, current US$ | -203.1% |
| 1987 | 82.78 million BoP, current US$ | -130.9% |
| 1988 | 209.87 million BoP, current US$ | +153.5% |
| 1989 | 30.78 million BoP, current US$ | -85.3% |
| 1990 | -69.15 million BoP, current US$ | -324.7% |
| 1991 | 226.28 million BoP, current US$ | -427.2% |
| 1992 | 99.69 million BoP, current US$ | -55.9% |
| 1993 | 54.89 million BoP, current US$ | -44.9% |
| 1994 | 104.51 million BoP, current US$ | +90.4% |
| 1995 | -58.70 million BoP, current US$ | -156.2% |
| 1996 | -31.81 million BoP, current US$ | -45.8% |
| 1997 | 536.82 million BoP, current US$ | -1787.6% |
| 1998 | -987.61 million BoP, current US$ | -284.0% |
| 1999 | 100.11 million BoP, current US$ | -110.1% |
| 2000 | 655.83 million BoP, current US$ | +555.1% |
| 2001 | -159.80 million BoP, current US$ | -124.4% |
| 2002 | 288.70 million BoP, current US$ | -280.7% |
| 2003 | 311.43 million BoP, current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +240.2% |
| 2005 | 757.86 million BoP, current US$ | -28.5% |
| 2006 | 864.95 million BoP, current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +55.9% |
| 2008 | 3.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +134.6% |
| 2009 | 325.35 million BoP, current US$ | -89.7% |
| 2010 | 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +1180.9% |
| 2011 | 3.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 3.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.4% |
| 2013 | 3.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.2% |
| 2014 | 1.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -67.9% |
| 2015 | 452.76 million BoP, current US$ | -59.5% |
| 2016 | 2.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +373.1% |
| 2017 | 2.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.8% |
| 2018 | 52.62 million BoP, current US$ | -98.1% |
| 2019 | -878.07 million BoP, current US$ | -1768.8% |
| 2020 | 520.57 million BoP, current US$ | -159.3% |
| 2021 | -153.59 million BoP, current US$ | -129.5% |
| 2022 | 404.75 million BoP, current US$ | -363.5% |
| 2023 | 1.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +231.5% |
| 2024 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.8% |
| 2025 | 938.27 million BoP, current US$ | -21.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Least developed countries changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +1787.6% | -31.81 million BoP, current US$ | 536.82 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2019 | -1768.8% | 52.62 million BoP, current US$ | -878.07 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1980 | +1537.0% | 14.29 million BoP, current US$ | 233.91 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1979 | +1354.0% | 982,713 BoP, current US$ | 14.29 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2010 | +1180.9% | 325.35 million BoP, current US$ | 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.86 million BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 14.29 million BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 91.27 million BoP, current US$ | -267.74 million BoP, current US$ | 259.63 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.50 million BoP, current US$ | -987.61 million BoP, current US$ | 536.82 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 861.73 million BoP, current US$ | -159.80 million BoP, current US$ | 3.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.02 billion BoP, current US$ | -878.07 million BoP, current US$ | 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 708.10 million BoP, current US$ | -153.59 million BoP, current US$ | 1.34 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 36 Greece 5.96 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 37 Finland 5.26 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 38 Colombia 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 39 Norway 3.37 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 40 Qatar 3.34 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 41 Kuwait 2.99 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 42 Argentina 2.74 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 10.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 0.7176 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current US$) 5.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 116.01 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 0.0852 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) 5.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 141.86 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1042 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.2287 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries was 938.27 million 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ in 2010.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was -987.61 million BoP, current US$ in 1998.
- How does Least developed countries rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Least developed countries ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 107.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.