Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries, 1979–2023
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 0.1% for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2023.
The figure is down 20.5% on the previous year and down 79.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries peaked at 0.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, -0.3%, in 1986.
Least developed countries ranks 39th of 47 groups 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 in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.3% | +1253.4% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -77.2% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | +234.0% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -64.5% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -6.5% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | +195.2% |
| 1986 | -0.3% | -221.4% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -129.6% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +126.5% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -86.9% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | +322.8% |
| 1996 | -0.0% | -126.5% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | -1836.9% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -58.0% |
| 2012 | 0.5% | +183.6% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -70.5% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -57.2% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +323.8% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -99.5% |
| 2019 | -0.1% | -7896.5% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -162.6% |
| 2021 | -0.0% | -161.5% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | -398.0% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -20.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.4% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries
- Manufacturing, value added 185.44 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Imports of goods and services 28.5% (2025)
- External balance on goods and services -6.8% (2025)
- Trade 43.7% (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 0.7802 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 260.34 billion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 4.0% (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per 1,063 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 29.7% (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added 4.9% (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 0.1% in 2023, 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 0.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3% in 1986.
- How does Least developed countries rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Least developed countries ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.6%. 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 (% of GDP). 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, and is divided by GDP.