Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Liberia
Liberia: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 1.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Liberia, 1979–2024
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
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net outflows 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 in Liberia peaked at 167.3% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -202.8%, in 1998.
Liberia ranks 36th of 191 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 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 in Liberia?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Liberia was 1.6% in 2024, 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 Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 167.3% in 1997.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was -202.8% in 1998.
- How does Liberia rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Liberia ranks 36th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows 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 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.