Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Panama
Panama: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was -1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Panama, 1977–2025
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
Panama recorded -1.0% for foreign direct investment, net outflows in 2025.
The figure 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 in Panama peaked at 4.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -5.3%, in 2020.
Panama ranks 182nd of 191 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 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)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate -7.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2986 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,722 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate -4.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3932 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 7,533 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate -4.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.3932 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Panama?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Panama was -1.0% 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.3% in 2020.
- How does Panama rank for foreign direct investment, net outflows?
- Panama ranks 182nd out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows 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 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.