Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South America

South America: Total FDI outflows — Value US$ was 40,789 million USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
40,789 million USD
Change on year
down 21.7%
Rank
16th
of 30 groups
All-time high
52,108 million USD
in 2022
All-time low
-2,703 million USD
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South America, 1990–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k1990200620231990: 1.1k million USD1991: 1.4k million USD1992: 1.9k million USD1993: 2.6k million USD1994: 3.1k million USD1995: 3.7k million USD1996: 3.1k million USD1997: 7.7k million USD1998: 8.6k million USD1999: 7.1k million USD2000: 8.0k million USD2001: -183.6 million USD2002: 4.1k million USD2003: 5.0k million USD2004: 12.9k million USD2005: 12.0k million USD2006: 31.4k million USD2007: 17.2k million USD2008: 35.3k million USD2009: 4.3k million USD2010: 39.1k million USD2011: 38.9k million USD2012: 14.2k million USD2013: 24.3k million USD2014: 21.4k million USD2015: 27.1k million USD2016: 8.4k million USD2017: 32.7k million USD2018: 232.1 million USD2019: 36.4k million USD2020: -2.7k million USD2021: 41.4k million USD2022: 52.1k million USD2023: 40.8k million USD

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in million USD.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total fdi outflows — value us$ in South America is 40,789 million USD, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 21.7% on the previous year and up 67.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total fdi outflows — value us$ in South America peaked at 52,108 million USD in 2022 and was at its lowest, -2,703 million USD, in 2020.

That places South America 16th out of 30 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4,033 million USD 1,109 million USD 8,576 million USD 10
2000s 13,004 million USD -183.61 million USD 35,303 million USD 10
2010s 24,268 million USD 232.09 million USD 39,105 million USD 10
2020s 32,889 million USD -2,703 million USD 52,108 million USD 4

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 13 Brazil 29,920 million USD compare
  2. 14 Russian Federation 29,110 million USD compare
  3. 15 China, Taiwan Province of 24,714 million USD compare
  4. 16 United Arab Emirates 22,328 million USD compare
  5. 17 Malta 20,860 million USD compare
  6. 18 Cayman Islands 20,422 million USD compare
  7. 19 Saudi Arabia 16,071 million USD compare

See the full ranking of 214 places →

More economy & growth data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is total fdi outflows — value us$ in South America?
Total fdi outflows — value us$ in South America was 40,789 million USD in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 52,108 million USD in 2022.
What is the lowest total fdi outflows — value us$ recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was -2,703 million USD in 2020.
How does South America rank for total fdi outflows — value us$?
South America ranks 16th out of 30 groups with data for 2023.
Is total fdi outflows — value us$ rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is up 67.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South America data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Total FDI outflows — Value US$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total FDI outflows — Value US$ in South America. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/total-fdi-outflows-value-us/south-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Total FDI outflows — Value US$
Unit
million USD
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
214 places, 6,077 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

FDI is an investment which aims to acquire a lasting management influence (10 percent or more of the voting stock) in an enterprise operating in a foreign economy. FDI may be undertaken by individuals, as well as business entities. The foreign direct investor most often is aiming to gain access to natural resources, to markets, to labour supply, to technology, to ensure security of supplies or to control the quality of a certain product. FDI can be decomposed into two types of investments: mergers and acquisitions (MA) and greenfield investments. The latter type results in the creation of new entities and the setting up of offices, buildings, plants or factories from scratch in a foreign economy. FDI is the sum of equity capital, reinvested earnings and other FDI capital. Equity capital comprises equity in branches, all shares in subsidiaries and associates (except non-participating, preferred shares that are treated as debt securities and are included under other FDI capital) and other contributions such as the provision of machinery. Reinvested earnings consist of the direct investor's share (in proportion to equity participation) of earnings not distributed by the direct investment enterprise. Other FDI capital (loans) includes the borrowing and lending of funds, including debt securities and trade credits between direct investors and direct investment enterprises. FDI inflows and outflows are important for tracking the direct investment conditions each year. Outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions from the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises resident abroad. Whereas, Inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows record the value of cross-border direct investment transactions received by the reporting economy during a year. It represents transactions affecting the investment in enterprises of a specific industry resident in the reporting economy.