FDI inflows (% of GDP) — all countries

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — Central America

FDI inflows (% of GDP) in Central America in 2025 — 2.46%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 1.48 pp.

2025 2.46% −0.14 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 4.04%2013
Period minimum 0.46%1972

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — Central America, 1970–2025024619701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 0.97%1971: 0.86%1972: 0.46%1973: 0.88%1974: 0.78%1975: 0.65%1976: 0.83%1977: 0.53%1978: 0.71%1979: 0.99%1980: 1.09%1981: 1.23%1982: 1.13%1983: 1.32%1984: 0.79%1985: 0.98%1986: 1.65%1987: 1.39%1988: 1.39%1989: 1.39%1990: 1.05%1991: 1.52%1992: 1.23%1993: 0.88%1994: 1.99%1995: 2.4%1996: 2.16%1997: 2.66%1998: 2.8%1999: 2.49%2000: 2.45%2001: 3.58%2002: 2.38%2003: 2.45%2004: 3.21%2005: 2.94%2006: 2.56%2007: 3.22%2008: 2.94%2009: 2.24%2010: 2.95%2011: 2.43%2012: 1.95%2013: 4.04%2014: 2.62%2015: 3.34%2016: 3.7%2017: 3.01%2018: 3.21%2019: 2.58%2020: 2.49%2021: 2.95%2022: 2.82%2023: 1.99%2024: 2.6%2025: 2.46%
Change over the period: +1.48 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Central America

Central America 2.46%
World 1.26%
FDI inflows (% of GDP) — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 2.46 −0.14 pp
2024 2.6 +0.62 pp
2023 1.99 −0.83 pp
2022 2.82 −0.13 pp
2021 2.95 +0.45 pp
2020 2.49 −0.08 pp
2019 2.58 −0.63 pp
2018 3.21 +0.2 pp
2017 3.01 −0.69 pp
2016 3.7 +0.36 pp
2015 3.34 +0.72 pp
2014 2.62 −1.41 pp
2013 4.04 +2.09 pp
2012 1.95 −0.48 pp
2011 2.43 −0.52 pp
2010 2.95 +0.71 pp
2009 2.24 −0.7 pp
2008 2.94 −0.28 pp
2007 3.22 +0.66 pp
2006 2.56 −0.38 pp
2005 2.94 −0.27 pp
2004 3.21 +0.77 pp
2003 2.45 +0.07 pp
2002 2.38 −1.21 pp
2001 3.58 +1.13 pp
2000 2.45 −0.03 pp
1999 2.49 −0.31 pp
1998 2.8 +0.14 pp
1997 2.66 +0.5 pp
1996 2.16 −0.24 pp
1995 2.4 +0.41 pp
1994 1.99 +1.11 pp
1993 0.88 −0.35 pp
1992 1.23 −0.29 pp
1991 1.52 +0.48 pp
1990 1.05 −0.34 pp
1989 1.39 −0 pp
1988 1.39 +0.01 pp
1987 1.39 −0.26 pp
1986 1.65 +0.67 pp
1985 0.98 +0.19 pp
1984 0.79 −0.53 pp
1983 1.32 +0.18 pp
1982 1.13 −0.1 pp
1981 1.23 +0.14 pp
1980 1.09 +0.1 pp
1979 0.99 +0.28 pp
1978 0.71 +0.18 pp
1977 0.53 −0.29 pp
1976 0.83 +0.18 pp
1975 0.65 −0.13 pp
1974 0.78 −0.1 pp
1973 0.88 +0.42 pp
1972 0.46 −0.39 pp
1971 0.86 −0.12 pp
1970 0.97

About the indicator

Net inflows of foreign direct investment as a percent of GDP. Scaling by the size of the economy makes it possible to compare the investment appeal of countries of very different size. Abnormally high values — tens of percent of GDP — almost always point to offshore or holding-company arrangements rather than to real projects.

Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.