FDI inflows (% of GDP) — all countries

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South America

FDI inflows (% of GDP) in South America in 2025 — 2.78%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 2.25 pp.

2025 2.78% −0.19 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 5.53%1999
Period minimum 0.23%1972

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South America, 1970–2025024619701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 0.53%1971: 0.74%1972: 0.23%1973: 0.69%1974: 0.4%1975: 0.82%1976: 0.34%1977: 0.65%1978: 0.7%1979: 0.8%1980: 0.71%1981: 0.85%1982: 0.79%1983: 0.6%1984: 0.52%1985: 0.8%1986: 0.38%1987: 0.44%1988: 0.87%1989: 0.63%1990: 0.65%1991: 0.95%1992: 1.15%1993: 0.93%1994: 1.47%1995: 1.38%1996: 2.31%1997: 3.1%1998: 3.37%1999: 5.53%2000: 4.26%2001: 3.13%2002: 2.86%2003: 2%2004: 2.68%2005: 2.6%2006: 2.09%2007: 3.28%2008: 3.37%2009: 2.14%2010: 3.35%2011: 3.92%2012: 4.14%2013: 3.16%2014: 3.42%2015: 3.5%2016: 3.3%2017: 2.88%2018: 3.3%2019: 3.28%2020: 2.34%2021: 2.86%2022: 3.83%2023: 2.93%2024: 2.96%2025: 2.78%
Change over the period: +2.25 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 2.78%
World 1.26%
FDI inflows (% of GDP) — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 2.78 −0.19 pp
2024 2.96 +0.04 pp
2023 2.93 −0.9 pp
2022 3.83 +0.97 pp
2021 2.86 +0.52 pp
2020 2.34 −0.95 pp
2019 3.28 −0.02 pp
2018 3.3 +0.42 pp
2017 2.88 −0.42 pp
2016 3.3 −0.2 pp
2015 3.5 +0.08 pp
2014 3.42 +0.26 pp
2013 3.16 −0.98 pp
2012 4.14 +0.22 pp
2011 3.92 +0.57 pp
2010 3.35 +1.21 pp
2009 2.14 −1.22 pp
2008 3.37 +0.09 pp
2007 3.28 +1.19 pp
2006 2.09 −0.51 pp
2005 2.6 −0.08 pp
2004 2.68 +0.67 pp
2003 2 −0.85 pp
2002 2.86 −0.27 pp
2001 3.13 −1.13 pp
2000 4.26 −1.28 pp
1999 5.53 +2.17 pp
1998 3.37 +0.26 pp
1997 3.1 +0.79 pp
1996 2.31 +0.93 pp
1995 1.38 −0.09 pp
1994 1.47 +0.54 pp
1993 0.93 −0.22 pp
1992 1.15 +0.2 pp
1991 0.95 +0.3 pp
1990 0.65 +0.02 pp
1989 0.63 −0.23 pp
1988 0.87 +0.43 pp
1987 0.44 +0.06 pp
1986 0.38 −0.42 pp
1985 0.8 +0.28 pp
1984 0.52 −0.08 pp
1983 0.6 −0.19 pp
1982 0.79 −0.06 pp
1981 0.85 +0.14 pp
1980 0.71 −0.09 pp
1979 0.8 +0.1 pp
1978 0.7 +0.05 pp
1977 0.65 +0.31 pp
1976 0.34 −0.48 pp
1975 0.82 +0.42 pp
1974 0.4 −0.3 pp
1973 0.69 +0.46 pp
1972 0.23 −0.51 pp
1971 0.74 +0.21 pp
1970 0.53

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.