Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification
Least developed countries: UN classification: Foreign direct investment, net outflows was 277.65 million BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification, 1971–2025
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 BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification stood at 277.65 million BoP, current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 77.7% on the previous year and down 38.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification peaked at 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ in 2010 and was at its lowest, -987.61 million BoP, current US$, in 1998.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.86 million BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 14.29 million BoP, current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 91.27 million BoP, current US$ | -267.74 million BoP, current US$ | 259.63 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.50 million BoP, current US$ | -987.61 million BoP, current US$ | 536.82 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 861.73 million BoP, current US$ | -159.80 million BoP, current US$ | 3.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -974.39 million BoP, current US$ | 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 704.81 million BoP, current US$ | -436.58 million BoP, current US$ | 1.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
More economy & growth data for Least developed countries: UN classification
- Final consumption expenditure 1.35 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita growth 2.3% (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added 233.76 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 4.0% (2025)
- Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure 71.8% (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 4.8% (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 1.62 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Gross national expenditure 1.78 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita 843.26 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure 1.16 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification?
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows in Least developed countries: UN classification was 277.65 million BoP, current US$ 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 Least developed countries: UN classification?
- The highest recorded value was 4.17 billion BoP, current US$ in 2010.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net outflows recorded in Least developed countries: UN classification?
- The lowest recorded value was -987.61 million BoP, current US$ in 1998.
- Is foreign direct investment, net outflows rising or falling in Least developed countries: UN classification?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries: UN classification 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 (BoP, current US$). 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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.