Latin America & Caribbean Foreign Direct Investment 1970-2024

Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting 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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
  • Latin America & Caribbean foreign direct investment for 2023 was $255.02B, a 6.88% increase from 2022.
  • Latin America & Caribbean foreign direct investment for 2022 was $238.59B, a 30.35% increase from 2021.
  • Latin America & Caribbean foreign direct investment for 2021 was $183.04B, a 20.73% increase from 2020.
  • Latin America & Caribbean foreign direct investment for 2020 was $151.61B, a 23.03% decline from 2019.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Inflows, US $
World $847.82B
East Asia & Pacific $478.86B
North America $396.69B
Latin America & Caribbean $255.02B
OECD members $75.89B
Sub-Saharan Africa $37.75B
South Asia $32.83B
European Union $-379.49B
Euro Area $-386.64B
Latin America & Caribbean Foreign Direct Investment - Historical Data
Year Inflows, US $ % of GDP
2023 $255.02B 2.89%
2022 $238.59B 3.44%
2021 $183.04B 2.81%
2020 $151.61B 2.53%
2019 $196.97B 3.08%
2018 $209.51B 3.31%
2017 $203.07B 3.04%
2016 $220.16B 3.51%
2015 $322.23B 5.09%
2014 $279.95B 3.80%
2013 $342.51B 3.85%
2012 $297.45B 3.92%
2011 $293.68B 4.07%
2010 $234.01B 3.67%
2009 $155.51B 2.70%
2008 $222.44B 3.79%
2007 $192.67B 4.05%
2006 $113.64B 3.13%
2005 $79.25B 2.78%
2004 $99.36B 2.96%
2003 $57.42B 2.29%
2002 $60.88B 2.72%
2001 $78.63B 3.35%
2000 $97.38B 3.59%
1999 $104.72B 4.49%
1998 $85.55B 3.23%
1997 $73.78B 3.02%
1996 $48.06B 2.27%
1995 $30.17B 1.65%
1994 $29.80B 1.67%
1993 $14.98B 0.94%
1992 $14.66B 1.19%
1991 $13.19B 1.17%
1990 $8.49B 0.81%
1989 $8.32B 0.86%
1988 $8.58B 1.08%
1987 $5.39B 0.85%
1986 $4.82B 0.98%
1985 $6.44B 0.91%
1984 $5.07B 0.53%
1983 $5.49B 0.78%
1982 $7.00B 0.92%
1981 $8.73B 1.04%
1980 $6.45B 0.93%
1979 $5.28B 0.83%
1978 $3.99B 0.67%
1977 $2.98B 0.44%
1976 $2.11B 0.10%
1975 $3.03B 0.92%
1974 $2.04B 0.47%
1973 $2.25B 0.69%
1972 $0.92B 0.32%
1971 $1.77B 1.34%
1970 $1.43B 1.19%