Figures released by Banque du Liban show that foreign direct investments (FDI) in Lebanon totaled $2.56bn in 2017, nearly unchanged from $2.57bn in 2016. FDI inflows to Lebanon last year reached their fourth lowest level during the 2002-2017 period, compared to a high of $4.4bn in 2009 and a low of $1.3bn in 2002. 

FDI inflows to the country averaged $2.98bn annually between 2002 and 2017, as they increased from an average of $2.2bn in the 2002-04 period to an average of $3.5bn in the 2005-12 period, but declined to an average of $2.6bn in the 2013-17 period. Further, FDI inflows to Lebanon expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the 2002-17 period, as they posted a CAGR of 18.5% during the 2002-09 period and a CAGR of -6.5% during the 2009-17 period.

Further, FDI inflows to Lebanon were equivalent to 4.7% of GDP in 2017, their second lowest level on record and relative to 5% of GDP in 2016 and to a high of 15.5% of GDP in 2005. In comparison, aggregate FDI inflows to Lebanon were equivalent to 8.4% of GDP between 2002 and 2017.

In parallel, FDI outflows from Lebanon amounted to $1.06bn in 2017, up by 5.9% from $1bn in 2016. They were equivalent to 2% of GDP in 2017, unchanged from the previous year, and constituted their fifth lowest level on record. Also, aggregate FDI outflows from Lebanon were equivalent to 2.5% of GDP between 2002 and 2017.

As such, net FDI inflows to Lebanon reached $1.49bn in 2017 and represented a decline of 4.4% from $1.56bn in 2016. They were equivalent to 2.7% of GDP in 2017, the second lowest level during the 2002-17 period. In comparison, aggregate net FDI inflows to Lebanon were equivalent to 5.9% of GDP between 2002 and 2017.