Country profile
Cayman Islands
Latin America & Caribbean · High income · Capital: George Town
Key figures, 2024
FDI inflows 2024
$3.2 bn
Inflows % of GDP
40.9%
FDI outflows
−$1.7 bn
Net FDI
$4.9 bn
FDI % of investment
—
In 2024, Cayman Islands recorded FDI net inflows of $3.2 bn, down 74% from $12.1 bn in 2023. That is roughly in line with its 2019–2023 average of $3.2 bn. By value, that ranks 57th of 195 economies with data for 2024. Inflows peaked at $80.5 bn in 2015 (data begin in 1974). Inflows were equivalent to 40.9% of GDP in 2024 — above the Latin America & Caribbean aggregate (2.9%) and above the world as a whole (1.4%).
About this summary
Generated automatically from World Bank data. Figures are balance-of-payments net flows in current US$; 2024 is the latest year with broad coverage across economies.Trends
FDI flows over time
Net flows, current US$ (balance-of-payments basis)
- Inflows
- Outflows
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD and BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD.
Cayman Islands compared with its region and the world
- Cayman Islands
- Latin America & Caribbean (aggregate)
- World
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicator BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS.
FDI vs remittances, aid and portfolio equity, current US$
- FDI inflows
- Remittances
- Aid (ODA)
- Portfolio equity
FDI is only one of the ways foreign money reaches an economy. For many developing economies, remittances from workers abroad or official aid are larger and more stable; portfolio equity is typically the most volatile.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Indicators BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD, BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT, DT.ODA.ODAT.CD, BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD.
Economy at a glance
The economy behind the investment
The macroeconomic, trade and workforce indicators investors and trade officials look at alongside FDI — latest year, 15-year trend and regional and world benchmarks.
Size & growth
GDP
$7.8 bn2024
157th of 200
Real GDP growth
3.8%2024
83rd of 200Region 2.3%World 2.9%
GDP per capita
$104,2932024
7th of 200Region $10,705World $13,717
GNI per capita (PPP)
$74,4702024
22nd of 195Region $22,232World $24,335
Population
76 k2025
198th of 217
Population growth
1.9%2025
57th of 217Region 0.7%World 0.9%
Macro stability
Inflation (annual average)
−0.6%2016
167th of 189Region 1.6%World 1.6%
Current account balance, % of GDP
−8.8%2024
144th of 165
Trade & structure
Exports of goods & services
$3.4 bn2020
128th of 184
Imports of goods & services
$2.6 bn2020
149th of 184
Trade openness (% of GDP)
106%2020
40th of 184Region 46.0%World 51.9%
Manufacturing, % of GDP
0.9%2024
171st of 178Region 17.7%World 14.9%
Services, % of GDP
86.5%2024
5th of 189Region 67.7%World 63.3%
High-tech exports, % of manufactured exports
85.5%2024
1st of 125Region 13.1%World 24.7%
Workforce & innovation
Internet users, % of population
81.1%2017
42nd of 200Region 60.2%World 46.3%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Latest available year shown for each indicator; ranks are among economies reporting that year (highest = 1st). Region = World Bank regional aggregate. Growth, inflation, unemployment, the current account and government debt are shown in the IMF table above where the IMF covers the economy.
Who invests
Source and destination economies
Direct investment positions (stocks) by immediate counterpart economy, as reported to the OECD.
No bilateral positions for this economy
Structure & policy
Sectors and FDI openness
Inward FDI positions by sector
No sector breakdown
FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness
IndexNot covered by the index
Peers
Similar-sized economies in Latin America & Caribbean
The six economies in the same World Bank region with the closest GDP, ranked by FDI inflows as a share of GDP (2024).
- 🇰🇾Cayman Islands40.9%
- 🇸🇷Suriname15.1%
- 🇨🇼Curacao4.3%
- 🇧🇧Barbados4.0%
- 🇦🇼Aruba2.5%
- 🇧🇸The Bahamas1.5%
Sources & notes
World Bank, World Development Indicators
- FDI net inflows —
BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net outflows —
BM.KLT.DINV.CD.WD - FDI net inflows, % of GDP —
BX.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS - Gross fixed capital formation —
NE.GDI.FTOT.CD - Personal remittances received —
BX.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT - Net official development assistance received —
DT.ODA.ODAT.CD - Portfolio equity net inflows —
BX.PEF.TOTL.CD.WD - Real GDP growth —
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG - Inflation (annual average) —
FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG - Unemployment rate —
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS - Current account balance, % of GDP —
BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS - Exports of goods & services —
NE.EXP.GNFS.CD - Central government debt, % of GDP —
GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS
OECD: FDI statistics by partner economy and by industry (Benchmark Definition, 4th edition) and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.
Flows vs positions. Charts on this page show annual balance-of-payments flows. Bilateral and sector figures are positions (accumulated stocks) and are not directly comparable.
Negative values. Net flows can be negative when foreign investors withdraw capital or intra-company loans are repaid faster than new investment arrives.
Timing. Headline figures use 2024, the latest year with broad coverage across economies; charts also show any newer early estimates. Rankings cover economies only, not aggregates.
Counterparts. Bilateral data record the immediate counterpart, so financial centres and conduit economies can appear larger than the ultimate investors behind them.