How much fixed-capital formation is recorded relative to the size of each economy? The figures below use World Bank observations for 2024. The observation period is distinct from the date this article is prepared.
Key takeaways
- Panama ranked 1 with 31.4 % of GDP in 2024.
- Dominican Republic ranked 2 with 26.1 % of GDP in 2024.
- Honduras ranked 3 with 24.2 % of GDP in 2024.
How much fixed-capital formation is recorded relative to the size of each economy?
Gross fixed capital formation covers additions to fixed assets, with relevant disposals deducted under national-accounts definitions. It concerns productive and other fixed assets rather than purchases of financial securities. Gross means the measure is not reduced by consumption of fixed capital.
How to interpret the differences
The GDP share helps compare the scale of this investment across differently sized economies. It does not show whether individual projects are productive, fairly distributed or environmentally sustainable. Nor is it a measure of foreign direct investment: domestic and foreign financing are different questions.
A country average, not a regional total
Mean: 20.3 % of GDP in 2024.
This is an unweighted mean across the reported countries. Each country contributes equally; the result is not a GDP-weighted or population-weighted regional aggregate.
What to investigate next
Treat this comparison as a starting point for examining capital formation. A sector breakdown or historical series would be needed to distinguish housing, infrastructure and business investment or to identify a sustained change. A single-period ratio cannot establish future returns.
| Rank | Country | Gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama | 31.4% |
| 2 | Dominican Republic | 26.1% |
| 3 | Honduras | 24.2% |
| 4 | Mexico | 23.8% |
| 5 | Chile | 23.7% |
| 6 | Nicaragua | 23.0% |
| 7 | Canada | 22.9% |
| 8 | El Salvador | 22.8% |
| 9 | United States | 21.3% |
| 10 | Paraguay | 20.8% |
| 11 | Peru | 20.6% |
| 12 | Ecuador | 19.0% |
| 13 | Brazil | 16.9% |
| 14 | Bolivia | 16.6% |
| 15 | Uruguay | 16.3% |
| 16 | Costa Rica | 16.3% |
| 17 | Colombia | 16.2% |
| 18 | Guatemala | 16.0% |
| 19 | Argentina | 15.9% |
| 20 | Cuba | 12.8% |
Source: World Bank WDI (NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS)
Methodology: World Bank indicator NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Methodology
World Bank indicator NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Caveats
Coverage is limited to the configured selected-country universe and the stated reference year. Missing observations are not imputed.
Data attribution and reproducibility
National accounts sources and World Bank WDI. Indicator definitions and original provider credits. Data distributed under CC BY 4.0. WorldDataRank calculated the ordering and country mean and created the visual. Data retrieved 2026-10-27T19:35:37Z. The upstream release date is not supplied in this snapshot; it is not inferred from the observation year. This publication is independent and is not endorsed by the data providers.