External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Libya
Libya: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was 5.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Libya, 1990–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Libya is 5.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and up 146.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Libya peaked at 45.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -12.5%, in 2015.
Libya ranks 34th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Libya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.6% | — |
| 1991 | 3.1% | -64.2% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +67.0% |
| 1993 | -3.3% | -164.5% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | -127.8% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +636.4% |
| 1996 | 4.8% | -29.6% |
| 1997 | 4.9% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | -1.5% | -130.7% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | -472.3% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +216.3% |
| 2001 | 9.9% | -44.4% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 24.0% | +125.0% |
| 2004 | 31.4% | +30.6% |
| 2005 | 36.6% | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 45.9% | +25.6% |
| 2007 | 44.1% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 45.0% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 18.9% | -58.1% |
| 2010 | 34.5% | +82.8% |
| 2011 | 13.3% | -61.5% |
| 2012 | 35.5% | +167.3% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | -62.1% |
| 2014 | -12.0% | -189.6% |
| 2015 | -12.5% | +3.3% |
| 2016 | -12.0% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -157.3% |
| 2018 | 15.4% | +125.6% |
| 2019 | 5.7% | -63.0% |
| 2020 | -10.2% | -279.3% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | -293.4% |
| 2022 | 27.6% | +39.4% |
| 2023 | 10.1% | -63.3% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -41.3% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | -3.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 5.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%. (52 countries reporting)
- Libya's 5.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -5.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +636.4% | 0.9% | 6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.5% | -3.3% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.4% | 9.9% | 45.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | -12.5% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | -10.2% | 27.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More economy & growth data for Libya
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.3 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.094 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 605.92 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0686 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 442.44 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0332 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Libya?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Libya was 5.8% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 45.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.5% in 2015.
- How does Libya rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Libya ranks 34th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 146.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.