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% |
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)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), annual growth rate -0.7941 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1427 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current US$), per capita 920.37 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), annual growth rate 8.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.7571 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross capital formation (current LCU), per capita 4,883 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 8.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross capital formation (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.1653 constant 2015 US$ 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.
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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.