External balance on goods and services in Libya
Libya: External balance on goods and services was 14.72 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Libya, 1990–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Libya recorded 14.72 billion current LCU for external balance on goods and services in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and up 275.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Libya peaked at 57.53 billion current LCU in 2022 and was at its lowest, -8.80 billion current LCU, in 2014.
Libya ranks 50th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Libya, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 700.20 million current LCU | — |
| 1991 | 275.40 million current LCU | -60.7% |
| 1992 | 488.50 million current LCU | +77.4% |
| 1993 | -308.20 million current LCU | -163.1% |
| 1994 | 91.50 million current LCU | -129.7% |
| 1995 | 722.00 million current LCU | +689.1% |
| 1996 | 580.00 million current LCU | -19.7% |
| 1997 | 699.00 million current LCU | +20.5% |
| 1998 | -193.00 million current LCU | -127.6% |
| 1999 | 941.00 million current LCU | -587.6% |
| 2000 | 3.50 billion current LCU | +271.5% |
| 2001 | 2.04 billion current LCU | -41.5% |
| 2002 | 2.78 billion current LCU | +35.8% |
| 2003 | 8.08 billion current LCU | +190.8% |
| 2004 | 13.51 billion current LCU | +67.3% |
| 2005 | 22.65 billion current LCU | +67.6% |
| 2006 | 36.26 billion current LCU | +60.1% |
| 2007 | 37.91 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 47.73 billion current LCU | +25.9% |
| 2009 | 14.37 billion current LCU | -69.9% |
| 2010 | 32.91 billion current LCU | +129.0% |
| 2011 | 7.83 billion current LCU | -76.2% |
| 2012 | 41.46 billion current LCU | +429.2% |
| 2013 | 12.88 billion current LCU | -68.9% |
| 2014 | -8.80 billion current LCU | -168.3% |
| 2015 | -8.38 billion current LCU | -4.7% |
| 2016 | -8.30 billion current LCU | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 6.41 billion current LCU | -177.2% |
| 2018 | 16.17 billion current LCU | +152.3% |
| 2019 | 5.54 billion current LCU | -65.8% |
| 2020 | -6.67 billion current LCU | -220.5% |
| 2021 | 31.52 billion current LCU | -572.7% |
| 2022 | 57.53 billion current LCU | +82.5% |
| 2023 | 21.47 billion current LCU | -62.7% |
| 2024 | 13.94 billion current LCU | -35.1% |
| 2025 | 14.72 billion current LCU | +5.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 14.72 billion current LCU is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.10 billion current LCU. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 14.72 billion current LCU is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -4.55 billion current LCU. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 399.64 million current LCU | -308.20 million current LCU | 941.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.88 billion current LCU | 2.04 billion current LCU | 47.73 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.77 billion current LCU | -8.80 billion current LCU | 41.46 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.08 billion current LCU | -6.67 billion current LCU | 57.53 billion current LCU | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -56.51 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -7.66 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 794.70 million BoP, current US$ (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 13.21 % change on previous year (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0181 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 108.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 12.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Libya?
- External balance on goods and services in Libya was 14.72 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 57.53 billion current LCU in 2022.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.80 billion current LCU in 2014.
- How does Libya rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Libya ranks 50th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 275.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.