External balance on goods and services in Libya
Libya: External balance on goods and services was 5.8% 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Libya is 5.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and up 146.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Libya peaked at 45.9% in 2006 and was at its lowest, -12.5%, in 2015.
That places Libya 34th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0281 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 279.72 current US$ per person (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.0391 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 389.88 current LCU per person (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.0268 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 267.02 constant 2015 US$ per person (2017)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 396.85 constant LCU per person (2017)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual -1.13 % 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 5.8% 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 45.9% in 2006.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.5% in 2015.
- How does Libya rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Libya ranks 34th 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 146.3%. 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.