Foreign direct investment, net in Libya
Libya: Foreign direct investment, net was -794.70 million BoP, current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net in Libya, 1977–2023
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net in Libya is -794.70 million BoP, current US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.9% on the previous year and down 212.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net in Libya peaked at 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2012 and was at its lowest, -1.59 billion BoP, current US$, in 2006.
Libya ranks 117th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net in Libya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 511.74 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 730.28 million BoP, current US$ | +42.7% |
| 1979 | 609.02 million BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 1980 | 1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +86.5% |
| 1981 | 769.46 million BoP, current US$ | -32.3% |
| 1982 | 411.07 million BoP, current US$ | -46.6% |
| 1983 | 326.63 million BoP, current US$ | -20.5% |
| 1984 | 16.89 million BoP, current US$ | -94.8% |
| 1985 | -119.23 million BoP, current US$ | -806.0% |
| 1986 | 176.92 million BoP, current US$ | -248.4% |
| 1987 | 211.09 million BoP, current US$ | +19.3% |
| 1988 | -41.99 million BoP, current US$ | -119.9% |
| 1989 | -90.12 million BoP, current US$ | +114.6% |
| 1990 | -53.68 million BoP, current US$ | -40.4% |
| 1991 | 81.93 million BoP, current US$ | -252.6% |
| 1992 | -249.69 million BoP, current US$ | -404.8% |
| 1993 | -537.50 million BoP, current US$ | +115.3% |
| 1994 | 98.46 million BoP, current US$ | -118.3% |
| 1995 | 157.12 million BoP, current US$ | +59.6% |
| 1996 | 163.92 million BoP, current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 301.39 million BoP, current US$ | +83.9% |
| 1998 | 383.68 million BoP, current US$ | +27.3% |
| 1999 | 354.02 million BoP, current US$ | -7.7% |
| 2000 | -43.00 million BoP, current US$ | -112.1% |
| 2001 | 308.00 million BoP, current US$ | -816.3% |
| 2002 | -281.00 million BoP, current US$ | -191.2% |
| 2003 | -80.00 million BoP, current US$ | -71.5% |
| 2004 | -71.00 million BoP, current US$ | -11.2% |
| 2005 | -910.00 million BoP, current US$ | +1181.7% |
| 2006 | -1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.7% |
| 2007 | -756.20 million BoP, current US$ | -52.4% |
| 2008 | 1.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -335.0% |
| 2009 | -206.00 million BoP, current US$ | -111.6% |
| 2010 | 938.00 million BoP, current US$ | -555.3% |
| 2011 | 131.00 million BoP, current US$ | -86.0% |
| 2012 | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +1815.1% |
| 2013 | 707.70 million BoP, current US$ | -71.8% |
| 2014 | -77.60 million BoP, current US$ | -111.0% |
| 2015 | 394.90 million BoP, current US$ | -608.9% |
| 2016 | 439.50 million BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2017 | -294.50 million BoP, current US$ | -167.0% |
| 2018 | 275.60 million BoP, current US$ | -193.6% |
| 2019 | -268.50 million BoP, current US$ | -197.4% |
| 2020 | 350.40 million BoP, current US$ | -230.5% |
| 2021 | -377.60 million BoP, current US$ | -207.8% |
| 2022 | -641.30 million BoP, current US$ | +69.8% |
| 2023 | -794.70 million BoP, current US$ | +23.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's -794.70 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -625.94 million BoP, current US$, 1.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Libya's -794.70 million BoP, current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -1.01 billion BoP, current US$, 79% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +1815.1% | 131.00 million BoP, current US$ | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 2005 | -1181.7% | -71.00 million BoP, current US$ | -910.00 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 617.01 million BoP, current US$ | 511.74 million BoP, current US$ | 730.28 million BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 279.67 million BoP, current US$ | -119.23 million BoP, current US$ | 1.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 69.97 million BoP, current US$ | -537.50 million BoP, current US$ | 383.68 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -185.23 million BoP, current US$ | -1.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 475.49 million BoP, current US$ | -294.50 million BoP, current US$ | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -365.80 million BoP, current US$ | -794.70 million BoP, current US$ | 350.40 million BoP, current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 114 New Caledonia -702.86 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 115 Tunisia -725.01 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 116 Slovenia -738.18 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 118 Maldives -806.20 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 119 Honduras -809.53 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 120 Cameroon -824.80 million BoP, current US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate 12.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net in Libya?
- Foreign direct investment, net in Libya was -794.70 million BoP, current US$ in 2023, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2012.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2006.
- How does Libya rank for foreign direct investment, net?
- Libya ranks 117th out of 197 countries with data for 2023.
- Is foreign direct investment, net rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 212.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the voting power is evidence of a direct investment relationship. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.