GDP per capita in Libya
Libya: GDP per capita was 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices
World rank
150th
of 162 countries
All-time high
5,484 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1980
All-time low
261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
GDP per capita in Libya, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, gdp per capita in Libya stood at 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 75.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Libya peaked at 5,484 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1980 and was at its lowest, 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1870.
Libya ranks 150th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita in Libya, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 268.69 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.7% |
| 1890 | 290.07 international-$ in 1990 prices | +8.0% |
| 1900 | 294.11 international-$ in 1990 prices | +1.4% |
| 1913 | 363.9 international-$ in 1990 prices | +23.7% |
| 1925 | 351.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | -3.4% |
| 1929 | 352.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | +0.2% |
| 1933 | 339.02 international-$ in 1990 prices | -3.7% |
| 1938 | 385.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.7% |
| 1950 | 389 international-$ in 1990 prices | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 506 international-$ in 1990 prices | +30.1% |
| 1960 | 830 international-$ in 1990 prices | +64.0% |
| 1965 | 2,440 international-$ in 1990 prices | +194.0% |
| 1970 | 4,135 international-$ in 1990 prices | +69.5% |
| 1975 | 4,311 international-$ in 1990 prices | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 5,484 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.2% |
| 1985 | 3,822 international-$ in 1990 prices | -30.3% |
| 1990 | 3,087 international-$ in 1990 prices | -19.2% |
| 1995 | 2,979 international-$ in 1990 prices | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 2,904 international-$ in 1990 prices | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 3,383 international-$ in 1990 prices | +16.5% |
| 2010 | 4,105 international-$ in 1990 prices | +21.3% |
| 2015 | 1,112 international-$ in 1990 prices | -72.9% |
| 2020 | 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices | -11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices | 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices | 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 268.69 international-$ in 1990 prices | 268.69 international-$ in 1990 prices | 268.69 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 290.07 international-$ in 1990 prices | 290.07 international-$ in 1990 prices | 290.07 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 294.11 international-$ in 1990 prices | 294.11 international-$ in 1990 prices | 294.11 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 363.9 international-$ in 1990 prices | 363.9 international-$ in 1990 prices | 363.9 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 351.8 international-$ in 1990 prices | 351.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | 352.2 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 362.24 international-$ in 1990 prices | 339.02 international-$ in 1990 prices | 385.45 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 447.5 international-$ in 1990 prices | 389 international-$ in 1990 prices | 506 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 1,635 international-$ in 1990 prices | 830 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,440 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 4,223 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,135 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,311 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 4,653 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,822 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,484 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 3,033 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,979 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,087 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 3,144 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,904 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,383 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 2,608 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,112 international-$ in 1990 prices | 4,105 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices | 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices | 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 147 Sierra Leone 1,027 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 148 Gambia 1,004 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 149 Chad 992.96 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 151 Zimbabwe 857.43 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 152 Guinea-Bissau 834.41 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 153 Guinea 809.21 international-$ in 1990 prices 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)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth -3.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.02 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 6,556 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 6.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.39 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 34,780 current LCU per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), annual 13.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (constant 2015 US$), per unit 1.38 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Libya?
- Gdp per capita in Libya was 988.53 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 5,484 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1980.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 261.73 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1870.
- How does Libya rank for gdp per capita?
- Libya ranks 150th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.