Net trade in goods and services in Libya
Libya: Net trade in goods and services was 4.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Net trade in goods and services in Libya, 1977–2023
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net trade in goods and services in Libya is 4.47 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 62.6% on the previous year and up 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade in goods and services in Libya peaked at 36.16 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008 and was at its lowest, -18.50 billion BoP, current US$, in 2014.
That places Libya 47th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade in goods and services in Libya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 4.31 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 2.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -34.1% |
| 1979 | 5.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +94.4% |
| 1980 | 9.41 billion BoP, current US$ | +70.4% |
| 1981 | -2.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -125.8% |
| 1982 | 623.54 million BoP, current US$ | -125.7% |
| 1983 | 1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +95.0% |
| 1984 | 532.00 million BoP, current US$ | -56.2% |
| 1985 | 2.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +442.7% |
| 1986 | 414.72 million BoP, current US$ | -85.6% |
| 1987 | -878.70 million BoP, current US$ | -311.9% |
| 1988 | -1.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +84.0% |
| 1989 | -598.46 million BoP, current US$ | -63.0% |
| 1990 | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -519.1% |
| 1991 | 66.61 million BoP, current US$ | -97.3% |
| 1992 | 1.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +2213.5% |
| 1993 | -1.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -165.3% |
| 1994 | 263.23 million BoP, current US$ | -126.2% |
| 1995 | 1.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +568.0% |
| 1996 | 1.34 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.9% |
| 1997 | 1.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 1998 | -299.42 million BoP, current US$ | -119.6% |
| 1999 | 2.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -782.7% |
| 2000 | 7.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +251.5% |
| 2001 | 4.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -31.0% |
| 2002 | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -73.8% |
| 2003 | 4.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +247.9% |
| 2004 | 7.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +58.7% |
| 2005 | 15.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +120.9% |
| 2006 | 22.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.8% |
| 2007 | 26.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2008 | 36.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.4% |
| 2009 | 10.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -71.3% |
| 2010 | 18.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.8% |
| 2011 | 3.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -81.2% |
| 2012 | 28.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +713.7% |
| 2013 | 3.68 billion BoP, current US$ | -87.1% |
| 2014 | -18.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -603.0% |
| 2015 | -9.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -47.3% |
| 2016 | -4.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -51.8% |
| 2017 | 3.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -182.1% |
| 2018 | 11.12 billion BoP, current US$ | +188.2% |
| 2019 | 3.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -64.4% |
| 2020 | -4.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -221.2% |
| 2021 | 6.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -245.4% |
| 2022 | 11.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +71.5% |
| 2023 | 4.47 billion BoP, current US$ | -62.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 4.47 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -288.45 million BoP, current US$. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's 4.47 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 340.95 million BoP, current US$, 13.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net trade in goods and services in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +2213.5% | 66.61 million BoP, current US$ | 1.54 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.84 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 956.53 million BoP, current US$ | -2.43 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.41 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 974.38 million BoP, current US$ | -1.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.64 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | 36.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 28.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
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$), annual growth rate 12.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade in goods and services in Libya?
- Net trade in goods and services in Libya was 4.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net trade in goods and services recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 36.16 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008.
- What is the lowest net trade in goods and services recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -18.50 billion BoP, current US$ in 2014.
- How does Libya rank for net trade in goods and services?
- Libya ranks 47th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net trade in goods and services rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. 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 Net trade in goods and services (BoP, current US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.