Net trade in goods in Libya
Libya: Net trade in goods was 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
13.88 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
down 30.9%
World rank
30th
of 200 countries
All-time high
40.29 billion BoP, current US$
in 2008
All-time low
-11.12 billion BoP, current US$
in 2014
Years of data
47
1977–2023
Net trade in goods in Libya, 1977–2023
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Libya recorded 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ for net trade in goods in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 30.9% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade in goods in Libya peaked at 40.29 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008 and was at its lowest, -11.12 billion BoP, current US$, in 2014.
That places Libya 30th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade in goods in Libya, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 5.48 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 4.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.5% |
| 1979 | 7.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +77.3% |
| 1980 | 11.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +57.5% |
| 1981 | 167.54 million BoP, current US$ | -98.5% |
| 1982 | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +1526.6% |
| 1983 | 3.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.6% |
| 1984 | 2.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.9% |
| 1985 | 4.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +79.4% |
| 1986 | 1.38 billion BoP, current US$ | -70.0% |
| 1987 | 433.96 million BoP, current US$ | -68.5% |
| 1988 | -108.83 million BoP, current US$ | -125.1% |
| 1989 | 765.02 million BoP, current US$ | -802.9% |
| 1990 | 3.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +393.7% |
| 1991 | 2.66 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.5% |
| 1992 | 2.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 113.35 million BoP, current US$ | -95.7% |
| 1994 | 944.98 million BoP, current US$ | +733.7% |
| 1995 | 2.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +143.6% |
| 1996 | 2.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 2.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 396.30 million BoP, current US$ | -82.4% |
| 1999 | 2.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +650.4% |
| 2000 | 7.91 billion BoP, current US$ | +166.0% |
| 2001 | 5.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.6% |
| 2002 | 2.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -57.9% |
| 2003 | 5.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +132.4% |
| 2004 | 8.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +52.5% |
| 2005 | 17.68 billion BoP, current US$ | +104.2% |
| 2006 | 24.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.2% |
| 2007 | 29.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2008 | 40.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.9% |
| 2009 | 15.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -62.6% |
| 2010 | 24.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +61.9% |
| 2011 | 7.86 billion BoP, current US$ | -67.8% |
| 2012 | 35.44 billion BoP, current US$ | +350.8% |
| 2013 | 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -66.2% |
| 2014 | -11.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -192.9% |
| 2015 | -5.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -49.9% |
| 2016 | -1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -65.8% |
| 2017 | 8.31 billion BoP, current US$ | -536.6% |
| 2018 | 16.04 billion BoP, current US$ | +93.1% |
| 2019 | 11.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.4% |
| 2020 | 163.50 million BoP, current US$ | -98.6% |
| 2021 | 15.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +9282.1% |
| 2022 | 20.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2023 | 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -544.73 million BoP, current US$. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -3.29 billion BoP, current US$. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net trade in goods in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +9282.1% | 163.50 million BoP, current US$ | 15.34 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1982 | +1526.6% | 167.54 million BoP, current US$ | 2.73 billion BoP, current US$ |
| 1989 | +802.9% | -108.83 million BoP, current US$ | 765.02 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.65 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 2.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -108.83 million BoP, current US$ | 11.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.02 billion BoP, current US$ | 113.35 million BoP, current US$ | 3.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.70 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 40.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 35.44 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 163.50 million BoP, current US$ | 20.08 billion BoP, current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 27 Argentina 15.36 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 28 Angola 15.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 29 Nigeria 14.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 31 Ghana 13.79 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 32 Iran 13.14 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 33 South Africa 11.97 billion 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$), annual growth rate 12.66 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade in goods in Libya?
- Net trade in goods in Libya was 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2023, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net trade in goods recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 40.29 billion BoP, current US$ in 2008.
- What is the lowest net trade in goods recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -11.12 billion BoP, current US$ in 2014.
- How does Libya rank for net trade in goods?
- Libya ranks 30th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net trade in goods rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. 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 (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods is the difference between the exports and imports of goods. 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.