Annual GDP growth in Libya
Libya: Annual GDP growth was -11.2% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Annual GDP growth in Libya, 1980–2019
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded -11.2% for annual gdp growth in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 241.0% on the previous year and down 154.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual gdp growth in Libya peaked at 86.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -50.3%, in 2011.
Libya ranks 193rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual GDP growth in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.6% | — |
| 1981 | -20.0% | -3406.9% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | -107.6% |
| 1983 | -4.7% | -410.2% |
| 1984 | -8.3% | +76.4% |
| 1985 | 0.6% | -107.3% |
| 1986 | -11.4% | -1970.3% |
| 1987 | -14.7% | +29.5% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | -151.6% |
| 1989 | 7.2% | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | -48.3% |
| 1991 | 18.3% | +392.5% |
| 1992 | -4.5% | -124.8% |
| 1993 | -5.5% | +20.3% |
| 1994 | 3.2% | -158.9% |
| 1995 | -15.4% | -579.4% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | -111.4% |
| 1997 | -2.6% | -249.8% |
| 1998 | -0.7% | -74.3% |
| 1999 | -0.2% | -72.0% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -2238.6% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -35.0% |
| 2002 | -3.7% | -241.9% |
| 2003 | 16.1% | -533.2% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | -63.8% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +81.7% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -97.4% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +2141.0% |
| 2008 | -0.2% | -102.6% |
| 2009 | -4.4% | +2616.0% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | -214.2% |
| 2011 | -50.3% | -1101.4% |
| 2012 | 86.8% | -272.5% |
| 2013 | -18.0% | -120.7% |
| 2014 | -23.0% | +28.0% |
| 2015 | -0.8% | -96.3% |
| 2016 | -1.5% | +76.9% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | -2279.2% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | -75.6% |
| 2019 | -11.2% | -241.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's -11.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5%. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's -11.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.9%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual GDP growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | -3406.9% | 0.6% | -20.0% |
| 2009 | -2616.0% | -0.2% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | +2279.2% | -1.5% | 32.5% |
| 2000 | +2238.6% | -0.2% | 4.0% |
| 2007 | +2141.0% | 0.3% | 6.2% |
| 1986 | -1970.3% | 0.6% | -11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -4.2% | -20.0% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.2% | -15.4% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | -4.4% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -50.3% | 86.8% | 10 |
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 annual gdp growth in Libya?
- Annual gdp growth in Libya was -11.2% in 2019, according to International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual gdp growth recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual gdp growth recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -50.3% in 2011.
- How does Libya rank for annual gdp growth?
- Libya ranks 193rd out of 196 countries with data for 2019.
- Is annual gdp growth rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 154.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual GDP growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual percent change in gross domestic product. This data is adjusted for inflation.