Tax revenue as share of GDP in Libya
Libya: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 1.0% in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Libya, 1991–2012
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2012, tax revenue as share of gdp in Libya stood at 1.0%. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 13.3% on the previous year and down 76.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in Libya peaked at 14.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2012.
That places Libya 192nd out of 192 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Libya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.8% | — |
| 1992 | 5.6% | +17.7% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | +27.9% |
| 1994 | 7.5% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 6.8% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +15.8% |
| 1999 | 14.6% | +84.2% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | -30.1% |
| 2001 | 9.7% | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -55.6% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -51.2% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | +74.1% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -34.4% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 2.9% | +30.2% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +71.5% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -33.2% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | -68.9% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -13.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.6% | 4.8% | 14.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 2.1% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.0% | 3.8% | 3 |
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)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 8.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.3227 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per capita 2,081 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 5.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual -31.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.0796 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 513.46 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in Libya?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in Libya was 1.0% in 2012, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- Libya ranks 192nd out of 192 countries with data for 2012.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions included.