GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Libya
Libya: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Libya, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp growth in Libya stood at -0.6%.
That represents a change of down 106.0% on the previous year and up 97.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Libya peaked at 86.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -50.3%, in 2011.
That places Libya 192nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Libya, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.0% | — |
| 1971 | -5.3% | -206.6% |
| 1972 | 9.1% | -272.9% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | -78.8% |
| 1974 | 22.2% | +1046.0% |
| 1975 | 4.0% | -81.8% |
| 1976 | 22.9% | +468.0% |
| 1977 | 8.9% | -61.3% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | -62.7% |
| 1979 | 9.0% | +171.1% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | -92.4% |
| 1981 | -19.2% | -2900.3% |
| 1982 | 2.8% | -114.6% |
| 1983 | -2.5% | -188.1% |
| 1984 | -5.0% | +103.9% |
| 1985 | 8.3% | -265.2% |
| 1986 | -11.4% | -236.3% |
| 1987 | -14.7% | +29.5% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | -151.6% |
| 1989 | 7.2% | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | -48.3% |
| 1991 | 15.7% | +320.8% |
| 1992 | -2.7% | -117.3% |
| 1993 | -3.8% | +38.7% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -151.4% |
| 1995 | -2.2% | -214.8% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -196.1% |
| 1997 | 5.2% | +144.3% |
| 1998 | -3.6% | -168.1% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | -121.1% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | +390.8% |
| 2001 | -1.8% | -147.9% |
| 2002 | -1.0% | -45.6% |
| 2003 | 13.0% | -1457.4% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -65.7% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | +166.1% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -45.2% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | -0.2% | -102.6% |
| 2009 | -4.4% | +2615.3% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | -214.3% |
| 2011 | -50.3% | -1101.3% |
| 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% | -2279.3% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | -75.6% |
| 2019 | -11.2% | -241.0% |
| 2020 | -29.5% | +163.1% |
| 2021 | 28.3% | -196.2% |
| 2022 | -8.3% | -129.1% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | -223.1% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -106.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's -0.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.3%. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's -0.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 | -2900.3% | 0.7% | -19.2% |
| 2009 | -2615.3% | -0.2% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | +2279.3% | -1.5% | 32.5% |
| 2003 | +1457.4% | -1.0% | 13.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.1% | -5.3% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.6% | -19.2% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | -3.8% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | -4.4% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | -50.3% | 86.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | -29.5% | 28.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More population data for Libya
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3412 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 8,540 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9554 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2302 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.196 (2100)
- Population density 5.56 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 455,012 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Libya?
- Gdp growth in Libya was -0.6% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -50.3% in 2011.
- How does Libya rank for gdp growth?
- Libya ranks 192nd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release