Arms imports in Libya
Libya: Arms imports was 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
down 85.3%
World rank
133rd
of 173 countries
All-time high
4.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 1978
All-time low
0 SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2020
Years of data
46
1960–2024
Arms imports in Libya, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arms imports in Libya is 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 85.3% on the previous year and down 95.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Libya peaked at 4.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0 SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2020.
That places Libya 133rd out of 173 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.
Arms imports in Libya, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 17.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.4% |
| 1962 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -88.2% |
| 1963 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.0% |
| 1964 | 15.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +400.0% |
| 1965 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.0% |
| 1966 | 26.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +188.9% |
| 1967 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -53.8% |
| 1968 | 57.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +375.0% |
| 1969 | 152.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +166.7% |
| 1970 | 371.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +144.1% |
| 1971 | 540.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +45.6% |
| 1972 | 534.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 733.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.3% |
| 1974 | 1.77 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +141.1% |
| 1975 | 1.65 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -6.8% |
| 1976 | 1.86 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +12.8% |
| 1977 | 3.06 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +64.9% |
| 1978 | 4.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.8% |
| 1979 | 3.17 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -24.8% |
| 1980 | 2.95 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -7.0% |
| 1981 | 3.15 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 2.75 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -12.8% |
| 1983 | 1.41 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | -48.8% |
| 1984 | 730.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -48.2% |
| 1985 | 746.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 401.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -46.2% |
| 1987 | 184.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -54.1% |
| 1988 | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -95.1% |
| 1989 | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2322.2% |
| 1990 | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -95.0% |
| 1999 | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -45.5% |
| 2005 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 2006 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1500.0% |
| 2007 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +37.5% |
| 2010 | 37.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +68.2% |
| 2011 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -78.4% |
| 2012 | 73.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +812.5% |
| 2013 | 118.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +61.6% |
| 2016 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.3% |
| 2019 | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1550.0% |
| 2020 | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 2024 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -85.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 36% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Libya's 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 11% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2322.2% | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2019 | +1550.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 33.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2006 | +1500.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2012 | +812.5% | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 73.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 152.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.79 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 371.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 4.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 9.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3.15 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 11.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2010s | 45.17 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 118.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 0 SIPRI trend indicator values | 34.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 130 Benin 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 130 Guatemala 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 130 Guinea 6.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 133 Guinea-Bissau 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 133 Montenegro 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 133 Paraguay 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Libya
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2018)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2018)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2018)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2018)
- Democracy 0 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Libya?
- Arms imports in Libya was 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.22 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 1978.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 SIPRI trend indicator values in 2020.
- How does Libya rank for arms imports?
- Libya ranks 133rd out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 95.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.