Military expenditure in Libya
Libya: Military expenditure was 7.57 billion current LCU in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.57 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 29.7%
World rank
108th
of 168 countries
All-time high
7.57 billion current LCU
in 2023
All-time low
1.99 million current LCU
in 1960
Years of data
40
1960–2023
Military expenditure in Libya, 1960–2023
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2023, military expenditure in Libya stood at 7.57 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 29.7% on the previous year and up 50.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Libya peaked at 7.57 billion current LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.99 million current LCU, in 1960.
Libya ranks 108th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure in Libya, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.99 million current LCU | — |
| 1961 | 2.56 million current LCU | +28.6% |
| 1962 | 5.96 million current LCU | +132.8% |
| 1963 | 6.67 million current LCU | +11.9% |
| 1964 | 7.67 million current LCU | +15.0% |
| 1965 | 10.40 million current LCU | +35.6% |
| 1966 | 20.90 million current LCU | +101.0% |
| 1967 | 28.40 million current LCU | +35.9% |
| 1968 | 34.10 million current LCU | +20.1% |
| 1969 | 51.10 million current LCU | +49.9% |
| 1970 | 86.60 million current LCU | +69.5% |
| 1971 | 86.60 million current LCU | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 66.70 million current LCU | -23.0% |
| 1973 | 89.50 million current LCU | +34.2% |
| 1974 | 127.80 million current LCU | +42.8% |
| 1975 | 85.20 million current LCU | -33.3% |
| 1976 | 96.60 million current LCU | +13.4% |
| 1977 | 142.00 million current LCU | +47.0% |
| 1978 | 216.10 million current LCU | +52.2% |
| 1979 | 252.70 million current LCU | +16.9% |
| 1980 | 318.00 million current LCU | +25.8% |
| 1981 | 165.00 million current LCU | -48.1% |
| 1982 | 210.00 million current LCU | +27.3% |
| 1997 | 577.00 million current LCU | +174.8% |
| 1998 | 675.00 million current LCU | +17.0% |
| 1999 | 535.00 million current LCU | -20.7% |
| 2000 | 556.00 million current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 496.00 million current LCU | -10.8% |
| 2002 | 575.00 million current LCU | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 700.00 million current LCU | +21.7% |
| 2004 | 894.00 million current LCU | +27.7% |
| 2005 | 904.00 million current LCU | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 807.00 million current LCU | -10.7% |
| 2007 | 807.00 million current LCU | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.35 billion current LCU | +66.8% |
| 2012 | 3.77 billion current LCU | +180.0% |
| 2013 | 5.04 billion current LCU | +33.8% |
| 2014 | 4.78 billion current LCU | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 5.84 billion current LCU | +22.1% |
| 2023 | 7.57 billion current LCU | +29.7% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 7.57 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 50.91 billion current LCU, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 7.57 billion current LCU is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.83 billion current LCU, 11% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 16.98 million current LCU | 1.99 million current LCU | 51.10 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1970s | 124.98 million current LCU | 66.70 million current LCU | 252.70 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 231.00 million current LCU | 165.00 million current LCU | 318.00 million current LCU | 3 |
| 1990s | 595.67 million current LCU | 535.00 million current LCU | 675.00 million current LCU | 3 |
| 2000s | 787.22 million current LCU | 496.00 million current LCU | 1.35 billion current LCU | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.53 billion current LCU | 3.77 billion current LCU | 5.04 billion current LCU | 3 |
| 2020s | 6.70 billion current LCU | 5.84 billion current LCU | 7.57 billion current LCU | 2 |
Countries ranked near Libya
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 military expenditure in Libya?
- Military expenditure in Libya was 7.57 billion current LCU in 2023, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 7.57 billion current LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.99 million current LCU in 1960.
- How does Libya rank for military expenditure?
- Libya ranks 108th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)