Military expenditure in Libya
Libya: Military expenditure was 1.57 billion current USD in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.57 billion current USD
Change on year
up 29.5%
World rank
71st
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.96 billion current USD
in 2013
All-time low
5.57 million current USD
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 USD.
Analysis
Libya recorded 1.57 billion current USD for military expenditure in 2023.
That represents a change of up 29.5% on the previous year and down 60.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Libya peaked at 3.96 billion current USD in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.57 million current USD, in 1960.
Libya ranks 71st 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 USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.57 million current USD | — |
| 1961 | 7.17 million current USD | +28.6% |
| 1962 | 16.69 million current USD | +132.8% |
| 1963 | 18.68 million current USD | +11.9% |
| 1964 | 21.48 million current USD | +15.0% |
| 1965 | 29.12 million current USD | +35.6% |
| 1966 | 58.52 million current USD | +101.0% |
| 1967 | 79.52 million current USD | +35.9% |
| 1968 | 95.48 million current USD | +20.1% |
| 1969 | 143.08 million current USD | +49.9% |
| 1970 | 242.48 million current USD | +69.5% |
| 1971 | 243.04 million current USD | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 202.77 million current USD | -16.6% |
| 1973 | 298.31 million current USD | +47.1% |
| 1974 | 431.68 million current USD | +44.7% |
| 1975 | 287.79 million current USD | -33.3% |
| 1976 | 326.30 million current USD | +13.4% |
| 1977 | 479.65 million current USD | +47.0% |
| 1978 | 729.94 million current USD | +52.2% |
| 1979 | 853.57 million current USD | +16.9% |
| 1980 | 1.07 billion current USD | +25.8% |
| 1981 | 557.34 million current USD | -48.1% |
| 1982 | 709.33 million current USD | +27.3% |
| 1997 | 1.25 billion current USD | +76.5% |
| 1998 | 1.44 billion current USD | +15.3% |
| 1999 | 1.15 billion current USD | -20.1% |
| 2000 | 1.09 billion current USD | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 819.75 million current USD | -24.5% |
| 2002 | 452.51 million current USD | -44.8% |
| 2003 | 541.40 million current USD | +19.6% |
| 2004 | 685.07 million current USD | +26.5% |
| 2005 | 690.93 million current USD | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 614.36 million current USD | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 639.14 million current USD | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 1.10 billion current USD | +72.1% |
| 2012 | 2.99 billion current USD | +171.6% |
| 2013 | 3.96 billion current USD | +32.7% |
| 2014 | 3.76 billion current USD | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 1.21 billion current USD | -67.7% |
| 2023 | 1.57 billion current USD | +29.5% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 1.57 billion current USD is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.38 billion current USD, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 1.57 billion current USD is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.04 billion current USD, 39% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 47.53 million current USD | 5.57 million current USD | 143.08 million current USD | 10 |
| 1970s | 409.55 million current USD | 202.77 million current USD | 853.57 million current USD | 10 |
| 1980s | 780.27 million current USD | 557.34 million current USD | 1.07 billion current USD | 3 |
| 1990s | 1.28 billion current USD | 1.15 billion current USD | 1.44 billion current USD | 3 |
| 2000s | 736.53 million current USD | 452.51 million current USD | 1.10 billion current USD | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.57 billion current USD | 2.99 billion current USD | 3.96 billion current USD | 3 |
| 2020s | 1.39 billion current USD | 1.21 billion current USD | 1.57 billion current USD | 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 1.57 billion current USD 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 3.96 billion current USD in 2013.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.57 million current USD in 1960.
- How does Libya rank for military expenditure?
- Libya ranks 71st out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.3%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)