Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Libya
Libya: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 3.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
3.6%
Change on year
up 27.4%
World rank
21st
of 167 countries
All-time high
6.5%
in 2014
All-time low
0.9%
in 2007
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 % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, military expenditure in Libya stood at 3.6%.
That represents a change of up 27.4% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Libya peaked at 6.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2007.
Libya ranks 21st of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Libya, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.6% | — |
| 1961 | 1.9% | +16.5% |
| 1962 | 3.1% | +67.3% |
| 1963 | 2.4% | -22.4% |
| 1964 | 1.8% | -23.4% |
| 1965 | 1.9% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | +57.0% |
| 1967 | 3.4% | +15.3% |
| 1968 | 2.9% | -15.0% |
| 1969 | 3.8% | +31.8% |
| 1970 | 6.1% | +61.4% |
| 1971 | 5.3% | -12.4% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | -30.3% |
| 1973 | 4.0% | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 3.3% | -17.4% |
| 1975 | 2.3% | -31.5% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | -12.7% |
| 1977 | 2.5% | +25.2% |
| 1978 | 3.8% | +54.2% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | -15.2% |
| 1980 | 2.7% | -17.0% |
| 1981 | 1.6% | -39.9% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | +27.7% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | +95.7% |
| 1998 | 4.7% | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -33.5% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -11.5% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | -15.3% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -8.0% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -29.7% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -27.7% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | +35.0% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +154.5% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | +63.0% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +24.4% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -57.2% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +27.4% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 3.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.4%, 2.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 3.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.6%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.6% | 1.6% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | 2.0% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 3 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 3.1% | 4.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 3.2% | 6.5% | 3 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More public sector data for Libya
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Arms imports 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.6774 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0001 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -85.29 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Libya?
- Military expenditure in Libya was 3.6% 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 6.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2007.
- How does Libya rank for military expenditure?
- Libya ranks 21st out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product