Military expenditure in Libya

Libya: Military expenditure was 5.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
5.5%
Change on year
up 21.2%
World rank
76th
of 161 countries
All-time high
14.2%
in 1998
All-time low
2.8%
in 2007
Years of data
17
1997–2023

Military expenditure in Libya, 1997–2023

2.557.51012.5151997201020231997: 11.7 % of general government expenditure1998: 14.2 % of general government expenditure1999: 11.5 % of general government expenditure2000: 10.3 % of general government expenditure2001: 6.3 % of general government expenditure2002: 5.2 % of general government expenditure2003: 4.8 % of general government expenditure2004: 4.9 % of general government expenditure2005: 5 % of general government expenditure2006: 3.6 % of general government expenditure2007: 2.8 % of general government expenditure2008: 3.1 % of general government expenditure2012: 8.2 % of general government expenditure2013: 7.2 % of general government expenditure2014: 10.9 % of general government expenditure2022: 4.5 % of general government expenditure2023: 5.5 % of general government expenditure

Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.

Analysis

In 2023, military expenditure in Libya stood at 5.5%.

The figure is up 21.2% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military expenditure in Libya peaked at 14.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2007.

That places Libya 76th out of 161 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.

Military expenditure in Libya, year by year

Annual values for Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Libya, 1997 to 2023.
Year % of general government expenditure Change
1997 11.7%
1998 14.2% +21.6%
1999 11.5% -18.9%
2000 10.3% -10.9%
2001 6.3% -38.7%
2002 5.2% -16.8%
2003 4.8% -7.7%
2004 4.9% +1.3%
2005 5.0% +2.5%
2006 3.6% -28.6%
2007 2.8% -21.7%
2008 3.1% +10.1%
2012 8.2% +165.1%
2013 7.2% -12.6%
2014 10.9% +52.3%
2022 4.5% -58.7%
2023 5.5% +21.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.5% 11.5% 14.2% 3
2000s 5.1% 2.8% 10.3% 9
2010s 8.8% 7.2% 10.9% 3
2020s 5.0% 4.5% 5.5% 2

Countries ranked near Libya

  1. 73 North Macedonia 5.5% compare
  2. 74 Bulgaria 5.5% compare
  3. 75 Ecuador 5.5% compare
  4. 77 Philippines 5.4% compare
  5. 78 Senegal 5.4% compare
  6. 79 Congo 5.4% compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More public sector data for Libya

All data for Libya →

Frequently asked questions

What is military expenditure in Libya?
Military expenditure in Libya was 5.5% 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 14.2% in 1998.
What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Libya?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2007.
How does Libya rank for military expenditure?
Libya ranks 76th out of 161 countries with data for 2023.
Is military expenditure rising or falling in Libya?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military expenditure in Libya. Statizoid, drawing on SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/military-expenditure-percent-of-general-government-expenditure/libya/

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About this data

Indicator
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure)
Unit
% of general government expenditure
Source
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
204 places, 5,828 data points, 1988–2024
Last refreshed

Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure