Trade & investment · Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · Upper-middle income
Libya: trade and investment
Exports is 71.7% (2025), 25th of 184 in the world and 5th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Imports is 65.9% (2025), 43rd of 184 in the world and 6th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Trade openness is 137.7% (2025), 29th of 184 in the world and 5th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: Libya in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 71.7%2025 | 25/184 | 5/21 | 31.6% | 66.3% | 20.4% | +49.5 ppsince 2015 | 41.1% | 25.9% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 65.9%2025 | 43/184 | 6/21 | 13.7% | 31.8% | 30.6% | +31.3 ppsince 2015 | 38.4% | 23.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 137.7%2025 | 29/184 | 5/21 | 45.3% | 98.1% | 51.0% | +80.8 ppsince 2015 | 57.2% | 48.9% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 4.2%2023 | 42/185 | 7/20 | 16.4% | 22.3% | -10.2% | +4.2 ppsince 2013 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $30.1bn2025 | 72/206 | 13/22 | $10.1bn | $48.7bn | $8.4bn | +30%since 2015 | $1.8tn | $7.7tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 0.6%2019 | 153/170 | 16/19 | · | · | 0.6%2019 | — | 8.6% | 23.2% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 94.4%2019 | — | — | · | 97.7% | 94.4%2019 | −3.5 ppsince 2009 | 68.5% | 5.2% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.1%2019 | — | — | · | 0.0% | 0.1%2019 | +0.1 ppsince 2009 | 4.1% | 9.0% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 4.0%2021 | 95/184 | 10/20 | 30.7%2002 | · | 4.5% | +4.0 ppsince 2006 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 1.7%2025 | 115/197 | 13/21 | 0.4% | 2.4% | 1.7%2021 | +0.8 ppsince 2013 | 2.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.0%2006 | — | — | 0.0% | · | · | — | 2.7% | 1.0% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 760,0002008 | — | — | 963,000 | 760,0002008 | · | −11%since 1998 | 153m | 573m | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $170m2010 | — | — | $84.0m | $170m | · | +102%since 2000 | $145bn | — | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Libya and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Libya. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Libya | Egypt | Sudan | Algeria | Niger | Chad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 71.7%2025 | 19.8%2025 | 1.1%2025 | 16.8%2025 | 15.8%2025 | 29.4%2025 |
| Imports | 65.9%2025 | 31.5%2025 | 1.3%2025 | 22.1%2025 | 18.1%2025 | 16.7%2025 |
| Trade openness | 137.7%2025 | 51.3%2025 | 2.4%2025 | 39.0%2025 | 33.9%2025 | 46.1%2025 |
| Current account | 4.2%2023 | -3.8%2025 | -8.5%2025 | -8.8%2025 | -6.1%2024 | — |
| Merchandise exports | $30.1bn2025 | $51.4bn2025 | $2.8bn2025 | $45.4bn2025 | $1.9bn2025 | $4.0bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 0.6%2019 | 3.8%2024 | 2.2%2018 | 1.0%2017 | 8.6%2024 | — |
| Fuel exports | 94.4%2019 | 9.8%2025 | 14.3%2018 | 93.1%2024 | 88.0%2024 | — |
| Food exports | 0.1%2019 | 21.6%2025 | 50.6%2018 | 0.5%2024 | 4.1%2024 | — |
| Average tariff | 4.0%2021 | 10.4%2019 | 0.0%2021 | 9.2%2022 | 8.4%2022 | 16.8%2022 |