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Economy of Cuba vs Libya compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cuba has a GDP of $107B compared to $48.5B for Libya, ranking 69/197 and 95/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cuba vs Libya GDP by year

Cuba
Libya
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cuba Libya
2024 - $48,487,151,215
2023 - $44,027,664,915
2022 - $43,246,297,922
2021 - $35,217,995,647
2020 $107,352,000,000 $46,854,285,441
2019 $103,427,600,000 $69,254,496,472
2018 $100,050,036,100 $76,686,029,772
2017 $96,850,649,700 $67,157,452,182
2016 $91,370,407,900 $49,912,073,701
2015 $87,132,800,000 $48,717,501,321
2014 $80,656,100,000 $57,372,355,592
2013 $77,148,000,000 $75,351,107,029
2012 $73,141,000,000 $92,540,938,129
2011 $68,990,000,000 $48,169,263,294
2010 $59,562,962,963 $75,380,825,062
2009 $57,481,481,481 $60,808,562,033
2008 $56,302,129,630 $86,710,767,415
2007 $54,262,870,370 $68,032,978,391
2006 $48,835,925,926 $60,094,231,607
2005 $42,643,836,100 $47,334,691,241
2004 $38,203,000,000 $33,122,307,692
2003 $35,901,200,000 $26,265,625,000
2002 $33,590,500,000 $20,481,889,764
2001 $31,682,400,000 $34,112,093,927
2000 $30,565,400,000 $38,270,954,138
1999 $28,364,615,200 $35,975,860,857
1998 $25,736,331,200 $27,251,301,398
1997 $25,365,908,100 $30,700,897,875
1996 $25,017,368,700 $27,884,615,385
1995 $30,429,803,651 $25,541,379,187
1994 $28,448,326,757 $28,610,549,763
1993 $22,367,254,865 $30,660,051,911
1992 $22,085,858,243 $33,887,047,909
1991 $24,316,556,026 $31,991,821,265
1990 $28,645,436,569 $28,904,183,602
1989 $27,023,468,666 $25,156,707,899
1988 $27,458,999,472 $24,308,959,591
1987 $25,213,935,012 $26,697,659,335
1986 $24,226,574,634 $24,180,400,959
1985 $22,920,490,774 $31,530,566,324
1984 $24,039,383,608 $29,476,109,153
1983 $22,204,940,512 $33,200,520,140
1982 $20,953,510,235 $33,760,146,991
1981 $20,150,254,096 $36,374,353,880
1980 $19,912,889,861 $40,953,924,949
1979 $19,584,443,288 $30,536,429,497
1978 $17,844,705,325 $22,136,422,643
1977 $14,206,158,675 $22,428,297,108
1976 $13,789,579,903 $19,096,943,017
1975 $13,027,415,244 $14,710,912,458
1974 $11,405,957,317 $15,112,543,717
1973 $9,987,709,650 $8,625,889,430
1972 $8,135,150,892 $6,299,395,544
1971 $6,914,658,400 $5,260,185,125
1970 $5,693,005,200 $4,601,649,451
1969 - $4,380,987,481
1968 - $3,850,623,095
1967 - $2,726,986,913
1966 - $2,312,438,536
1965 - $1,804,979,680
1964 - $1,341,395,421
1963 - $892,327,911
1962 - $619,725,785
1961 - $443,905,612
1960 - $401,644,249

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/libya | CC BY

GDP per capita in Cuba vs Libya by year

Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cuba Libya
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $6,569 $14,304
2023 - - $6,027 $13,847
2022 - - $5,987 $12,266
2021 - - $4,936 $12,642
2020 $9,605 - $6,650 $10,955
2019 $9,232 - $9,963 $16,194
2018 $8,911 - $11,197 $18,879
2017 $8,611 - $9,966 $18,026
2016 $8,111 $12,300 $7,526 $16,961
2015 $7,728 - $7,458 $17,903
2014 $7,147 - $8,926 $17,510
2013 $6,828 - $11,952 $21,151
2012 $6,471 - $14,976 $26,826
2011 $6,104 - $7,594 $15,698
2010 $5,272 $10,200 $11,601 $30,234
2009 $5,089 $9,700 $9,551 $29,027
2008 $4,986 $9,500 $13,906 $30,812
2007 $4,807 $11,000 $11,145 $30,929
2006 $4,330 $4,000 $10,049 $28,936
2005 $3,786 $3,500 $8,079 $26,903
2004 $3,399 $3,000 $5,774 $23,813
2003 $3,203 $2,900 $4,674 $22,663
2002 $3,005 $2,300 $3,718 $20,061
2001 $2,843 - $6,313 $20,332
2000 $2,751 $1,700 $7,214 $20,617
1999 $2,562 $1,700 $6,895 $19,769
1998 $2,332 - $5,301 $19,639
1997 $2,306 - $6,062 $20,439
1996 $2,282 - $5,591 $19,392
1995 $2,785 - $5,205 $18,952
1994 $2,613 - $5,933 $19,318
1993 $2,063 - $6,478 $18,904
1992 $2,048 - $7,303 $19,572
1991 $2,269 - $7,040 $20,085
1990 $2,694 - $6,502 $17,173
1989 $2,566 - $5,793 -
1988 $2,632 - $5,736 -
1987 $2,440 - $6,465 -
1986 $2,365 - $6,019 -
1985 $2,257 - $8,087 -
1984 $2,386 - $7,811 -
1983 $2,222 - $8,927 -
1982 $2,114 - $9,064 -
1981 $2,046 - $10,044 -
1980 $2,031 - $11,960 -
1979 $2,006 - $9,443 -
1978 $1,837 - $7,252 -
1977 $1,472 - $7,783 -
1976 $1,441 - $7,018 -
1975 $1,374 - $5,721 -
1974 $1,217 - $6,214 -
1973 $1,079 - $3,727 -
1972 $892 - $2,830 -
1971 $770 - $2,443 -
1970 $645 - $2,210 -
1969 - - $2,175 -
1968 - - $1,972 -
1967 - - $1,437 -
1966 - - $1,251 -
1965 - - $1,001 -
1964 - - $765 -
1963 - - $528 -
1962 - - $382 -
1961 - - $285.3 -
1960 - - $269 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2016, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/libya | CC BY

Cuba's GDP per capita is $9,605, ranking 86/197, compared to $6,569 in Libya, ranking 107/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300, while Libya ranks 118th at $14,304.

Economic indicators

Cuba Libya
Gross domestic product
$107B
2020
$48.5B
2024
GDP rank
69/197
2020
95/197
2024
GDP growth
-1.06%
2023-2024
1.9%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
$6,569
2024
GDP per capita rank
86/197
2020
107/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,300
2016
$14,304
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
124/197
2016
118/197
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,075
2026
$3,172
2026
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49%
2025
94.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
5.5%
2019-2020
2.13%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
1.7%
2018
30%
2004
Population
10894785
7559873

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cuba

Libya
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cuba Libya
2024 - 2.13%
2023 - 2.37%
2022 - 4.51%
2021 - 2.87%
2020 5.5% 1.45%
2019 5.5% -2.16%
2018 5.5% 13.2%
2017 - 25.8%
2016 4.5% 25.9%
2015 4.4% 10.4%
2014 - 2.43%
2013 6% 2.61%
2012 5.5% 6.06%
2011 4.7% 15.5%
2010 0.7% 2.8%
2009 -0.5% 2.46%
2008 3.4% 10.4%
2007 3.1% 6.25%
2006 5% 1.46%
2005 7% 2.65%
2004 3.1% -2.2%
2003 4.1% -2.19%
2002 7.1% -9.8%
2001 - -8.81%
2000 - -2.9%
1999 0.3% 2.65%
1998 - 3.71%
1997 - 3.55%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/libya | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, Cuba has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.16%, compared with 4.72% in Libya. In 2020, inflation was 5.5% in Cuba and 2.13% in Libya.

Balance of trade

Cuba Libya
Current account balance n/a
$1.86B
2023
Current account balance ranking n/a
46/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP n/a
+4.24%
2023
Goods imports n/a
$23.2B
2023
Goods exports n/a
$37.1B
2023
Service imports n/a
$10.1B
2023
Service exports n/a
$642M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
82.4%
2024
56.8%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
72%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Cuba Libya
Economic freedom 25.2 35.9
Economic freedom ranking 195/197 189/197
Property rights 27.7 6.3
Government integrity 33 10.3
Judicial effectiveness 16 4.9
Tax burden 51.9 95
Government spending 0 0
Fiscal health 0 19.9
Business freedom 41.4 32.4
Labor freedom 20 48.2
Monetary freedom 20 75.2
Trade freedom 72.8 80
Investment freedom 10 5
Financial freedom 10 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cuba
Libya
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cuba Libya
2026 25.2 -
2025 25.4 -
2024 25.7 -
2023 24.3 -
2022 29.5 -
2021 28.1 -
2020 26.9 -
2019 27.8 -
2018 31.9 -
2017 33.9 -
2016 29.8 -
2015 29.6 -
2014 28.7 -
2013 28.5 -
2012 28.3 35.9
2011 27.7 38.6
2010 26.7 40.2
2009 27.9 43.5
2008 27.5 38.7
2007 28.6 37
2006 29.3 33.2
2005 35.5 32.8
2004 34.4 31.5
2003 35.1 34.6
2002 32.4 35.4
2001 31.6 34
2000 31.3 34.7
1999 29.7 32.3
1998 28.2 32
1997 27.8 28.9
1996 27.8 31.7
1995 27.8 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/libya | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Cuba is 25.2, ranking 195/197, compared to 35.9 for Libya, ranking 189/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cuba Libya
Services, % of GDP
73.4%
2024
28.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.8%
2024
73.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.24%
2024
2.39%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$101B
2019
$50.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP n/a
$15,400
2024
Total reserves including gold
$144M
1960
$92.9B
2024
Total reserves ranking
173/177
1960
29/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment n/a
-$795M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment n/a
$0
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$56.5M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
7.4%
2005
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
9.87%
2020
14.3%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cuba/libya | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.