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Economy of Cyprus vs Libya compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cyprus has a GDP of $36.3B compared to $46.6B for Libya, ranking 104/197 and 96/197 by economy size, respectively.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Cyprus
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Libya
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Cyprus Libya
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $401,644,249 $4,206,979,770
1961 - - $443,905,612 $4,623,294,239
1962 - - $619,725,785 $6,127,004,092
1963 - - $892,327,911 $8,272,704,007
1964 - - $1,341,395,421 $12,001,351,827
1965 - - $1,804,979,680 $15,379,597,828
1966 - - $2,312,438,536 $18,238,997,837
1967 - - $2,726,986,913 $20,265,366,359
1968 - - $3,850,623,095 $27,128,012,832
1969 - - $4,380,987,481 $30,678,497,534
1970 - - $4,601,649,451 $32,197,312,919
1971 - - $5,260,185,125 $30,498,091,672
1972 - - $6,299,395,544 $33,281,298,886
1973 - - $8,625,889,430 $33,925,831,082
1974 - - $15,112,543,717 $41,455,139,018
1975 $489,912,574 $3,097,709,457 $14,710,912,458 $43,125,063,344
1976 $576,090,074 $3,725,500,306 $19,096,943,017 $52,992,488,552
1977 $734,876,021 $4,335,066,701 $22,428,297,108 $57,683,765,284
1978 $964,024,364 $4,672,222,324 $22,136,422,643 $59,590,166,895
1979 $1,288,699,776 $5,135,032,548 $30,536,429,497 $64,928,319,577
1980 $2,154,311,277 $5,430,463,536 $40,953,924,949 $65,373,260,707
1981 $2,087,496,374 $5,567,148,219 $36,374,353,880 $52,828,013,782
1982 $2,159,242,417 $5,902,385,684 $33,760,146,991 $54,310,397,843
1983 $2,160,364,071 $6,231,867,577 $33,200,520,140 $52,967,721,371
1984 $2,278,248,953 $6,777,647,958 $29,476,109,153 $50,297,204,632
1985 $2,430,411,900 $7,108,569,382 $31,530,566,324 $54,485,341,416
1986 $3,090,734,463 $7,371,867,258 $24,180,400,959 $48,299,889,591
1987 $3,704,813,886 $7,892,708,170 $26,697,659,335 $41,198,814,143
1988 $4,278,792,597 $8,575,173,112 $24,308,959,591 $44,321,281,890
1989 $4,563,482,604 $9,256,678,609 $25,156,707,899 $47,512,155,858
1990 $5,591,130,218 $9,942,043,048 $28,904,183,602 $49,279,670,598
1991 $5,770,197,348 $10,015,564,575 $31,991,821,265 $56,994,467,921
1992 $6,912,150,456 $10,957,027,547 $33,887,047,909 $55,448,621,741
1993 $6,590,291,048 $11,033,726,793 $30,660,051,911 $53,361,983,286
1994 $7,425,703,929 $11,684,716,530 $28,610,549,763 $54,394,423,864
1995 $9,933,137,128 $12,661,847,364 $25,541,379,187 $53,186,646,293
1996 $10,011,914,680 $12,819,935,780 $27,884,615,385 $54,321,714,851
1997 $9,547,816,420 $13,158,501,395 $30,700,897,875 $57,153,327,139
1998 $10,248,618,778 $13,962,602,013 $27,251,301,398 $55,123,101,078
1999 $10,497,907,228 $14,660,446,536 $35,975,860,857 $55,536,336,508
2000 $9,985,847,314 $15,534,986,806 $38,270,954,138 $57,579,668,503
2001 $10,397,898,907 $16,149,016,881 $34,112,093,927 $56,564,631,725
2002 $11,420,228,846 $16,750,240,728 $20,481,889,764 $56,022,234,981
2003 $14,547,329,558 $17,189,649,730 $26,265,625,000 $63,314,109,953
2004 $17,320,551,250 $18,053,648,327 $33,122,307,692 $66,138,956,973
2005 $18,433,412,511 $18,929,789,646 $47,334,691,241 $73,990,151,521
2006 $20,072,754,987 $19,822,098,963 $60,094,231,607 $78,799,900,129
2007 $23,968,727,074 $20,832,674,396 $68,032,978,391 $83,709,120,342
2008 $27,844,646,258 $21,592,439,785 $86,710,767,415 $83,573,471,187
2009 $26,048,179,949 $21,157,334,410 $60,808,562,033 $79,896,086,549
2010 $25,799,940,078 $21,640,286,747 $75,380,825,062 $83,912,660,700
2011 $27,641,547,910 $21,730,464,390 $48,169,263,294 $41,672,273,291
2012 $25,047,436,975 $20,981,332,378 $92,540,938,129 $77,854,953,190
2013 $23,959,712,861 $19,599,191,826 $75,351,107,029 $63,842,648,631
2014 $23,225,918,260 $19,251,098,679 $57,372,355,592 $49,131,511,071
2015 $19,909,278,417 $19,909,278,417 $48,717,501,321 $48,717,501,321
2016 $21,046,462,281 $21,218,032,913 $49,912,073,701 $47,991,152,063
2017 $22,946,570,629 $22,438,246,417 $67,157,452,182 $63,584,342,258
2018 $25,754,001,368 $23,845,497,750 $76,686,029,772 $68,633,808,774
2019 $26,196,667,100 $25,246,562,823 $69,254,496,472 $60,949,510,656
2020 $25,555,093,854 $24,433,464,399 $46,854,285,441 $42,996,651,438
2021 $30,372,642,502 $27,215,993,570 $35,217,995,647 $55,179,091,533
2022 $30,935,566,077 $29,176,869,929 $43,246,297,922 $50,625,917,040
2023 $33,886,930,712 $29,983,292,283 $45,096,462,972 $55,767,393,125
2024 $36,333,022,329 $31,017,134,702 $46,636,278,902 $55,429,536,118

Economic indicators

Cyprus Libya
Gross domestic product
$36.3B
2024
$46.6B
2024
GDP rank
104/197
2024
96/197
2024
GDP growth
7.22%
2023-2024
3.41%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$26,749
2024
$6,318
2024
GDP per capita rank
45/197
2024
110/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$61,240
2024
$13,954
2024
Government debt
$23.8B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.3%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$17,490
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
34/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$24,086
2025
$3,735
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$10.9B
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
10
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
26.3%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
40.4%
2025
65.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.8%
2023-2024
2.13%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
4.86%
2024
30%
2004
Population
1380052
7523849

GDP per capita in Cyprus vs Libya

Cyprus' GDP per capita is $26,749, ranking 45/197, compared to $6,318 in Libya, ranking 110/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cyprus ranks 30th at $61,240, while Libya ranks 119th at $13,954.

Cyprus
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Cyprus Libya
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $269 -
1961 - - $285.3 -
1962 - - $382 -
1963 - - $528 -
1964 - - $765 -
1965 - - $1,001 -
1966 - - $1,251 -
1967 - - $1,437 -
1968 - - $1,972 -
1969 - - $2,175 -
1970 - - $2,210 -
1971 - - $2,443 -
1972 - - $2,830 -
1973 - - $3,727 -
1974 - - $6,214 -
1975 $743 - $5,721 -
1976 $870 - $7,018 -
1977 $1,102 - $7,783 -
1978 $1,434 - $7,252 -
1979 $1,902 - $9,443 -
1980 $3,154 - $11,960 -
1981 $3,030 - $10,044 -
1982 $3,100 - $9,064 -
1983 $3,055 - $8,927 -
1984 $3,167 - $7,811 -
1985 $3,324 - $8,087 -
1986 $4,159 - $6,019 -
1987 $4,908 - $6,465 -
1988 $5,584 - $5,736 -
1989 $5,870 - $5,793 -
1990 $7,092 $13,339 $6,502 $17,173
1991 $7,222 $13,537 $7,040 $20,085
1992 $8,530 $14,750 $7,303 $19,572
1993 $7,978 $14,842 $6,478 $18,904
1994 $8,791 $15,725 $5,933 $19,318
1995 $11,514 $17,085 $5,205 $18,952
1996 $11,373 $17,314 $5,591 $19,392
1997 $10,637 $17,777 $6,062 $20,439
1998 $11,206 $18,759 $5,301 $19,639
1999 $11,273 $19,663 $6,895 $19,769
2000 $10,537 $21,291 $7,214 $20,617
2001 $10,785 $22,869 $6,313 $20,332
2002 $11,636 $23,556 $3,718 $20,061
2003 $14,553 $24,281 $4,674 $22,663
2004 $17,016 $25,946 $5,774 $23,813
2005 $17,790 $27,763 $8,079 $26,903
2006 $19,037 $30,015 $10,049 $28,936
2007 $22,344 $32,889 $11,145 $30,929
2008 $25,522 $34,830 $13,906 $30,812
2009 $23,480 $33,884 $9,551 $29,027
2010 $22,876 $33,506 $11,601 $30,234
2011 $24,110 $33,406 $7,594 $15,698
2012 $21,493 $31,924 $14,976 $26,826
2013 $20,238 $30,452 $11,952 $21,151
2014 $19,326 $30,171 $8,926 $17,510
2015 $16,326 $31,931 $7,458 $17,903
2016 $17,013 $35,878 $7,526 $16,961
2017 $18,295 $38,415 $9,966 $18,026
2018 $20,267 $40,925 $11,197 $18,879
2019 $20,360 $45,116 $9,963 $16,194
2020 $19,624 $43,354 $6,650 $10,955
2021 $23,057 $48,784 $4,936 $12,642
2022 $23,236 $55,946 $5,987 $12,273
2023 $25,195 $57,214 $6,173 $13,849
2024 $26,749 $61,240 $6,318 $13,954

Government deficit by year

In 2024, Cyprus' government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.64B, equivalent to 4.51% of GDP. This compares to Libya's surplus of $70.8M, or 0.15% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Cyprus recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Libya ran a deficit in 10 years. On average, Cyprus posted an annual deficit equal to -2.25% of GDP, compared to surplus of +3.98% of GDP for Libya.

Deficit/surplus
Cyprus

Libya
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cyprus Libya
1990 - 3.36%
1991 - 8.41%
1992 - 0.11%
1993 - -5.77%
1994 - -2.67%
1995 -0.71% 3.8%
1996 -2.96% 11.3%
1997 -4.82% -2.1%
1998 -3.85% -2.36%
1999 -4.05% 5.69%
2000 -2.24% 13.6%
2001 -2.11% 0.07%
2002 -4.13% 6.99%
2003 -5.91% 6.17%
2004 -3.71% 11.3%
2005 -2.22% 30.4%
2006 -1.04% 29.1%
2007 3.23% 28.4%
2008 0.87% 27.7%
2009 -5.43% -5.46%
2010 -4.68% 11.5%
2011 -5.65% -11.5%
2012 -5.55% 24.6%
2013 -5.16% -16.3%
2014 -8.8% -30.5%
2015 -0.77% -28.5%
2016 0.45% -29.3%
2017 2.13% -11.1%
2018 -3.36% 9.39%
2019 1.03% 11.9%
2020 -5.57% -22.3%
2021 -1.64% 14.8%
2022 2.65% 23.6%
2023 2.01% 8.22%
2024 4.51% 0.15%
2025 3.84% 0.21%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Cyprus has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.02%, compared with 4.38% in Libya. In 2024, inflation was 1.8% in Cyprus and 2.13% in Libya.

Inflation
Cyprus

Libya
Year Inflation
Cyprus Libya Cyprus Libya
1996 2.98% 4.03%
1997 3.61% 3.55%
1998 2.23% 3.71%
1999 1.63% 2.65%
2000 4.14% -2.9%
2001 1.97% -8.81%
2002 2.8% -9.8%
2003 4.14% -2.19%
2004 2.29% -2.2%
2005 2.56% 2.65%
2006 2.3% 1.46%
2007 2.37% 6.25%
2008 4.67% 10.4%
2009 0.33% 2.46%
2010 2.43% 2.8%
2011 3.29% 15.5%
2012 2.39% 6.06%
2013 -0.4% 2.61%
2014 -1.35% 2.43%
2015 -2.1% 10.4%
2016 -1.43% 25.9%
2017 0.53% 25.8%
2018 1.44% 13.2%
2019 0.25% -2.16%
2020 -0.64% 1.45%
2021 2.45% 2.87%
2022 8.4% 4.51%
2023 3.54% 2.37%
2024 1.8% 2.13%

Top exports between countries

Cyprus
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $715M
Chemicals & pharma $129M
Machinery & equipment $5.29M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.41M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.05M
Animal & marine products $534K
Metals $54K
Raw agricultural goods $52K
Miscellaneous $33K
Wood & paper products $2K
Libya
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $2.46M
Machinery & equipment $947K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $90K

Balance of trade

Cyprus Libya
Current account balance
-$3.05B
2024
$1.86B
2023
Current account balance ranking
155/189
2024
46/189
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.39%
2024
+4.13%
2023
Goods imports
$11.8B
2024
$23.2B
2023
Goods exports
$4.39B
2024
$37.1B
2023
Service imports
$22B
2024
$10.1B
2023
Service exports
$30.7B
2024
$642M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
93.1%
2024
59.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
96.7%
2024
74.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Cyprus Libya
Economic freedom 73.2 35.9
Economic freedom ranking 24/197 189/197
Property rights 83.7 5.7
Government integrity 57.3 11.7
Judicial effectiveness 89.2 3.6
Tax burden 79.9 93.2
Government spending 51.2 0
Fiscal health 85.2 19.9
Business freedom 78.9 31.1
Labor freedom 61.9 48.6
Monetary freedom 76.1 75.1
Trade freedom 79.6 80
Investment freedom 75 5
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Cyprus is 73.2, ranking 24/197, compared to 35.9 for Libya, ranking 189/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Cyprus
Libya
Year Economic freedom index
Cyprus Libya
1996 67.7 31.7
1997 67.9 28.9
1998 68.2 32
1999 67.8 32.3
2000 67.2 34.7
2001 71 34
2002 73 35.4
2003 73.3 34.6
2004 74.1 31.5
2005 71.9 32.8
2006 71.8 33.2
2007 71.7 37
2008 71.3 38.7
2009 70.8 43.5
2010 70.9 40.2
2011 73.3 38.6
2012 71.8 35.9
2013 69 -
2014 67.6 -
2015 67.9 -
2016 68.7 -
2017 67.9 -
2018 67.8 -
2019 68.1 -
2020 70.1 -
2021 71.4 -
2022 72.9 -
2023 72.3 -
2024 72.2 -
2025 73.2 -

More economic indicators

Cyprus Libya
Services, % of GDP
76.9%
2024
34.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
10.3%
2024
68.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.18%
2024
1.74%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$31B
2024
$46.6B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$54,660
2024
$14,050
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.09B
2024
$92.9B
2024
Total reserves ranking
124/177
2024
29/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$5.58B
2024
-$795M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$18.6B
2024
$795M
2023
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$24.2B
2024
-$56.5M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
13.9%
2021
7.4%
2005
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
14.8%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.