Lebanon ranked 128/197 by economy size with a GDP of $20.1B and 135/197 by GDP per capita at $3,478. Lebanon has $38.7B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 163.8%.
In 2023, Lebanon made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.02% in 1988.
Lebanon GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $20,078,620,357 | -0.76% |
| 2022 | $20,992,421,949 | -0.62% |
| 2021 | $23,131,941,557 | -7% |
| 2020 | $31,712,128,254 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | $51,605,959,131 | -6.91% |
| 2018 | $54,901,519,156 | -1.88% |
| 2017 | $53,027,680,686 | 0.9% |
| 2016 | $51,147,308,774 | 1.55% |
| 2015 | $49,929,337,837 | 0.46% |
| 2014 | $48,095,213,747 | 2.48% |
| 2013 | $46,880,103,081 | 3.83% |
| 2012 | $44,016,799,516 | 2.56% |
| 2011 | $39,927,125,962 | 0.87% |
| 2010 | $38,443,907,042 | 7.98% |
| 2009 | $35,399,582,929 | 10.2% |
| 2008 | $29,118,916,105 | 9.07% |
| 2007 | $24,827,355,015 | 9.31% |
| 2006 | $22,022,709,851 | 1.55% |
| 2005 | $21,497,336,499 | 2.69% |
| 2004 | $21,159,827,992 | 6.68% |
| 2003 | $20,082,918,740 | 3.23% |
| 2002 | $19,152,238,806 | 3.42% |
| 2001 | $17,649,751,244 | 3.84% |
| 2000 | $17,260,364,842 | 1.34% |
| 1999 | $17,391,056,369 | -0.53% |
| 1998 | $17,247,179,006 | 3.67% |
| 1997 | $15,751,867,489 | 1.05% |
| 1996 | $13,690,217,334 | 11.3% |
| 1995 | $11,718,795,529 | 6.45% |
| 1994 | $9,599,127,050 | 8.11% |
| 1993 | $7,941,744,492 | 10.8% |
| 1992 | $5,843,579,161 | 16.4% |
| 1991 | $4,690,415,093 | 49.4% |
| 1990 | $2,838,485,354 | 26.5% |
| 1989 | $2,717,998,688 | -42.5% |
| 1988 | $3,313,540,068 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1988–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY 
Lebanon GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | $3,478 | $12,575 |
| 2022 | $3,654 | $12,293 |
| 2021 | $4,045 | $11,600 |
| 2020 | $5,561 | $16,260 |
| 2019 | $8,906 | $21,710 |
| 2018 | $9,175 | $21,985 |
| 2017 | $8,608 | $20,964 |
| 2016 | $8,089 | $18,941 |
| 2015 | $7,714 | $17,046 |
| 2014 | $7,578 | $16,140 |
| 2013 | $8,162 | $16,316 |
| 2012 | $8,407 | $16,121 |
| 2011 | $7,835 | $14,975 |
| 2010 | $7,626 | $14,704 |
| 2009 | $7,091 | $13,586 |
| 2008 | $5,912 | $12,416 |
| 2007 | $5,125 | $11,356 |
| 2006 | $4,635 | $10,312 |
| 2005 | $4,602 | $10,020 |
| 2004 | $4,601 | $9,609 |
| 2003 | $4,438 | $8,914 |
| 2002 | $4,291 | $8,586 |
| 2001 | $4,010 | $8,289 |
| 2000 | $3,987 | $7,938 |
| 1999 | $4,087 | $7,793 |
| 1998 | $4,125 | $7,861 |
| 1997 | $3,834 | $7,632 |
| 1996 | $3,393 | $7,560 |
| 1995 | $2,959 | $6,796 |
| 1994 | $2,468 | $6,367 |
| 1993 | $2,079 | $5,871 |
| 1992 | $1,559 | $5,279 |
| 1991 | $1,278 | $4,527 |
| 1990 | $790 | $2,990 |
| 1989 | $771 | - |
| 1988 | $959 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1988–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY
Lebanon has a GDP per capita of $3,478, ranking 135/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $12,575, ranking 123/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,560, ranking 133/197.
Lebanon GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | 122 | 132 | 118 |
| 2022 | 115 | 130 | 115 |
| 2021 | 111 | 120 | 114 |
| 2020 | 102 | 98 | 81 |
| 2019 | 87 | 81 | 69 |
| 2018 | 84 | 80 | 65 |
| 2017 | 83 | 80 | 66 |
| 2016 | 80 | 78 | 69 |
| 2015 | 82 | 81 | 75 |
| 2014 | 90 | 86 | 77 |
| 2013 | 86 | 81 | 73 |
| 2012 | 83 | 79 | 73 |
| 2011 | 86 | 80 | 75 |
| 2010 | 84 | 79 | 75 |
| 2009 | 83 | 77 | 77 |
| 2008 | 88 | 87 | 87 |
| 2007 | 85 | 88 | 89 |
| 2006 | 83 | 85 | 88 |
| 2005 | 81 | 81 | 80 |
| 2004 | 80 | 74 | 78 |
| 2003 | 78 | 70 | 78 |
| 2002 | 73 | 63 | 78 |
| 2001 | 73 | 67 | 77 |
| 2000 | 75 | 68 | 76 |
| 1999 | 73 | 64 | 73 |
| 1998 | 73 | 65 | 69 |
| 1997 | 74 | 66 | 67 |
| 1996 | 77 | 69 | 65 |
| 1995 | 79 | 74 | 70 |
| 1994 | 79 | 77 | 71 |
| 1993 | 84 | 80 | 77 |
| 1992 | 95 | 88 | 81 |
| 1991 | 104 | 99 | 93 |
| 1990 | 122 | 126 | 108 |
| 1989 | 109 | 114 | - |
| 1988 | 102 | 97 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1988–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2023 Lebanon is ranked 122nd out of 192 by GDP (down from 75th), 132nd by GDP per capita (down from 68th), and 118th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 76th).
Economic indicators
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$20.1B
2023 |
128/197 |
| GDP growth |
-0.76%
2022-2023 |
179/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$3,478
2023 |
135/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$12,575
2023 |
123/197 |
| Government debt |
$38.7B
2023 |
83/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
163.8%
2024 |
6/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$6,704
2023 |
70/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,560
2026 |
133/197 |
| Listed domestic companies |
10
2021 |
98/103 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$10.6B
2021 |
67/100 |
| Number of billionaires |
6
2025 |
42/78 |
| Billionaire frequency |
1 in 627,056
2025 |
22/78 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
25.1%
2022 |
114/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.8%
2022 |
85/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
16.5%
2024 |
177/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
45.2%
2023-2024 |
8/195 |
| Central bank interest rate |
20%
2023 |
10/106 |
| Unemployment rate |
11.3%
2019 |
30/196 |
| Population |
5906622
|
115/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 16.5% | 163.8% | -0.19% |
| 2023 | 14.9% | 192.8% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | 244.6% | -7.77% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | 358% | -2.67% |
| 2020 | 23.2% | 148.7% | -7.37% |
| 2019 | 31.3% | 172.1% | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 32.3% | 155.1% | -11.3% |
| 2017 | 30.6% | 150% | -8.65% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | 146.4% | -8.88% |
| 2015 | 26.7% | 140.8% | -7.48% |
| 2014 | 28.8% | 138.4% | -6.22% |
| 2013 | 28.9% | 135.4% | -8.82% |
| 2012 | 30.2% | 131.1% | -8.43% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | 134.4% | -5.94% |
| 2010 | 29.2% | 136.8% | -7.47% |
| 2009 | 32.1% | 144.5% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 34.3% | 161.5% | -9.86% |
| 2007 | 35.2% | 169.3% | -10.9% |
| 2006 | 36.1% | 183.3% | -10.6% |
| 2005 | 31.4% | 178.9% | -8.57% |
| 2004 | 33.3% | 169.5% | -9.83% |
| 2003 | 36.4% | 171.3% | -14% |
| 2002 | 36.8% | 163.1% | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 38.9% | 163.1% | -21% |
| 2000 | 42.8% | 148.1% | -23.9% |
| 1999 | 35.6% | 130.2% | -16.7% |
| 1998 | 34.7% | 108.2% | -17.3% |
| 1997 | 40.5% | 100.2% | -24.5% |
| 1996 | 43.6% | 101.2% | -25.7% |
| 1995 | 31.1% | 79.6% | -13.6% |
| 1994 | 47.3% | 71.5% | -29.1% |
| 1993 | 23% | 50.5% | -7.19% |
| 1992 | 36.1% | 51.7% | -24% |
| 1991 | 35.6% | 67.1% | -19.5% |
| 1990 | 40% | 99.7% | -30.2% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY
This chart shows Lebanon's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 35 years, Lebanon recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 12.7% of GDP. In 2023, government spending reached $2.99B (16.5% of GDP), with a deficit of 0.19%.
The national debt reached $38.7B, ranking 83rd out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 163.8%, ranking 6th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 45.2% |
| 2023 | 221.3% |
| 2022 | 171.2% |
| 2021 | 154.8% |
| 2020 | 84.9% |
| 2019 | 2.9% |
| 2018 | 6.1% |
| 2017 | 4.5% |
| 2016 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 1.1% |
| 2013 | 5.6% |
| 2012 | 6.6% |
| 2011 | 5% |
| 2010 | 4% |
| 2009 | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 10.7% |
| 2007 | 4.1% |
| 2006 | 4.1% |
| 2005 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 1.7% |
| 2003 | 1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.8% |
| 2001 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 0.2% |
| 1998 | 4.5% |
| 1997 | 7.7% |
| 1996 | 8.9% |
| 1995 | 10.3% |
| 1994 | 8.2% |
| 1993 | 24.7% |
| 1992 | 99.8% |
| 1991 | 50.1% |
| 1990 | 68.9% |
| 1989 | 72.2% |
| 1988 | 155% |
| 1987 | 487% |
| 1986 | 95.4% |
| 1985 | 69.4% |
| 1984 | 17.6% |
| 1983 | 7.2% |
| 1982 | 18.6% |
| 1981 | 19.3% |
| 1980 | 23.9% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Lebanon has had an average annual inflation rate of 36.4%. In 2024, inflation was 45.2%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$5.64B
2023 |
168/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-28.1%
2023 |
185/190 |
| Goods imports |
$16.7B
2023 |
85/189 |
| Goods exports |
$3.85B
2023 |
129/189 |
| Service imports |
$6.63B
2023 |
79/189 |
| Service exports |
$7.92B
2023 |
76/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
73.7%
2023 |
30/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
30.6%
2023 |
112/193 |
Lebanon top 10 trading partners
Lebanon's biggest trading partner accounting for 9.52% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$2.07B: Lebanon exports $22.7M worth of goods and services to China and imports $2.09B.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Lebanon.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
China
|
$2.11B | 9.52% | $22.7M | $2.09B | Metals | Machinery & equipment |
| 2 |
Switzerland
|
$1.9B | 8.58% | $149M | $1.75B | Precious metals & jewellery | Precious metals & jewellery |
| 3 |
Greece
|
$1.88B | 8.5% | $105M | $1.78B | Raw materials & minerals | Raw materials & minerals |
| 4 |
Turkey
|
$1.74B | 7.85% | $361M | $1.38B | Precious metals & jewellery | Raw materials & minerals |
| 5 |
UAE
|
$1.55B | 6.98% | $1.01B | $536M | Machinery & equipment | Precious metals & jewellery |
| 6 |
Italy
|
$1.17B | 5.28% | $48.6M | $1.12B | Raw materials & minerals | Raw materials & minerals |
| 7 |
United States
|
$948M | 4.28% | $212M | $735M | Precious metals & jewellery | Machinery & equipment |
| 8 |
Egypt
|
$931M | 4.2% | $228M | $703M | Metals | Raw materials & minerals |
| 9 |
Germany
|
$618M | 2.79% | $43.9M | $574M | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
Russia
|
$595M | 2.69% | $8.93M | $586M | Chemicals & pharma | Raw materials & minerals |
Top 10 exports
|
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport & tourism services | $3.35B | 85/188 |
| Business & finance services | $2.05B | 60/188 |
| Machinery & equipment | $1.43B | 79/193 |
| Precious metals & jewellery | $802M | 71/190 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $500M | 122/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $461M | 105/192 |
| Metals | $451M | 89/192 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $341M | 93/193 |
| IT & IP services | $247M | 85/183 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $223M | 106/193 |
Top 10 imports
|
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials & minerals | $5.24B | 71/193 |
| Machinery & equipment | $3.16B | 107/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $2.97B | 81/188 |
| Precious metals & jewellery | $2.58B | 29/193 |
| Business & finance services | $1.66B | 70/188 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $1.64B | 95/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $1.27B | 88/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $1.15B | 93/193 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $945M | 88/193 |
| Metals | $818M | 101/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 43.1 | 183/197 |
| Property rights | 21.8 | 155/182 |
| Government integrity | 23.4 | 151/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 23.8 | 142/182 |
| Tax burden | 90.3 | 28/182 |
| Government spending | 93.3 | 11/180 |
| Fiscal health | 63.4 | 111/181 |
| Business freedom | 47.6 | 146/182 |
| Labor freedom | 48.4 | 143/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 0 | 177/180 |
| Trade freedom | 65.6 | 126/181 |
| Investment freedom | 20 | 164/181 |
| Financial freedom | 20 | 165/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | 43.1 | 23.8 | 90.3 | 93.3 | 63.4 |
| 2025 | 44.1 | 22.6 | 90.3 | 95.6 | 63.6 |
| 2024 | 48.3 | 24 | 90.5 | 94.7 | 69.2 |
| 2023 | 45.6 | 22.6 | 89.7 | 80.7 | 44.1 |
| 2022 | 47.3 | 27.4 | 88.5 | 77.4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 51.4 | 33.1 | 88.5 | 70.3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 51.7 | 30.8 | 90.8 | 72.5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 51.1 | 26.6 | 91.8 | 75.6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 53.2 | 33.6 | 91.9 | 78.2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 53.3 | 25.3 | 91.8 | 76.1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 59.5 | - | 91.3 | 75.7 | - |
| 2015 | 59.3 | - | 91.3 | 70.6 | - |
| 2014 | 59.4 | - | 90.9 | 73.7 | - |
| 2013 | 59.5 | - | 90.8 | 74.6 | - |
| 2012 | 60.1 | - | 90.8 | 68.2 | - |
| 2011 | 60.1 | - | 91 | 64.9 | - |
| 2010 | 59.5 | - | 91.6 | 62.8 | - |
| 2009 | 58.1 | - | 91.7 | 64.1 | - |
| 2008 | 60 | - | 91.4 | 69.5 | - |
| 2007 | 60.4 | - | 93.9 | 64.3 | - |
| 2006 | 57.5 | - | 91.3 | 54.6 | - |
| 2005 | 57.2 | - | 91.7 | 54.4 | - |
| 2004 | 56.9 | - | 92.4 | 60.3 | - |
| 2003 | 56.7 | - | 92.4 | 65.1 | - |
| 2002 | 57.1 | - | 92 | 61.1 | - |
| 2001 | 61 | - | 92.3 | 63.3 | - |
| 2000 | 56.1 | - | 96.7 | 41.9 | - |
| 1999 | 59.1 | - | 98 | 70 | - |
| 1998 | 59 | - | 98 | 70.8 | - |
| 1997 | 63.9 | - | 98 | 78.5 | - |
| 1996 | 63.2 | - | 98 | 79.9 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/lebanon | CC BY
Lebanon is ranked 165/174 for economic freedom with a score of 43.1, compared to 88/162 and a score of 57.5 in 2006.
Other economic metrics
|
Lebanon
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
42.4%
2023 |
169/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
2.09%
2023 |
194/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
0.97%
2023 |
172/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$21.4B
2023 |
117/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$12,420
2023 |
119/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$33.3B
2024 |
54/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$583M
2023 |
105/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$1.84B
2024 |
72/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$391M
2024 |
66/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
22%
2023 |
4/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
27.4%
2012 |
64/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
1.9%
2023 |
177/178 |
Compare Lebanon vs other countries
GDP per capita map
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/lebanon | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2021–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- 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.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
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.