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Economy of Liberia vs Libya compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Liberia has a GDP of $5.25B compared to $48.1B for Libya, ranking 162/197 and 100/197 by economy size, respectively.

Liberia vs Libya GDP by year

Liberia
Libya
1x
Year GDP, current $
Liberia Libya
2025 $5,245,938,900 $48,098,909,614
2024 $4,779,300,900 $48,487,151,215
2023 $4,390,000,000 $44,027,664,915
2022 $4,001,047,000 $43,246,297,922
2021 $3,513,049,500 $35,217,995,647
2020 $3,176,126,300 $46,854,285,441
2019 $3,319,596,500 $69,254,496,472
2018 $3,422,754,800 $76,686,029,772
2017 $3,390,703,400 $67,157,452,182
2016 $3,398,419,600 $49,912,073,701
2015 $3,227,075,700 $48,717,501,321
2014 $3,225,652,000 $57,372,355,592
2013 $3,177,198,100 $75,351,107,029
2012 $2,791,614,000 $92,540,938,129
2011 $2,398,000,000 $48,169,263,294
2010 $1,998,000,000 $75,380,825,062
2009 $1,768,000,000 $60,808,562,033
2008 $1,726,000,000 $86,710,767,415
2007 $1,373,000,000 $68,032,978,391
2006 $1,119,000,000 $60,094,231,607
2005 $949,000,000 $47,334,691,241
2004 $897,000,000 $33,122,307,692
2003 $748,000,000 $26,265,625,000
2002 $927,000,000 $20,481,889,764
2001 $906,000,000 $34,112,093,927
2000 $874,000,000 $38,270,954,138
1999 $441,800,000 $35,975,860,857
1998 $359,600,000 $27,251,301,398
1997 $295,900,000 $30,700,897,875
1996 $159,400,000 $27,884,615,385
1995 $134,800,000 $25,541,379,187
1994 $132,200,000 $28,610,549,763
1993 $160,400,000 $30,660,051,911
1992 $223,500,000 $33,887,047,909
1991 $348,000,000 $31,991,821,265
1990 $384,400,000 $28,904,183,602
1989 $786,300,000 $25,156,707,899
1988 $1,038,300,000 $24,308,959,591
1987 $972,800,000 $26,697,659,335
1986 $840,964,400 $24,180,400,959
1985 $851,296,100 $31,530,566,324
1984 $848,478,300 $29,476,109,153
1983 $823,374,900 $33,200,520,140
1982 $863,933,200 $33,760,146,991
1981 $846,514,500 $36,374,353,880
1980 $854,711,500 $40,953,924,949
1979 $814,067,900 $30,536,429,497
1978 $717,240,400 $22,136,422,643
1977 $673,010,600 $22,428,297,108
1976 $596,675,700 $19,096,943,017
1975 $577,549,300 $14,710,912,458
1974 $486,955,000 $15,112,543,717
1973 $386,968,300 $8,625,889,430
1972 $368,098,000 $6,299,395,544
1971 $341,543,100 $5,260,185,125
1970 $323,099,700 $4,601,649,451
1969 $306,961,800 $4,380,987,481
1968 $276,820,700 $3,850,623,095
1967 $261,024,300 $2,726,986,913
1966 $244,459,500 $2,312,438,536
1965 $229,260,800 $1,804,979,680
1964 $218,929,100 $1,341,395,421
1963 $200,229,600 $892,327,911
1962 $191,861,800 $619,725,785
1961 $183,920,900 $443,905,612
1960 $190,495,600 $401,644,249

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Liberia vs Libya by year

Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Liberia Libya
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $915 - $6,449 -
2024 $851 $1,871 $6,569 $14,304
2023 $799 $1,795 $6,027 $13,847
2022 $745 $1,692 $5,987 $12,266
2021 $668 $1,539 $4,936 $12,642
2020 $617 $1,660 $6,650 $10,955
2019 $658 $1,900 $9,963 $16,194
2018 $692 $1,800 $11,197 $18,879
2017 $699 $1,665 $9,966 $18,026
2016 $715 $1,490 $7,526 $16,961
2015 $693 $1,340 $7,458 $17,903
2014 $707 $1,419 $8,926 $17,510
2013 $711 $1,360 $11,952 $21,151
2012 $638 $1,157 $14,976 $26,826
2011 $568 $1,041 $7,594 $15,698
2010 $492 $980 $11,601 $30,234
2009 $448 $939 $9,551 $29,027
2008 $452 $915 $13,906 $30,812
2007 $374 $873 $11,145 $30,929
2006 $321 $815 $10,049 $28,936
2005 $287.5 $774 $8,079 $26,903
2004 $284.1 $745 $5,774 $23,813
2003 $239.8 $716 $4,674 $22,663
2002 $299.5 $1,013 $3,718 $20,061
2001 $300 $987 $6,313 $20,332
2000 $298.5 $965 $7,214 $20,617
1999 $156.6 $762 $6,895 $19,769
1998 $134.7 $652 $5,301 $19,639
1997 $122.6 $548 $6,062 $20,439
1996 $71.4 $282.2 $5,591 $19,392
1995 $62.1 $254.4 $5,205 $18,952
1994 $61.5 $262.6 $5,933 $19,318
1993 $74.4 $328 $6,478 $18,904
1992 $107.8 $497 $7,303 $19,572
1991 $177.9 $793 $7,040 $20,085
1990 $172.9 $787 $6,502 $17,173
1989 $312 - $5,793 -
1988 $424 - $5,736 -
1987 $409 - $6,465 -
1986 $364 - $6,019 -
1985 $380 - $8,087 -
1984 $390 - $7,811 -
1983 $391 - $8,927 -
1982 $422 - $9,064 -
1981 $426 - $10,044 -
1980 $443 - $11,960 -
1979 $435 - $9,443 -
1978 $394 - $7,252 -
1977 $381 - $7,783 -
1976 $347 - $7,018 -
1975 $346 - $5,721 -
1974 $299.4 - $6,214 -
1973 $244.4 - $3,727 -
1972 $238.6 - $2,830 -
1971 $227.1 - $2,443 -
1970 $220.3 - $2,210 -
1969 $214.7 - $2,175 -
1968 $198.6 - $1,972 -
1967 $192.2 - $1,437 -
1966 $184.6 - $1,251 -
1965 $177.6 - $1,001 -
1964 $173.9 - $765 -
1963 $163.1 - $528 -
1962 $160.3 - $382 -
1961 $157.5 - $285.3 -
1960 $167.2 - $269 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Liberia's GDP per capita is $915, ranking 184/197, compared to $6,449 in Libya, ranking 112/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871, while Libya ranks 118th at $14,304.

Economic indicators

Liberia Libya
Gross domestic product
$5.25B
2025
$48.1B
2025
GDP rank
162/197
2025
100/197
2025
GDP growth
5.02%
2024-2025
13.4%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$915
2025
$6,449
2025
GDP per capita rank
184/197
2025
112/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,871
2024
$14,304
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
188/197
2024
118/197
2024
Government debt
$2.88B
2025
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
54.9%
2025
n/a
Government debt per person
$502
2025
n/a
Government debt per person rank
167/185
2025
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,467
2026
$3,426
2026
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2016
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2016
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.4%
2025
102.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
8.3%
2024-2025
1.84%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
5.93%
2017
30%
2004
Population
5916561
7580693

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Liberia

Libya
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Liberia Libya
2025 -1.41% -31.1%
2024 -1.8% -25.9%
2023 -8.55% -7.16%
2022 -5.82% 23.6%
2021 -2.5% 14.8%
2020 -4.02% -22.3%
2019 -4.92% 11.9%
2018 -4.7% 9.39%
2017 -7.14% -11.1%
2016 -3.83% -29.3%
2015 -3.74% -28.5%
2014 -4.92% -30.5%
2013 1.29% -16.3%
2012 -2.86% 24.6%
2011 -4.39% -11.5%
2010 1.16% 11.5%
2009 -1.4% -5.46%
2008 -2.7% 27.7%
2007 2.28% 28.4%
2006 4.23% 29.1%
2005 -0.51% 30.4%
2004 -0.56% 11.3%
2003 0.36% 6.17%
2002 -1.57% 6.99%
2001 -0.94% 0.07%
2000 -0.08% 13.6%
1999 - 5.69%
1998 - -2.36%
1997 - -2.1%
1996 - 11.3%
1995 - 3.8%
1994 - -2.67%
1993 - -5.77%
1992 - 0.11%
1991 - 8.41%
1990 - 3.36%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Liberia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $74.2M, equivalent to 1.41% of GDP. This compares to Libya's deficit of $14.9B, or 31.1% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Liberia recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Libya ran a deficit in 11 years. On average, Liberia posted an annual deficit equal to 2.27% of GDP, compared to surplus of 1.17% of GDP for Libya.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Liberia

Libya
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Liberia Libya
2025 8.3% 1.84%
2024 8.2% 2.13%
2023 10.1% 2.37%
2022 7.6% 4.51%
2021 7.8% 2.87%
2020 17% 1.45%
2019 27% -2.16%
2018 23.5% 13.2%
2017 12.4% 25.8%
2016 8.8% 25.9%
2015 7.7% 10.4%
2014 9.9% 2.43%
2013 7.6% 2.61%
2012 6.8% 6.06%
2011 8.5% 15.5%
2010 7.3% 2.8%
2009 7.4% 2.46%
2008 17.5% 10.4%
2007 11.4% 6.25%
2006 9.5% 1.46%
2005 6.9% 2.65%
2004 3.6% -2.2%
2003 10.3% -2.19%
2002 14.2% -9.8%
2001 12.1% -8.81%
2000 5.3% -2.9%
1999 2% 2.65%
1998 - 3.71%
1997 - 3.55%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1999–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 27 years, Liberia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 10.3%, compared with 4.35% in Libya. In 2025, inflation was 8.3% in Liberia and 1.84% in Libya.

Top exports between countries

Liberia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $4M
Chemicals & pharma $172K
Raw materials & minerals $43K
Textiles & consumer goods $9K
Libya
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Liberia Libya
Current account balance
$120M
2024
$1.86B
2023
Current account balance ranking
62/190
2024
44/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.51%
2024
+4.24%
2023
Goods imports
$1.51B
2024
$23.2B
2023
Goods exports
$1.31B
2024
$37.1B
2023
Service imports
$253M
2024
$10.1B
2023
Service exports
$42.6M
2024
$642M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
65.9%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.5%
2026
71.7%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Liberia Libya
Economic freedom 49.8 35.9
Economic freedom ranking 163/197 189/197
Property rights 40.4 6.3
Government integrity 25.8 10.3
Judicial effectiveness 23.4 4.9
Tax burden 86.1 95
Government spending 79.5 0
Fiscal health 56.9 19.9
Business freedom 38 32.4
Labor freedom 43.4 48.2
Monetary freedom 71.4 75.2
Trade freedom 57.4 80
Investment freedom 55 5
Financial freedom 20 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Liberia
Libya
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Liberia Libya
2026 49.8 -
2025 48.5 -
2024 49.9 -
2023 49.6 -
2022 47.9 -
2021 49.2 -
2020 49 -
2019 49.7 -
2018 50.9 -
2017 49.1 -
2016 52.2 -
2015 52.7 -
2014 52.4 -
2013 49.3 -
2012 48.6 35.9
2011 46.5 38.6
2010 46.2 40.2
2009 48.1 43.5
2008 - 38.7
2007 - 37
2006 - 33.2
2005 - 32.8
2004 - 31.5
2003 - 34.6
2002 - 35.4
2001 - 34
2000 - 34.7
1999 - 32.3
1998 - 32
1997 - 28.9
1996 - 31.7

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Liberia is 49.8, ranking 163/197, 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

Liberia Libya
Services, % of GDP
40%
2025
26.9%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
24.5%
2025
73.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
32.7%
2025
1.5%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$4.76B
2025
$54.1B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,840
2025
$17,150
2025
Total reserves including gold
$339M
2025
$105B
2025
Total reserves ranking
166/177
2025
29/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$397M
2024
-$795M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$472M
2024
$0
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$74.9M
2024
-$56.5M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.12%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
50.9%
2016
7.4%
2005
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
14.3%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2004–2005, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.