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Economy of Libya vs Norway compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Libya has a GDP of $48.1B compared to $531B for Norway, ranking 100/197 and 32/197 by economy size, respectively.

Libya vs Norway GDP by year

Libya
Norway
1x
Year GDP, current $
Libya Norway
2025 $48,098,909,614 $530,755,719,439
2024 $48,487,151,215 $500,886,328,034
2023 $44,027,664,915 $502,197,633,323
2022 $43,246,297,922 $617,321,834,099
2021 $35,217,995,647 $521,592,200,233
2020 $46,854,285,441 $382,252,517,922
2019 $69,254,496,472 $424,244,886,364
2018 $76,686,029,772 $454,588,871,811
2017 $67,157,452,182 $415,673,181,543
2016 $49,912,073,701 $383,284,047,619
2015 $48,717,501,321 $400,669,174,331
2014 $57,372,355,592 $515,829,568,897
2013 $75,351,107,029 $540,132,255,319
2012 $92,540,938,129 $525,082,939,407
2011 $48,169,263,294 $512,868,581,628
2010 $75,380,825,062 $440,132,138,425
2009 $60,808,562,033 $395,664,488,017
2008 $86,710,767,415 $472,060,283,688
2007 $68,032,978,391 $407,813,774,161
2006 $60,094,231,607 $349,773,283,645
2005 $47,334,691,241 $311,417,306,946
2004 $33,122,307,692 $265,662,977,688
2003 $26,265,625,000 $229,192,678,173
2002 $20,481,889,764 $195,359,978,957
2001 $34,112,093,927 $173,590,978,347
2000 $38,270,954,138 $170,620,327,660
1999 $35,975,860,857 $161,304,620,987
1998 $27,251,301,398 $152,955,958,172
1997 $30,700,897,875 $160,013,571,974
1996 $27,884,615,385 $162,427,517,132
1995 $25,541,379,187 $151,083,627,983
1994 $28,610,549,763 $126,324,387,894
1993 $30,660,051,911 $119,841,699,440
1992 $33,887,047,909 $129,998,873,602
1991 $31,991,821,265 $121,149,331,318
1990 $28,904,183,602 $119,344,377,526
1989 $25,156,707,899 $102,226,808,603
1988 $24,308,959,591 $101,497,621,605
1987 $26,697,659,335 $93,913,320,965
1986 $24,180,400,959 $78,438,205,742
1985 $31,530,566,324 $65,211,464,198
1984 $29,476,109,153 $61,866,078,539
1983 $33,200,520,140 $61,417,685,434
1982 $33,760,146,991 $62,453,362,256
1981 $36,374,353,880 $63,392,804,251
1980 $40,953,924,949 $64,176,789,764
1979 $30,536,429,497 $52,935,763,512
1978 $22,136,422,643 $46,355,988,784
1977 $22,428,297,108 $41,362,637,363
1976 $19,096,943,017 $35,815,449,464
1975 $14,710,912,458 $32,742,543,381
1974 $15,112,543,717 $27,033,413,362
1973 $8,625,889,430 $22,433,660,550
1972 $6,299,395,544 $17,283,931,878
1971 $5,260,185,125 $14,523,306,736
1970 $4,601,649,451 $12,753,503,479
1969 $4,380,987,481 $11,083,505,596
1968 $3,850,623,095 $10,178,705,992
1967 $2,726,986,913 $9,532,076,026
1966 $2,312,438,536 $8,712,528,095
1965 $1,804,979,680 $8,073,570,566
1964 $1,341,395,421 $7,172,430,304
1963 $892,327,911 $6,522,268,053
1962 $619,725,785 $6,078,186,245
1961 $443,905,612 $5,642,867,672
1960 $401,644,249 $5,172,811,442

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

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

GDP per capita in Libya vs Norway by year

Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Norway
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Libya Norway
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $6,449 - $94,594 -
2024 $6,569 $14,304 $89,889 $102,038
2023 $6,027 $13,847 $90,984 $103,638
2022 $5,987 $12,266 $113,122 $125,490
2021 $4,936 $12,642 $96,443 $88,984
2020 $6,650 $10,955 $71,058 $67,111
2019 $9,963 $16,194 $79,329 $70,940
2018 $11,197 $18,879 $85,579 $70,254
2017 $9,966 $18,026 $78,771 $64,590
2016 $7,526 $16,961 $73,222 $59,280
2015 $7,458 $17,903 $77,221 $60,738
2014 $8,926 $17,510 $100,410 $66,332
2013 $11,952 $21,151 $106,333 $67,378
2012 $14,976 $26,826 $104,628 $65,774
2011 $7,594 $15,698 $103,545 $62,460
2010 $11,601 $30,234 $90,020 $58,213
2009 $9,551 $29,027 $81,940 $55,648
2008 $13,906 $30,812 $99,002 $62,073
2007 $11,145 $30,929 $86,600 $56,179
2006 $10,049 $28,936 $75,048 $54,358
2005 $8,079 $26,903 $67,358 $47,967
2004 $5,774 $23,813 $57,855 $42,667
2003 $4,674 $22,663 $50,208 $38,680
2002 $3,718 $20,061 $43,048 $38,056
2001 $6,313 $20,332 $38,458 $37,829
2000 $7,214 $20,617 $37,992 $36,994
1999 $6,895 $19,769 $36,151 $30,574
1998 $5,301 $19,639 $34,516 $28,200
1997 $6,062 $20,439 $36,324 $28,610
1996 $5,591 $19,392 $37,073 $26,826
1995 $5,205 $18,952 $34,659 $24,360
1994 $5,933 $19,318 $29,130 $23,027
1993 $6,478 $18,904 $27,793 $21,584
1992 $7,303 $19,572 $30,328 $20,623
1991 $7,040 $20,085 $28,427 $19,580
1990 $6,502 $17,173 $28,137 $18,461
1989 $5,793 - $24,185 -
1988 $5,736 - $24,112 -
1987 $6,465 - $22,430 -
1986 $6,019 - $18,822 -
1985 $8,087 - $15,704 -
1984 $7,811 - $14,943 -
1983 $8,927 - $14,877 -
1982 $9,064 - $15,178 -
1981 $10,044 - $15,463 -
1980 $11,960 - $15,708 -
1979 $9,443 - $12,998 -
1978 $7,252 - $11,421 -
1977 $7,783 - $10,230 -
1976 $7,018 - $8,896 -
1975 $5,721 - $8,171 -
1974 $6,214 - $6,783 -
1973 $3,727 - $5,664 -
1972 $2,830 - $4,395 -
1971 $2,443 - $3,721 -
1970 $2,210 - $3,291 -
1969 $2,175 - $2,881 -
1968 $1,972 - $2,667 -
1967 $1,437 - $2,519 -
1966 $1,251 - $2,321 -
1965 $1,001 - $2,168 -
1964 $765 - $1,941 -
1963 $528 - $1,779 -
1962 $382 - $1,670 -
1961 $285.3 - $1,563 -
1960 $269 - $1,444 -

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

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

Libya's GDP per capita is $6,449, ranking 112/197, compared to $94,594 in Norway, ranking 9/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Libya ranks 118th at $14,304, while Norway ranks 7th at $102,038.

Economic indicators

Libya Norway
Gross domestic product
$48.1B
2025
$531B
2025
GDP rank
100/197
2025
32/197
2025
GDP growth
13.4%
2024-2025
1.09%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$6,449
2025
$94,594
2025
GDP per capita rank
112/197
2025
9/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$102,038
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
118/197
2024
7/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$239B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
45%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$42,567
2025
Government debt per person rank n/a
15/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,426
2026
$50,036
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$296B
2019
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
17
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
21.6%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.6%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
102.3%
2025
49.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.84%
2024-2025
3.06%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.25%
2026
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
4.5%
2025
Population
7580693
5660666

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Libya

Norway
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Libya Norway
2025 -31.1% 9.34%
2024 -25.9% 12.8%
2023 -7.16% 15.9%
2022 23.6% 24.7%
2021 14.8% 9.93%
2020 -22.3% -2.46%
2019 11.9% 6.28%
2018 9.39% 7.56%
2017 -11.1% 4.79%
2016 -29.3% 3.91%
2015 -28.5% 5.8%
2014 -30.5% 8.34%
2013 -16.3% 10.3%
2012 24.6% 13.4%
2011 -11.5% 13%
2010 11.5% 10.6%
2009 -5.46% 10%
2008 27.7% 18.3%
2007 28.4% 16.8%
2006 29.1% 17.7%
2005 30.4% 14.7%
2004 11.3% 10.8%
2003 6.17% 7.21%
2002 6.99% 9.05%
2001 0.07% 13.2%
2000 13.6% 15.1%
1999 5.69% 5.75%
1998 -2.36% 3.09%
1997 -2.1% 7.41%
1996 11.3% 6.05%
1995 3.8% 2.98%
1994 -2.67% 0.04%
1993 -5.77% -1.65%
1992 0.11% -2.08%
1991 8.41% -0.12%
1990 3.36% 1.96%
1989 - 1.81%
1988 - 2.65%
1987 - 4.56%
1986 - 5.87%
1985 - 9.84%
1984 - 6.97%
1983 - 6.03%
1982 - 3.96%
1981 - 4.82%
1980 - 5.38%
1979 - 2.16%
1978 - 0.94%
1977 - 1.01%
1976 - 2.2%
1975 - 2.88%
1974 - 4.06%
1973 - 4.99%
1972 - 3.93%
1971 - 3.71%
1970 - 2.83%
1969 - 3.57%
1968 - 3.38%
1967 - 4.19%
1966 - 3.59%
1965 - 2.78%
1964 - 3.08%
1963 - 2.6%
1962 - 4%
1961 - -0.7%
1960 - 1.42%
1959 - 1.89%
1958 - 1.7%
1957 - 1.55%
1956 - 1.22%
1955 - 0.82%
1954 - -0.54%
1953 - 1.3%
1952 - 2.15%
1951 - 1.59%
1950 - -0.89%
1949 - -0.72%
1948 - -0.35%
1947 - -4.66%
1946 - -3.82%
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -0.54%
1938 - 0.03%
1937 - -0.16%
1936 - -0.7%
1935 - -1.1%
1934 - -0.59%
1933 - -1.29%
1932 - -1.14%
1931 - -1.15%
1930 - -0.46%
1929 - -0.83%
1928 - -0.81%
1927 - -0.76%
1926 - -1.59%
1925 - -1.92%
1924 - -2.96%
1923 - -3.58%
1922 - -4.28%
1921 - -5.47%
1920 - -1.15%
1919 - -2.11%
1918 - -1.17%
1917 - 0.2%
1916 - -0.36%
1915 - -2.04%
1914 - -1.09%
1913 - -0.9%
1912 - -0.89%
1911 - -0.05%
1910 - 0.3%
1909 - -0.52%
1908 - -0.06%
1907 - 0.16%
1906 - -0.59%
1905 - -0.52%
1904 - -0.75%
1903 - -1.12%
1902 - -1.52%
1901 - -1.41%
1900 - -1.99%
1899 - -1.35%
1898 - -1.39%
1897 - -0.63%
1896 - -1.57%
1895 - -1.66%
1894 - -1.13%
1893 - -1.25%
1892 - -0.94%
1891 - -0.44%
1890 - -0.2%
1889 - -0.07%
1888 - -0.23%
1887 - -0.17%
1886 - -0.2%
1885 - -0.005%
1884 - -0.08%
1883 - -0.17%
1882 - -0.62%
1881 - -1.13%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1881–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Libya's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $14.9B, equivalent to 31.1% of GDP. This compares to Norway's surplus of $49.6B, or 9.34% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Libya recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of those years, while Norway ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Libya posted an annual surplus equal to 1.4% of GDP, compared to surplus of 8.62% of GDP for Norway.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Libya

Norway
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Libya Norway
2025 1.84% 3.06%
2024 2.13% 3.15%
2023 2.37% 5.52%
2022 4.51% 5.76%
2021 2.87% 3.48%
2020 1.45% 1.29%
2019 -2.16% 2.17%
2018 13.2% 2.76%
2017 25.8% 1.88%
2016 25.9% 3.55%
2015 10.4% 2.17%
2014 2.43% 2.04%
2013 2.61% 2.12%
2012 6.06% 0.7%
2011 15.5% 1.28%
2010 2.8% 2.42%
2009 2.46% 2.2%
2008 10.4% 3.75%
2007 6.25% 0.71%
2006 1.46% 2.33%
2005 2.65% 1.53%
2004 -2.2% 0.45%
2003 -2.19% 2.49%
2002 -9.8% 1.29%
2001 -8.81% 3%
2000 -2.9% 3.09%
1999 2.65% 2.37%
1998 3.71% 2.25%
1997 3.55% 2.57%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Libya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.3%, compared with 2.46% in Norway. In 2025, inflation was 1.84% in Libya and 3.06% in Norway.

Top exports between countries

Libya
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $1K
Norway
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $3.14M
Chemicals & pharma $1.32M
Raw materials & minerals $325K
Textiles & consumer goods $181K
Metals $66K
Animal & marine products $26K
Miscellaneous $15K
Wood & paper products $6K

Balance of trade

Libya Norway
Current account balance
$1.86B
2023
$74.1B
2025
Current account balance ranking
44/190
2023
10/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.24%
2023
+14%
2025
Goods imports
$23.2B
2023
$105B
2025
Goods exports
$37.1B
2023
$177B
2025
Service imports
$10.1B
2023
$73.9B
2025
Service exports
$642M
2023
$63.5B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
65.9%
2025
33.7%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.7%
2025
45.4%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Libya Norway
Economic freedom 35.9 78.8
Economic freedom ranking 189/197 9/197
Property rights 6.3 99.6
Government integrity 10.3 94.3
Judicial effectiveness 4.9 96.4
Tax burden 95 63.3
Government spending 0 42
Fiscal health 19.9 96.4
Business freedom 32.4 91.2
Labor freedom 48.2 69.3
Monetary freedom 75.2 72.4
Trade freedom 80 85.6
Investment freedom 5 75
Financial freedom 20 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Libya
Norway
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Libya Norway
2026 - 78.8
2025 - 78.3
2024 - 77.5
2023 - 76.9
2022 - 76.9
2021 - 73.4
2020 - 73.4
2019 - 73
2018 - 74.3
2017 - 74
2016 - 70.8
2015 - 71.8
2014 - 70.9
2013 - 70.5
2012 35.9 68.8
2011 38.6 70.3
2010 40.2 69.4
2009 43.5 70.2
2008 38.7 68.6
2007 37 67.9
2006 33.2 67.9
2005 32.8 64.5
2004 31.5 66.2
2003 34.6 67.2
2002 35.4 67.4
2001 34 67.1
2000 34.7 70.1
1999 32.3 68.6
1998 32 68
1997 28.9 65.1
1996 31.7 65.4

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Libya is 35.9, ranking 189/197, compared to 78.8 for Norway, ranking 9/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Libya Norway
Services, % of GDP
26.9%
2025
55%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
73.2%
2025
34.5%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.5%
2025
1.64%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$54.1B
2025
$546B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$17,150
2025
$107,770
2025
Total reserves including gold
$105B
2025
$85.5B
2025
Total reserves ranking
29/177
2025
34/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$795M
2023
$8.93B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$12.1B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$56.5M
2024
$5.62B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.4%
2005
12.2%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.3%
2025
23.2%
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/libya/norway | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1881–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2019–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2004–2005, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. 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.

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.