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Economy of Libya vs Portugal compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Libya has a GDP of $48.5B compared to $313B for Portugal, ranking 95/197 and 46/197 by economy size, respectively.

Libya vs Portugal GDP by year

Libya
Portugal
1x
Year GDP, current $
Libya Portugal
2024 $48,487,151,215 $313,271,185,085
2023 $44,027,664,915 $292,323,800,949
2022 $43,246,297,922 $256,898,677,175
2021 $35,217,995,647 $256,055,879,091
2020 $46,854,285,441 $229,618,773,423
2019 $69,254,496,472 $240,115,970,063
2018 $76,686,029,772 $242,092,894,543
2017 $67,157,452,182 $220,862,990,767
2016 $49,912,073,701 $206,305,431,242
2015 $48,717,501,321 $199,038,523,120
2014 $57,372,355,592 $230,078,616,300
2013 $75,351,107,029 $226,677,408,292
2012 $92,540,938,129 $216,536,676,772
2011 $48,169,263,294 $245,426,767,676
2010 $75,380,825,062 $238,443,864,993
2009 $60,808,562,033 $244,667,762,836
2008 $86,710,767,415 $263,416,394,624
2007 $68,032,978,391 $240,496,147,317
2006 $60,094,231,607 $208,756,449,276
2005 $47,334,691,241 $197,253,876,705
2004 $33,122,307,692 $189,382,122,532
2003 $26,265,625,000 $165,226,175,537
2002 $20,481,889,764 $134,795,565,549
2001 $34,112,093,927 $121,604,107,165
2000 $38,270,954,138 $118,605,192,877
1999 $35,975,860,857 $127,470,385,557
1998 $27,251,301,398 $123,946,327,916
1997 $30,700,897,875 $117,016,535,163
1996 $27,884,615,385 $122,630,089,680
1995 $25,541,379,187 $118,122,007,430
1994 $28,610,549,763 $99,688,641,304
1993 $30,660,051,911 $95,009,751,901
1992 $33,887,047,909 $107,592,098,307
1991 $31,991,821,265 $89,233,599,278
1990 $28,904,183,602 $78,713,860,217
1989 $25,156,707,899 $60,594,092,182
1988 $24,308,959,591 $56,347,250,696
1987 $26,697,659,335 $48,182,925,857
1986 $24,180,400,959 $38,745,901,354
1985 $31,530,566,324 $27,115,807,742
1984 $29,476,109,153 $25,217,969,050
1983 $33,200,520,140 $27,239,650,742
1982 $33,760,146,991 $30,527,754,793
1981 $36,374,353,880 $31,977,276,873
1980 $40,953,924,949 $32,896,519,824
1979 $30,536,429,497 $26,622,819,672
1978 $22,136,422,643 $23,487,614,051
1977 $22,428,297,108 $21,439,523,311
1976 $19,096,943,017 $20,332,831,565
1975 $14,710,912,458 $19,347,607,843
1974 $15,112,543,717 $17,512,391,476
1973 $8,625,889,430 $15,090,564,186
1972 $6,299,395,544 $11,239,117,865
1971 $5,260,185,125 $9,201,604,240
1970 $4,601,649,451 $8,108,235,704
1969 $4,380,987,481 $7,287,555,035
1968 $3,850,623,095 $6,644,693,214
1967 $2,726,986,913 $6,002,607,030
1966 $2,312,438,536 $5,370,108,031
1965 $1,804,979,680 $4,901,711,248
1964 $1,341,395,421 $4,429,202,657
1963 $892,327,911 $4,084,251,593
1962 $619,725,785 $3,835,883,663
1961 $443,905,612 $3,573,719,085
1960 $401,644,249 $3,339,150,158

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

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

GDP per capita in Libya vs Portugal by year

Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Portugal
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Libya Portugal
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $6,569 $14,304 $29,292 $51,680
2023 $6,027 $13,847 $27,635 $49,353
2022 $5,987 $12,266 $24,621 $45,250
2021 $4,936 $12,642 $24,711 $38,658
2020 $6,650 $10,955 $22,299 $35,967
2019 $9,963 $16,194 $23,343 $37,866
2018 $11,197 $18,879 $23,541 $34,897
2017 $9,966 $18,026 $21,442 $32,971
2016 $7,526 $16,961 $19,980 $31,589
2015 $7,458 $17,903 $19,216 $29,608
2014 $8,926 $17,510 $22,121 $28,765
2013 $11,952 $21,151 $21,676 $27,966
2012 $14,976 $26,826 $20,593 $26,476
2011 $7,594 $15,698 $23,247 $26,803
2010 $11,601 $30,234 $22,552 $27,292
2009 $9,551 $29,027 $23,151 $26,472
2008 $13,906 $30,812 $24,949 $26,666
2007 $11,145 $30,929 $22,811 $25,738
2006 $10,049 $28,936 $19,839 $24,677
2005 $8,079 $26,903 $18,780 $22,725
2004 $5,774 $23,813 $18,064 $21,476
2003 $4,674 $22,663 $15,798 $20,850
2002 $3,718 $20,061 $12,937 $20,357
2001 $6,313 $20,332 $11,735 $19,529
2000 $7,214 $20,617 $11,526 $18,883
1999 $6,895 $19,769 $12,475 $17,718
1998 $5,301 $19,639 $12,199 $16,688
1997 $6,062 $20,439 $11,576 $15,789
1996 $5,591 $19,392 $12,185 $14,922
1995 $5,205 $18,952 $11,781 $14,406
1994 $5,933 $19,318 $9,977 $13,578
1993 $6,478 $18,904 $9,535 $13,202
1992 $7,303 $19,572 $10,811 $13,182
1991 $7,040 $20,085 $8,959 $12,739
1990 $6,502 $17,173 $7,885 $11,780
1989 $5,793 - $6,056 -
1988 $5,736 - $5,624 -
1987 $6,465 - $4,804 -
1986 $6,019 - $3,862 -
1985 $8,087 - $2,705 -
1984 $7,811 - $2,523 -
1983 $8,927 - $2,735 -
1982 $9,064 - $3,080 -
1981 $10,044 - $3,246 -
1980 $11,960 - $3,368 -
1979 $9,443 - $2,756 -
1978 $7,252 - $2,457 -
1977 $7,783 - $2,267 -
1976 $7,018 - $2,173 -
1975 $5,721 - $2,128 -
1974 $6,214 - $2,000 -
1973 $3,727 - $1,748 -
1972 $2,830 - $1,302 -
1971 $2,443 - $1,065 -
1970 $2,210 - $934 -
1969 $2,175 - $832 -
1968 $1,972 - $752 -
1967 $1,437 - $676 -
1966 $1,251 - $601 -
1965 $1,001 - $545 -
1964 $765 - $490 -
1963 $528 - $452 -
1962 $382 - $426 -
1961 $285.3 - $400 -
1960 $269 - $377 -

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

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

Libya's GDP per capita is $6,569, ranking 107/197, compared to $29,292 in Portugal, ranking 44/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Libya ranks 118th at $14,304, while Portugal ranks 42nd at $51,680.

Economic indicators

Libya Portugal
Gross domestic product
$48.5B
2024
$313B
2024
GDP rank
95/197
2024
46/197
2024
GDP growth
1.9%
2023-2024
2.14%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$6,569
2024
$29,292
2024
GDP per capita rank
107/197
2024
44/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$51,680
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
118/197
2024
42/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$297B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
94.9%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$27,807
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
27/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,172
2026
$16,747
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$61.9B
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
171,797
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
26.9%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
94.8%
2024
42.8%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.13%
2023-2024
2.42%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
6.43%
2024
Population
7559873
10667081

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Libya

Portugal
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Libya Portugal
2024 -25.1% 0.7%
2023 8.22% 1.21%
2022 23.6% -0.31%
2021 14.8% -2.83%
2020 -22.3% -5.75%
2019 11.9% 0.12%
2018 9.39% -0.43%
2017 -11.1% -3%
2016 -29.3% -1.94%
2015 -28.5% -4.37%
2014 -30.5% -7.32%
2013 -16.3% -5.21%
2012 24.6% -6.2%
2011 -11.5% -7.73%
2010 11.5% -11.4%
2009 -5.46% -9.87%
2008 27.7% -3.81%
2007 28.4% -2.91%
2006 29.1% -4.07%
2005 30.4% -6.11%
2004 11.3% -5.99%
2003 6.17% -5.66%
2002 6.99% -3.73%
2001 0.07% -4.73%
2000 13.6% -3.35%
1999 5.69% -2.99%
1998 -2.36% -4.3%
1997 -2.1% -3.65%
1996 11.3% -4.63%
1995 3.8% -5.14%
1994 -2.67% -7.37%
1993 -5.77% -8.06%
1992 0.11% -5.19%
1991 8.41% -7.93%
1990 3.36% -6.82%
1989 - -2.86%
1988 - -3.52%
1987 - -6.79%
1986 - -7.45%
1985 - -8.35%
1984 - -5.23%
1983 - -4.86%
1982 - -7.02%
1981 - -8.34%
1980 - -6.92%
1979 - -6.08%
1978 - -7.15%
1977 - -7.5%
1976 - -10.2%
1975 - -7.1%
1974 - -3.2%
1973 - -5.39%
1972 - -7.72%
1971 - -0.23%
1970 - -0.24%
1969 - -1.53%
1968 - -1.24%
1967 - -0.46%
1966 - -2%
1965 - -0.03%
1964 - -1.93%
1963 - -3.33%
1962 - -1.69%
1961 - -3.17%
1960 - -3.13%
1959 - -1.73%
1958 - -0.52%
1957 - 0.08%
1956 - -0.18%
1955 - -0.31%
1954 - -0.58%
1953 - -0.35%
1952 - -0.34%
1951 - 0.94%
1950 - -0.83%
1949 - -0.46%
1948 - -2.04%
1947 - -1.65%
1946 - -2.32%
1945 - -2.38%
1944 - -1.44%
1943 - 0.03%
1942 - -0.35%
1941 - -0.08%
1940 - -1.74%
1939 - -0.73%
1938 - -0.08%
1937 - -0.09%
1936 - 0.08%
1935 - 0.75%
1934 - 0.6%
1933 - -0.07%
1932 - -0.03%
1931 - 0.04%
1930 - 0.79%
1929 - 1.86%
1928 - 0.2%
1927 - -2.27%
1926 - -4.21%
1925 - -1.48%
1924 - -3.16%
1923 - -3.47%
1922 - -10%
1921 - -6.5%
1920 - -5.66%
1919 - -8.83%
1918 - -8.3%
1917 - -5.49%
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -0.34%
1912 - -0.02%
1911 - -0.73%
1910 - -0.19%
1909 - -0.82%
1908 - -0.56%
1907 - -0.69%
1906 - -0.45%
1905 - -0.75%
1904 - -0.26%
1903 - -0.91%
1902 - -0.5%
1901 - -0.69%
1900 - -0.35%
1899 - -0.77%
1898 - -0.5%
1897 - -0.93%
1896 - -1.35%
1895 - -0.2%
1894 - -0.16%
1893 - -0.02%
1892 - -0.8%
1891 - -2.15%
1890 - -2.01%
1889 - -1.95%
1888 - -2.14%
1887 - -0.67%
1886 - -1.43%
1885 - -1.68%
1884 - -1.48%
1883 - -1.1%
1882 - -0.39%
1881 - -1.2%
1880 - -1.63%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Libya's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $12.1B, equivalent to 25.1% of GDP. This compares to Portugal's surplus of $2.19B, or 0.7% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Libya recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Portugal ran a deficit in 32 years. On average, Libya posted an annual surplus equal to 2.79% of GDP, compared to deficit of 4.6% of GDP for Portugal.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Libya

Portugal
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Libya Portugal
2024 2.13% 2.42%
2023 2.37% 4.31%
2022 4.51% 7.83%
2021 2.87% 1.27%
2020 1.45% -0.01%
2019 -2.16% 0.34%
2018 13.2% 0.99%
2017 25.8% 1.37%
2016 25.9% 0.61%
2015 10.4% 0.49%
2014 2.43% -0.28%
2013 2.61% 0.27%
2012 6.06% 2.77%
2011 15.5% 3.65%
2010 2.8% 1.4%
2009 2.46% -0.84%
2008 10.4% 2.59%
2007 6.25% 2.45%
2006 1.46% 3.11%
2005 2.65% 2.28%
2004 -2.2% 2.37%
2003 -2.19% 3.22%
2002 -9.8% 3.6%
2001 -8.81% 4.37%
2000 -2.9% 2.85%
1999 2.65% 2.34%
1998 3.71% 2.57%
1997 3.55% 2.34%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Libya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.39%, compared with 2.17% in Portugal. In 2024, inflation was 2.13% in Libya and 2.42% in Portugal.

Top exports between countries

Libya
Export category Export value
Metals $8.46M
Machinery & equipment $5K
Portugal
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $21.6M
Chemicals & pharma $13.4M
Machinery & equipment $10.7M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $7.14M
Raw agricultural goods $5.74M
Animal & marine products $5.7M
Textiles & consumer goods $2.03M
Metals $1.73M
Wood & paper products $1.23M
Precious metals & jewellery $4K

Balance of trade

Libya Portugal
Current account balance
$1.86B
2023
$6.51B
2024
Current account balance ranking
46/190
2023
28/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.24%
2023
+2.08%
2024
Goods imports
$23.2B
2023
$109B
2024
Goods exports
$37.1B
2023
$81.4B
2024
Service imports
$10.1B
2023
$27.9B
2024
Service exports
$642M
2023
$62.7B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.8%
2024
43.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
72%
2024
45.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Libya Portugal
Economic freedom 35.9 71.2
Economic freedom ranking 189/197 33/197
Property rights 6.3 88.9
Government integrity 10.3 63.4
Judicial effectiveness 4.9 90.1
Tax burden 95 60.6
Government spending 0 44.6
Fiscal health 19.9 82
Business freedom 32.4 83.1
Labor freedom 48.2 54.8
Monetary freedom 75.2 77.7
Trade freedom 80 79.4
Investment freedom 5 70
Financial freedom 20 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Libya
Portugal
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Libya Portugal
2026 - 71.2
2025 - 70.5
2024 - 68.7
2023 - 69.5
2022 - 70.8
2021 - 67.5
2020 - 67
2019 - 65.3
2018 - 63.4
2017 - 62.6
2016 - 65.1
2015 - 65.3
2014 - 63.5
2013 - 63.1
2012 35.9 63
2011 38.6 64
2010 40.2 64.4
2009 43.5 64.9
2008 38.7 63.9
2007 37 64
2006 33.2 62.9
2005 32.8 62.4
2004 31.5 64.9
2003 34.6 64.9
2002 35.4 65.4
2001 34 66
2000 34.7 65.5
1999 32.3 65.6
1998 32 65
1997 28.9 63.6
1996 31.7 64.5
1995 - 62.4

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Libya is 35.9, ranking 189/197, compared to 71.2 for Portugal, ranking 33/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Libya Portugal
Services, % of GDP
28.3%
2024
66.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
73.5%
2024
18.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.39%
2024
2.02%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$50.9B
2024
$288B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,400
2024
$50,730
2024
Total reserves including gold
$92.9B
2024
$42.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
29/177
2024
48/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$795M
2023
-$6.64B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$13.5B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$56.5M
2024
$6.84B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.4%
2005
16.4%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.3%
2024
20.4%
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/libya/portugal | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2019–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2004–2005, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. 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.