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Economy of Libya vs Sweden compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Libya has a GDP of $48.1B compared to $669B for Sweden, ranking 100/197 and 26/197 by economy size, respectively.

Libya vs Sweden GDP by year

Libya
Sweden
1x
Year GDP, current $
Libya Sweden
2025 $48,098,909,614 $668,998,664,082
2024 $48,487,151,215 $604,827,393,489
2023 $44,027,664,915 $578,990,915,246
2022 $43,246,297,922 $575,071,237,641
2021 $35,217,995,647 $631,693,331,301
2020 $46,854,285,441 $544,265,668,452
2019 $69,254,496,472 $530,894,124,494
2018 $76,686,029,772 $549,649,344,043
2017 $67,157,452,182 $535,172,356,785
2016 $49,912,073,701 $513,058,312,951
2015 $48,717,501,321 $501,602,351,912
2014 $57,372,355,592 $577,727,767,304
2013 $75,351,107,029 $584,125,353,119
2012 $92,540,938,129 $549,739,674,655
2011 $48,169,263,294 $570,538,581,144
2010 $75,380,825,062 $492,750,897,239
2009 $60,808,562,033 $434,311,714,442
2008 $86,710,767,415 $514,614,100,833
2007 $68,032,978,391 $490,047,789,548
2006 $60,094,231,607 $422,528,394,459
2005 $47,334,691,241 $391,688,455,929
2004 $33,122,307,692 $384,545,442,175
2003 $26,265,625,000 $334,072,443,516
2002 $20,481,889,764 $267,371,907,447
2001 $34,112,093,927 $242,497,797,485
2000 $38,270,954,138 $262,903,560,280
1999 $35,975,860,857 $274,318,357,862
1998 $27,251,301,398 $270,887,306,759
1997 $30,700,897,875 $268,249,616,891
1996 $27,884,615,385 $291,949,597,375
1995 $25,541,379,187 $267,050,453,507
1994 $28,610,549,763 $228,699,066,874
1993 $30,660,051,911 $212,644,602,616
1992 $33,887,047,909 $283,908,914,454
1991 $31,991,821,265 $273,831,464,572
1990 $28,904,183,602 $261,466,577,009
1989 $25,156,707,899 $217,632,340,195
1988 $24,308,959,591 $206,686,590,776
1987 $26,697,659,335 $182,744,315,974
1986 $24,180,400,959 $150,279,869,729
1985 $31,530,566,324 $113,958,084,357
1984 $29,476,109,153 $109,043,045,407
1983 $33,200,520,140 $104,862,109,663
1982 $33,760,146,991 $114,214,731,799
1981 $36,374,353,880 $129,498,921,476
1980 $40,953,924,949 $141,886,067,004
1979 $30,536,429,497 $123,207,527,699
1978 $22,136,422,643 $104,290,933,496
1977 $22,428,297,108 $94,331,782,622
1976 $19,096,943,017 $89,232,517,046
1975 $14,710,912,458 $82,765,232,648
1974 $15,112,543,717 $65,917,634,590
1973 $8,625,889,430 $59,318,842,992
1972 $6,299,395,544 $48,883,173,400
1971 $5,260,185,125 $41,506,151,115
1970 $4,601,649,451 $38,037,226,668
1969 $4,380,987,481 $33,967,301,561
1968 $3,850,623,095 $31,277,871,669
1967 $2,726,986,913 $29,474,881,506
1966 $2,312,438,536 $27,154,716,721
1965 $1,804,979,680 $24,963,947,415
1964 $1,341,395,421 $22,685,490,195
1963 $892,327,911 $20,342,131,882
1962 $619,725,785 $18,794,066,990
1961 $443,905,612 $17,329,620,585
1960 $401,644,249 $15,930,075,467

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

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

GDP per capita in Libya vs Sweden by year

Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sweden
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Libya Sweden
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $6,449 - $63,133 -
2024 $6,569 $14,304 $57,223 $71,845
2023 $6,027 $13,847 $54,950 $69,226
2022 $5,987 $12,266 $54,837 $67,076
2021 $4,936 $12,642 $60,648 $62,732
2020 $6,650 $10,955 $52,569 $57,489
2019 $9,963 $16,194 $51,649 $57,046
2018 $11,197 $18,879 $54,018 $53,122
2017 $9,966 $18,026 $53,210 $51,474
2016 $7,526 $16,961 $51,704 $50,290
2015 $7,458 $17,903 $51,188 $48,772
2014 $8,926 $17,510 $59,583 $46,841
2013 $11,952 $21,151 $60,844 $46,098
2012 $14,976 $26,826 $57,750 $45,207
2011 $7,594 $15,698 $60,379 $44,333
2010 $11,601 $30,234 $52,543 $41,951
2009 $9,551 $29,027 $46,708 $40,094
2008 $13,906 $30,812 $55,817 $41,907
2007 $11,145 $30,929 $53,568 $40,813
2006 $10,049 $28,936 $46,531 $37,672
2005 $8,079 $26,903 $43,378 $34,198
2004 $5,774 $23,813 $42,758 $33,805
2003 $4,674 $22,663 $37,292 $31,788
2002 $3,718 $20,061 $29,958 $30,987
2001 $6,313 $20,332 $27,259 $29,946
2000 $7,214 $20,617 $29,633 $29,636
1999 $6,895 $19,769 $30,969 $27,496
1998 $5,301 $19,639 $30,605 $25,897
1997 $6,062 $20,439 $30,324 $24,817
1996 $5,591 $19,392 $33,022 $23,952
1995 $5,205 $18,952 $30,254 $23,084
1994 $5,933 $19,318 $26,046 $21,835
1993 $6,478 $18,904 $24,390 $20,700
1992 $7,303 $19,572 $32,753 $20,767
1991 $7,040 $20,085 $31,777 $20,663
1990 $6,502 $17,173 $30,549 $20,357
1989 $5,793 - $25,625 -
1988 $5,736 - $24,499 -
1987 $6,465 - $21,761 -
1986 $6,019 - $17,955 -
1985 $8,087 - $13,647 -
1984 $7,811 - $13,080 -
1983 $8,927 - $12,590 -
1982 $9,064 - $13,719 -
1981 $10,044 - $15,564 -
1980 $11,960 - $17,073 -
1979 $9,443 - $14,856 -
1978 $7,252 - $12,602 -
1977 $7,783 - $11,432 -
1976 $7,018 - $10,853 -
1975 $5,721 - $10,103 -
1974 $6,214 - $8,078 -
1973 $3,727 - $7,291 -
1972 $2,830 - $6,018 -
1971 $2,443 - $5,125 -
1970 $2,210 - $4,729 -
1969 $2,175 - $4,263 -
1968 $1,972 - $3,953 -
1967 $1,437 - $3,746 -
1966 $1,251 - $3,478 -
1965 $1,001 - $3,228 -
1964 $765 - $2,961 -
1963 $528 - $2,675 -
1962 $382 - $2,485 -
1961 $285.3 - $2,304 -
1960 $269 - $2,128 -

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

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

Libya's GDP per capita is $6,449, ranking 112/197, compared to $63,133 in Sweden, ranking 15/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Libya ranks 118th at $14,304, while Sweden ranks 23rd at $71,845.

Economic indicators

Libya Sweden
Gross domestic product
$48.1B
2025
$669B
2025
GDP rank
100/197
2025
26/197
2025
GDP growth
13.4%
2024-2025
1.54%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$6,449
2025
$63,133
2025
GDP per capita rank
112/197
2025
15/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$71,845
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
118/197
2024
23/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$234B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
34.9%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$22,057
2025
Government debt per person rank n/a
31/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,426
2026
$40,083
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$290B
2003
Number of millionaires n/a
507,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
50
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
22.3%
2023
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
102.3%
2025
49.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.84%
2024-2025
0.68%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
1.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
8.8%
2025
Population
7580693
10665077

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Libya

Sweden
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Libya Sweden
2025 -31.1% -1.41%
2024 -25.9% -1.5%
2023 -7.16% -0.63%
2022 23.6% 1%
2021 14.8% -0.15%
2020 -22.3% -3.18%
2019 11.9% 0.44%
2018 9.39% 0.67%
2017 -11.1% 1.29%
2016 -29.3% 0.86%
2015 -28.5% -0.27%
2014 -30.5% -1.84%
2013 -16.3% -1.63%
2012 24.6% -1.19%
2011 -11.5% -0.41%
2010 11.5% -0.14%
2009 -5.46% -0.89%
2008 27.7% 1.87%
2007 28.4% 3.37%
2006 29.1% 2.2%
2005 30.4% 2.08%
2004 11.3% 0.17%
2003 6.17% -1.25%
2002 6.99% -1.46%
2001 0.07% 1.37%
2000 13.6% 3.11%
1999 5.69% 0.6%
1998 -2.36% 0.82%
1997 -2.1% -1.57%
1996 11.3% -3.11%
1995 3.8% -7.01%
1994 -2.67% -8.77%
1993 -5.77% -10.9%
1992 0.11% -8.51%
1991 8.41% 0.28%
1990 3.36% 3.7%
1989 - 1.5%
1988 - -0.64%
1987 - -2%
1986 - -6.21%
1985 - -9.91%
1984 - -12.1%
1983 - -15.1%
1982 - -13.4%
1981 - -12.8%
1980 - -11.5%
1979 - -9.95%
1978 - -7.32%
1977 - -3.32%
1976 - -1.27%
1975 - -4.05%
1974 - -4.12%
1973 - -3.28%
1972 - -2.17%
1971 - -1.67%
1970 - -2.64%
1969 - -2.03%
1968 - -2.37%
1967 - -1.41%
1966 - -0.33%
1965 - -0.17%
1964 - -0.1%
1963 - 0.41%
1962 - 0.7%
1961 - 0.56%
1960 - -2.67%
1959 - -2.53%
1958 - -2.31%
1957 - -2.1%
1956 - -1.21%
1955 - -1.72%
1954 - -1.52%
1953 - -2.47%
1952 - -0.16%
1951 - -0.9%
1950 - -1.64%
1949 - -0.74%
1948 - 0.29%
1947 - -1.08%
1946 - -0.61%
1945 - -8.04%
1944 - -8.66%
1943 - -10.7%
1942 - -11.8%
1941 - -13.1%
1940 - -8.16%
1939 - -1.13%
1938 - -0.07%
1937 - 0.46%
1936 - -0.64%
1935 - -2.19%
1934 - -1.88%
1933 - -4.1%
1932 - -1.56%
1931 - -0.05%
1930 - 0.09%
1929 - -0.39%
1928 - -0.06%
1927 - -1.14%
1926 - -1.11%
1925 - -1.44%
1924 - -0.99%
1923 - -1.65%
1922 - -3.17%
1921 - -3.55%
1920 - -0.6%
1919 - 0.17%
1918 - -8.59%
1917 - -0.26%
1916 - -0.23%
1915 - -0.94%
1914 - -0.55%
1913 - -0.17%
1912 - -0.51%
1911 - -0.87%
1910 - -0.81%
1909 - -2.08%
1908 - -2.27%
1907 - -0.68%
1906 - -0.66%
1905 - -0.34%
1904 - -0.56%
1903 - 0.08%
1902 - -1.57%
1901 - -1.34%
1900 - -0.32%
1899 - 0.57%
1898 - 0.91%
1897 - 1.09%
1896 - -0.59%
1895 - 1%
1894 - 0.47%
1893 - -0.49%
1892 - -0.68%
1891 - -0.6%
1890 - 0.33%
1889 - 0.19%
1888 - -0.05%
1887 - -1.5%
1886 - -0.98%
1885 - -0.08%
1884 - 0.24%
1883 - 0.16%
1882 - 0.36%
1881 - -0.17%
1880 - -0.47%
1879 - -1.89%
1878 - -2.04%
1877 - -1.21%
1876 - -1.07%
1875 - -1.26%
1874 - -1.05%
1873 - 0.06%
1872 - -0.15%
1871 - 0.22%
1870 - -0.42%
1869 - -1.52%
1868 - -1.67%
1867 - -1.17%
1866 - -3.01%
1865 - -2.02%
1864 - -2.3%
1863 - -1.58%
1862 - -1.35%
1861 - -1.11%
1860 - -2.03%
1859 - -2.17%
1858 - -2.36%
1857 - -0.62%
1856 - -0.08%
1855 - -0.09%
1854 - -0.19%
1853 - 0.17%
1852 - -0.31%
1851 - -0.07%
1850 - 0.004%
1849 - 0.09%
1848 - 0.12%
1847 - 0.08%
1846 - 0.13%
1845 - 0.04%
1844 - 0.009%
1843 - 0.05%
1842 - -0.12%
1841 - 0.06%
1840 - -0.01%
1839 - -0.006%
1838 - 0.09%
1837 - -0.38%
1836 - -0.08%
1835 - 0.08%
1834 - -0.12%
1833 - 0.09%
1832 - 0.01%
1831 - -0.1%
1830 - -0.45%
1829 - 2.7%
1828 - 0.03%
1827 - -0.16%
1826 - 0.37%
1825 - 0.18%
1824 - -0.23%
1823 - 0.37%
1822 - -0.03%
1821 - -0.49%
1820 - 0.26%
1819 - 0.09%
1818 - 0.35%
1817 - 0.35%
1816 - 0.16%
1815 - 2.34%
1814 - -0.45%
1813 - -0.37%
1812 - 3.47%
1811 - -0.48%
1810 - -3.05%
1809 - -7.65%
1808 - -5.04%
1807 - 0.1%
1806 - 0.55%
1805 - 0.52%
1804 - -0.25%
1803 - 11.6%
1802 - 2.17%
1801 - 0.01%
1800 - -0.44%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1800–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/libya/sweden | 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 Sweden's deficit of $9.43B, or 1.41% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Libya recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of those years, while Sweden ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Libya posted an annual surplus equal to 1.4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.89% of GDP for Sweden.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Libya

Sweden
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Libya Sweden
2025 1.84% 0.68%
2024 2.13% 2.84%
2023 2.37% 8.55%
2022 4.51% 8.37%
2021 2.87% 2.16%
2020 1.45% 0.5%
2019 -2.16% 1.78%
2018 13.2% 1.95%
2017 25.8% 1.79%
2016 25.9% 0.98%
2015 10.4% -0.05%
2014 2.43% -0.18%
2013 2.61% -0.04%
2012 6.06% 0.89%
2011 15.5% 2.96%
2010 2.8% 1.16%
2009 2.46% -0.49%
2008 10.4% 3.44%
2007 6.25% 2.21%
2006 1.46% 1.36%
2005 2.65% 0.45%
2004 -2.2% 0.37%
2003 -2.19% 1.93%
2002 -9.8% 2.16%
2001 -8.81% 2.41%
2000 -2.9% 0.9%
1999 2.65% 0.46%
1998 3.71% -0.27%
1997 3.55% 0.66%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Libya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.3%, compared with 1.72% in Sweden. In 2025, inflation was 1.84% in Libya and 0.68% in Sweden.

Top exports between countries

Libya
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $48.2M
Machinery & equipment $135K
Sweden
Export category Export value
Wood & paper products $34.1M
Machinery & equipment $29.1M
Chemicals & pharma $1.51M
Raw materials & minerals $1.31M
Textiles & consumer goods $560K
Metals $480K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $154K
Animal & marine products $70K
Miscellaneous $66K
Weapons & explosives $21K

Balance of trade

Libya Sweden
Current account balance
$1.86B
2023
$40.5B
2025
Current account balance ranking
44/190
2023
15/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.24%
2023
+6.06%
2025
Goods imports
$23.2B
2023
$201B
2025
Goods exports
$37.1B
2023
$233B
2025
Service imports
$10.1B
2023
$144B
2025
Service exports
$642M
2023
$132B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
65.9%
2025
51.1%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.7%
2025
53.2%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Libya Sweden
Economic freedom 35.9 77.8
Economic freedom ranking 189/197 14/197
Property rights 6.3 96.2
Government integrity 10.3 91.6
Judicial effectiveness 4.9 95.6
Tax burden 95 51.6
Government spending 0 28.4
Fiscal health 19.9 97.5
Business freedom 32.4 84.8
Labor freedom 48.2 65.8
Monetary freedom 75.2 78.1
Trade freedom 80 79.4
Investment freedom 5 85
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Libya
Sweden
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Libya Sweden
2026 - 77.8
2025 - 77.9
2024 - 77.5
2023 - 77.5
2022 - 77.9
2021 - 74.7
2020 - 74.9
2019 - 75.2
2018 - 76.3
2017 - 74.9
2016 - 72
2015 - 72.7
2014 - 73.1
2013 - 72.9
2012 35.9 71.7
2011 38.6 71.9
2010 40.2 72.4
2009 43.5 70.5
2008 38.7 70.8
2007 37 69.3
2006 33.2 70.9
2005 32.8 69.8
2004 31.5 70.1
2003 34.6 70
2002 35.4 70.8
2001 34 66.6
2000 34.7 65.1
1999 32.3 64.2
1998 32 64
1997 28.9 63.3
1996 31.7 61.8
1995 - 61.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Libya is 35.9, ranking 189/197, compared to 77.8 for Sweden, ranking 14/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Libya Sweden
Services, % of GDP
26.9%
2025
67%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
73.2%
2025
21%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.5%
2025
1.5%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$54.1B
2025
$668B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$17,150
2025
$76,090
2025
Total reserves including gold
$105B
2025
$74.2B
2025
Total reserves ranking
29/177
2025
36/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$795M
2023
-$11.1B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$30.7B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$56.5M
2024
$29.7B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.4%
2005
16.1%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.3%
2025
25.5%
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/sweden | 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 (1800–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, 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.