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Economy of Libya vs Switzerland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Libya has a GDP of $48.5B compared to $937B for Switzerland, ranking 95/197 and 20/197 by economy size, respectively.

Libya vs Switzerland GDP by year

Libya
Switzerland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Libya Switzerland
2024 $48,487,151,215 $936,564,198,049
2023 $44,027,664,915 $894,424,821,645
2022 $43,246,297,922 $828,508,926,958
2021 $35,217,995,647 $815,309,330,987
2020 $46,854,285,441 $741,999,406,006
2019 $69,254,496,472 $721,369,112,727
2018 $76,686,029,772 $725,568,717,468
2017 $67,157,452,182 $695,200,833,086
2016 $49,912,073,701 $687,895,460,903
2015 $48,717,501,321 $694,118,186,380
2014 $57,372,355,592 $726,537,808,338
2013 $75,351,107,029 $706,234,937,371
2012 $92,540,938,129 $686,420,221,558
2011 $48,169,263,294 $715,888,126,682
2010 $75,380,825,062 $598,851,028,907
2009 $60,808,562,033 $554,212,916,092
2008 $86,710,767,415 $567,267,767,519
2007 $68,032,978,391 $490,740,715,595
2006 $60,094,231,607 $441,634,672,197
2005 $47,334,691,241 $418,284,865,885
2004 $33,122,307,692 $403,912,891,033
2003 $26,265,625,000 $362,075,086,508
2002 $20,481,889,764 $309,301,422,430
2001 $34,112,093,927 $286,582,672,434
2000 $38,270,954,138 $279,216,033,870
1999 $35,975,860,857 $297,873,643,323
1998 $27,251,301,398 $303,459,014,347
1997 $30,700,897,875 $294,788,198,856
1996 $27,884,615,385 $340,103,959,547
1995 $25,541,379,187 $352,835,806,342
1994 $28,610,549,763 $301,375,055,202
1993 $30,660,051,911 $272,237,527,071
1992 $33,887,047,909 $279,921,425,828
1991 $31,991,821,265 $268,901,693,863
1990 $28,904,183,602 $265,763,573,999
1989 $25,156,707,899 $208,105,846,934
1988 $24,308,959,591 $215,540,625,299
1987 $26,697,659,335 $199,236,370,038
1986 $24,180,400,959 $159,089,921,063
1985 $31,530,566,324 $110,980,314,192
1984 $29,476,109,153 $109,455,312,168
1983 $33,200,520,140 $114,634,358,535
1982 $33,760,146,991 $115,043,365,512
1981 $36,374,353,880 $112,244,805,519
1980 $40,953,924,949 $122,557,843,886
1979 $30,536,429,497 $114,970,094,425
1978 $22,136,422,643 $102,280,472,036
1977 $22,428,297,108 $73,135,771,167
1976 $19,096,943,017 $68,476,524,644
1975 $14,710,912,458 $65,466,081,819
1974 $15,112,543,717 $57,103,011,446
1973 $8,625,889,430 $49,550,006,320
1972 $6,299,395,544 $36,844,318,854
1971 $5,260,185,125 $30,040,171,751
1970 $4,601,649,451 $24,998,066,773
1969 $4,380,987,481 $22,442,043,274
1968 $3,850,623,095 $20,712,102,794
1967 $2,726,986,913 $19,397,044,714
1966 $2,312,438,536 $18,019,402,374
1965 $1,804,979,680 $16,780,226,225
1964 $1,341,395,421 $15,833,133,858
1963 $892,327,911 $14,283,872,299
1962 $619,725,785 $12,989,649,694
1961 $443,905,612 $11,713,348,834
1960 $401,644,249 $10,412,232,621

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

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

GDP per capita in Libya vs Switzerland by year

Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Switzerland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Libya Switzerland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $6,569 $14,304 $103,998 $96,498
2023 $6,027 $13,847 $100,624 $95,142
2022 $5,987 $12,266 $94,395 $94,421
2021 $4,936 $12,642 $93,665 $81,001
2020 $6,650 $10,955 $85,898 $72,998
2019 $9,963 $16,194 $84,122 $73,732
2018 $11,197 $18,879 $85,217 $70,689
2017 $9,966 $18,026 $82,254 $68,194
2016 $7,526 $16,961 $82,153 $67,351
2015 $7,458 $17,903 $83,806 $65,265
2014 $8,926 $17,510 $88,725 $63,417
2013 $11,952 $21,151 $87,304 $61,656
2012 $14,976 $26,826 $85,836 $59,441
2011 $7,594 $15,698 $90,477 $57,494
2010 $11,601 $30,234 $76,531 $54,426
2009 $9,551 $29,027 $71,568 $52,999
2008 $13,906 $30,812 $74,175 $53,809
2007 $11,145 $30,929 $64,989 $50,928
2006 $10,049 $28,936 $59,011 $46,266
2005 $8,079 $26,903 $56,243 $41,525
2004 $5,774 $23,813 $54,659 $40,171
2003 $4,674 $22,663 $49,336 $38,732
2002 $3,718 $20,061 $42,459 $38,705
2001 $6,313 $20,332 $39,639 $37,819
2000 $7,214 $20,617 $38,865 $36,703
1999 $6,895 $19,769 $41,696 $34,743
1998 $5,301 $19,639 $42,681 $33,860
1997 $6,062 $20,439 $41,584 $32,736
1996 $5,591 $19,392 $48,093 $31,509
1995 $5,205 $18,952 $50,114 $30,842
1994 $5,933 $19,318 $43,092 $30,265
1993 $6,478 $18,904 $39,237 $29,495
1992 $7,303 $19,572 $40,714 $29,113
1991 $7,040 $20,085 $39,544 $28,792
1990 $6,502 $17,173 $39,575 $28,461
1989 $5,793 - $31,309 -
1988 $5,736 - $32,690 -
1987 $6,465 - $30,441 -
1986 $6,019 - $24,460 -
1985 $8,087 - $17,152 -
1984 $7,811 - $16,991 -
1983 $8,927 - $17,859 -
1982 $9,064 - $18,000 -
1981 $10,044 - $17,665 -
1980 $11,960 - $19,394 -
1979 $9,443 - $18,266 -
1978 $7,252 - $16,282 -
1977 $7,783 - $11,644 -
1976 $7,018 - $10,865 -
1975 $5,721 - $10,328 -
1974 $6,214 - $9,005 -
1973 $3,727 - $7,856 -
1972 $2,830 - $5,885 -
1971 $2,443 - $4,835 -
1970 $2,210 - $4,044 -
1969 $2,175 - $3,657 -
1968 $1,972 - $3,413 -
1967 $1,437 - $3,237 -
1966 $1,251 - $3,045 -
1965 $1,001 - $2,865 -
1964 $765 - $2,735 -
1963 $528 - $2,508 -
1962 $382 - $2,330 -
1961 $285.3 - $2,155 -
1960 $269 - $1,954 -

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

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

Libya's GDP per capita is $6,569, ranking 107/197, compared to $103,998 in Switzerland, ranking 5/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Libya ranks 118th at $14,304, while Switzerland ranks 8th at $96,498.

Economic indicators

Libya Switzerland
Gross domestic product
$48.5B
2024
$937B
2024
GDP rank
95/197
2024
20/197
2024
GDP growth
1.9%
2023-2024
1.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$6,569
2024
$103,998
2024
GDP per capita rank
107/197
2024
5/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$96,498
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
118/197
2024
8/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$351B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
37.5%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$39,021
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
15/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,172
2026
$85,867
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.97T
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
1,119,000
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
42
2025
Income share by richest 10% n/a
26.6%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.9%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
94.8%
2024
31.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.13%
2023-2024
1.06%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
0%
2025
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
4.34%
2024
Population
7559873
9107866

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Libya

Switzerland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Libya Switzerland
2024 -25.1% 0.58%
2023 8.22% 0.12%
2022 23.6% 1.19%
2021 14.8% -0.29%
2020 -22.3% -3.01%
2019 11.9% 1.34%
2018 9.39% 1.29%
2017 -11.1% 1.13%
2016 -29.3% 0.24%
2015 -28.5% 0.55%
2014 -30.5% -0.25%
2013 -16.3% -0.43%
2012 24.6% 0.24%
2011 -11.5% 0.68%
2010 11.5% 0.35%
2009 -5.46% 0.5%
2008 27.7% 1.93%
2007 28.4% 1.57%
2006 29.1% 0.85%
2005 30.4% -0.65%
2004 11.3% -1.39%
2003 6.17% -1.36%
2002 6.99% -1.75%
2001 0.07% 0.21%
2000 13.6% 0.28%
1999 5.69% -1.57%
1998 -2.36% -1.31%
1997 -2.1% -2.33%
1996 11.3% -2.01%
1995 3.8% -1.86%
1994 -2.67% -2.59%
1993 -5.77% -3.15%
1992 0.11% -2.96%
1991 8.41% -1.85%
1990 3.36% -0.05%
1989 - 0.2%
1988 - 0.42%
1987 - 0.78%
1986 - 0.93%
1985 - -0.25%
1984 - -0.52%
1983 - -1.23%
1982 - -1.21%
1981 - -0.54%
1980 - -1.34%
1979 - -1.79%
1978 - -1.12%
1977 - -1.64%
1976 - -1.89%
1975 - -0.93%
1974 - -1.01%
1973 - -0.93%
1972 - -1.39%
1971 - -1.41%
1970 - -1.44%
1969 - -0.98%
1968 - -0.73%
1967 - -1.07%
1966 - -0.87%
1965 - 0.05%
1964 - 0.77%
1963 - 0.25%
1962 - 0.95%
1961 - 0.34%
1960 - 1.95%
1959 - 0.72%
1958 - 0.59%
1957 - 0.66%
1956 - 2.24%
1955 - 1.1%
1954 - 1.44%
1953 - 0.38%
1952 - -1.17%
1951 - -0.36%
1950 - 1.49%
1949 - 0.04%
1948 - 1.37%
1947 - 1.27%
1946 - 0.52%
1945 - -7.57%
1944 - -9.37%
1943 - -8.55%
1942 - -7.28%
1941 - -8.78%
1940 - -10%
1939 - -5.05%
1938 - -1.53%
1937 - -0.17%
1936 - -0.33%
1935 - -0.23%
1934 - -0.33%
1933 - -0.88%
1932 - -0.3%
1931 - 0.03%
1930 - 0.07%
1929 - 0.22%
1928 - -
1927 - -
1926 - -
1925 - -
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 - -0.12%
1912 - 0.03%
1911 - -0.006%
1910 - -0.14%
1909 - -0.78%
1908 - -0.1%
1907 - -0.02%
1906 - 0.15%
1905 - 0.41%
1904 - 0.002%
1903 - 0.09%
1902 - 0.02%
1901 - -0.14%
1900 - -0.07%
1899 - 0.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1899–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/libya/switzerland | 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 Switzerland's surplus of $5.4B, or 0.58% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Libya recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Switzerland ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Libya posted an annual surplus equal to 2.79% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.45% of GDP for Switzerland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Libya

Switzerland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Libya Switzerland
2024 2.13% 1.06%
2023 2.37% 2.14%
2022 4.51% 2.84%
2021 2.87% 0.58%
2020 1.45% -0.73%
2019 -2.16% 0.36%
2018 13.2% 0.94%
2017 25.8% 0.53%
2016 25.9% -0.43%
2015 10.4% -1.14%
2014 2.43% -0.01%
2013 2.61% -0.22%
2012 6.06% -0.69%
2011 15.5% 0.23%
2010 2.8% 0.69%
2009 2.46% -0.48%
2008 10.4% 2.43%
2007 6.25% 0.73%
2006 1.46% 1.06%
2005 2.65% 1.17%
2004 -2.2% 0.8%
2003 -2.19% 0.64%
2002 -9.8% 0.64%
2001 -8.81% 0.99%
2000 -2.9% 1.56%
1999 2.65% 0.81%
1998 3.71% 0.02%
1997 3.55% 0.52%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Libya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.39%, compared with 0.61% in Switzerland. In 2024, inflation was 2.13% in Libya and 1.06% in Switzerland.

Top exports between countries

Libya
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $25K
Raw agricultural goods $16K
Switzerland
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $90.6M
Chemicals & pharma $38.2M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $20.4M
Precious metals & jewellery $7.67M
Textiles & consumer goods $687K
Metals $321K
Raw materials & minerals $244K
Miscellaneous $95K
Raw agricultural goods $55K
Wood & paper products $34K

Balance of trade

Libya Switzerland
Current account balance
$1.86B
2023
$72B
2024
Current account balance ranking
46/190
2023
10/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.24%
2023
+7.69%
2024
Goods imports
$23.2B
2023
$371B
2024
Goods exports
$37.1B
2023
$502B
2024
Service imports
$10.1B
2023
$203B
2024
Service exports
$642M
2023
$186B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.8%
2024
61.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
72%
2024
72.2%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Libya Switzerland
Economic freedom 35.9 83.7
Economic freedom ranking 189/197 2/197
Property rights 6.3 94.4
Government integrity 10.3 93.3
Judicial effectiveness 4.9 98.3
Tax burden 95 70.9
Government spending 0 69.5
Fiscal health 19.9 97.2
Business freedom 32.4 86.3
Labor freedom 48.2 60
Monetary freedom 75.2 82.3
Trade freedom 80 87
Investment freedom 5 85
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

Libya
Switzerland
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Libya Switzerland
2026 - 83.7
2025 - 83.7
2024 - 83
2023 - 83.8
2022 - 84.2
2021 - 81.9
2020 - 82
2019 - 81.9
2018 - 81.7
2017 - 81.5
2016 - 81
2015 - 80.5
2014 - 81.6
2013 - 81
2012 35.9 81.1
2011 38.6 81.9
2010 40.2 81.1
2009 43.5 79.4
2008 38.7 79.5
2007 37 78
2006 33.2 78.9
2005 32.8 79.3
2004 31.5 79.5
2003 34.6 79
2002 35.4 79.3
2001 34 76
2000 34.7 76.8
1999 32.3 79.1
1998 32 79
1997 28.9 78.6
1996 31.7 76.8

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Libya is 35.9, ranking 189/197, compared to 83.7 for Switzerland, ranking 2/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Libya Switzerland
Services, % of GDP
28.3%
2024
72%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
73.5%
2024
24.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.39%
2024
0.63%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$50.9B
2024
$857B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,400
2024
$93,420
2024
Total reserves including gold
$92.9B
2024
$909B
2024
Total reserves ranking
29/177
2024
4/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$795M
2023
$59.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
-$108B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$56.5M
2024
-$27.9B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.4%
2005
15.8%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.3%
2024
27%
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/switzerland | CC BY

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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 (1899–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, 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.