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Economy of Libya vs Vietnam compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Libya has a GDP of $48.1B compared to $515B for Vietnam, ranking 100/197 and 33/197 by economy size, respectively.

Libya vs Vietnam GDP by year

Libya
Vietnam
1x
Year GDP, current $
Libya Vietnam
2025 $48,098,909,614 $514,697,215,165
2024 $48,487,151,215 $476,324,572,784
2023 $44,027,664,915 $433,805,036,898
2022 $43,246,297,922 $413,445,230,669
2021 $35,217,995,647 $366,474,752,771
2020 $46,854,285,441 $346,615,738,538
2019 $69,254,496,472 $334,365,270,497
2018 $76,686,029,772 $310,106,478,395
2017 $67,157,452,182 $281,353,605,987
2016 $49,912,073,701 $257,096,001,178
2015 $48,717,501,321 $239,258,328,382
2014 $57,372,355,592 $233,451,469,643
2013 $75,351,107,029 $213,708,811,665
2012 $92,540,938,129 $195,590,661,129
2011 $48,169,263,294 $172,595,049,184
2010 $75,380,825,062 $147,201,173,197
2009 $60,808,562,033 $106,014,659,565
2008 $86,710,767,415 $99,130,304,099
2007 $68,032,978,391 $77,414,425,532
2006 $60,094,231,607 $66,371,664,817
2005 $47,334,691,241 $57,633,255,738
2004 $33,122,307,692 $45,427,854,693
2003 $26,265,625,000 $39,552,513,232
2002 $20,481,889,764 $35,064,105,501
2001 $34,112,093,927 $32,685,198,809
2000 $38,270,954,138 $31,172,518,403
1999 $35,975,860,857 $28,683,659,007
1998 $27,251,301,398 $27,209,602,050
1997 $30,700,897,875 $26,843,700,442
1996 $27,884,615,385 $24,657,470,575
1995 $25,541,379,187 $20,736,164,459
1994 $28,610,549,763 $16,286,433,533
1993 $30,660,051,911 $13,180,953,598
1992 $33,887,047,909 $9,866,990,236
1991 $31,991,821,265 $9,613,369,520
1990 $28,904,183,602 $6,471,740,806
1989 $25,156,707,899 $6,293,304,975
1988 $24,308,959,591 $25,423,812,649
1987 $26,697,659,335 $36,658,108,850
1986 $24,180,400,959 $26,336,616,250
1985 $31,530,566,324 $14,094,687,821
1984 $29,476,109,153 -
1983 $33,200,520,140 -
1982 $33,760,146,991 -
1981 $36,374,353,880 -
1980 $40,953,924,949 -
1979 $30,536,429,497 -
1978 $22,136,422,643 -
1977 $22,428,297,108 -
1976 $19,096,943,017 -
1975 $14,710,912,458 -
1974 $15,112,543,717 -
1973 $8,625,889,430 -
1972 $6,299,395,544 -
1971 $5,260,185,125 -
1970 $4,601,649,451 -
1969 $4,380,987,481 -
1968 $3,850,623,095 -
1967 $2,726,986,913 -
1966 $2,312,438,536 -
1965 $1,804,979,680 -
1964 $1,341,395,421 -
1963 $892,327,911 -
1962 $619,725,785 -
1961 $443,905,612 -
1960 $401,644,249 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Libya vs Vietnam by year

Libya
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Vietnam
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Libya Vietnam
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $6,449 - $5,066 -
2024 $6,569 $14,304 $4,717 $16,386
2023 $6,027 $13,847 $4,323 $15,034
2022 $5,987 $12,266 $4,148 $13,905
2021 $4,936 $12,642 $3,704 $12,049
2020 $6,650 $10,955 $3,534 $11,609
2019 $9,963 $16,194 $3,441 $11,029
2018 $11,197 $18,879 $3,222 $10,010
2017 $9,966 $18,026 $2,956 $9,170
2016 $7,526 $16,961 $2,735 $8,375
2015 $7,458 $17,903 $2,578 $7,672
2014 $8,926 $17,510 $2,546 $7,297
2013 $11,952 $21,151 $2,360 $6,758
2012 $14,976 $26,826 $2,185 $6,377
2011 $7,594 $15,698 $1,951 $5,786
2010 $11,601 $30,234 $1,683 $5,389
2009 $9,551 $29,027 $1,226 $5,061
2008 $13,906 $30,812 $1,164 $4,844
2007 $11,145 $30,929 $926 $4,581
2006 $10,049 $28,936 $808 $4,237
2005 $8,079 $26,903 $711 $3,894
2004 $5,774 $23,813 $565 $3,543
2003 $4,674 $22,663 $497 $3,240
2002 $3,718 $20,061 $445 $3,002
2001 $6,313 $20,332 $419 $2,809
2000 $7,214 $20,617 $404 $2,614
1999 $6,895 $19,769 $376 $2,421
1998 $5,301 $19,639 $361 $2,308
1997 $6,062 $20,439 $362 $2,189
1996 $5,591 $19,392 $337 $2,019
1995 $5,205 $18,952 $287.8 $1,841
1994 $5,933 $19,318 $229.9 $1,674
1993 $6,478 $18,904 $189.4 $1,534
1992 $7,303 $19,572 $144.5 $1,413
1991 $7,040 $20,085 $143.7 $1,298
1990 $6,502 $17,173 $98.8 $1,210
1989 $5,793 - $98.1 -
1988 $5,736 - $405 -
1987 $6,465 - $595 -
1986 $6,019 - $436 -
1985 $8,087 - $238.6 -
1984 $7,811 - - -
1983 $8,927 - - -
1982 $9,064 - - -
1981 $10,044 - - -
1980 $11,960 - - -
1979 $9,443 - - -
1978 $7,252 - - -
1977 $7,783 - - -
1976 $7,018 - - -
1975 $5,721 - - -
1974 $6,214 - - -
1973 $3,727 - - -
1972 $2,830 - - -
1971 $2,443 - - -
1970 $2,210 - - -
1969 $2,175 - - -
1968 $1,972 - - -
1967 $1,437 - - -
1966 $1,251 - - -
1965 $1,001 - - -
1964 $765 - - -
1963 $528 - - -
1962 $382 - - -
1961 $285.3 - - -
1960 $269 - - -

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

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

Libya's GDP per capita is $6,449, ranking 112/197, compared to $5,066 in Vietnam, ranking 122/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Libya ranks 118th at $14,304, while Vietnam ranks 108th at $16,386.

Economic indicators

Libya Vietnam
Gross domestic product
$48.1B
2025
$515B
2025
GDP rank
100/197
2025
33/197
2025
GDP growth
13.4%
2024-2025
8.02%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$6,449
2025
$5,066
2025
GDP per capita rank
112/197
2025
122/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$16,386
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
118/197
2024
108/197
2024
Government debt n/a
$156B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
30.3%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$1,537
2025
Government debt per person rank n/a
130/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,426
2026
$5,133
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$316B
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.6%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
102.3%
2025
22.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.84%
2024-2025
3.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.5%
2023
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
1.53%
2024
Population
7580693
102486146

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Libya

Vietnam
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Libya Vietnam
2025 -31.1% -2.2%
2024 -25.9% -1.54%
2023 -7.16% -1.72%
2022 23.6% 0.67%
2021 14.8% -1.43%
2020 -22.3% -2.86%
2019 11.9% -0.4%
2018 9.39% -1.02%
2017 -11.1% -1.96%
2016 -29.3% -3.16%
2015 -28.5% -4.98%
2014 -30.5% -5.02%
2013 -16.3% -5.96%
2012 24.6% -5.46%
2011 -11.5% -0.9%
2010 11.5% -2.25%
2009 -5.46% -4.82%
2008 27.7% -0.45%
2007 28.4% -1.74%
2006 29.1% 0.2%
2005 30.4% -0.95%
2004 11.3% -0.15%
2003 6.17% -2.56%
2002 6.99% -1.85%
2001 0.07% -2.19%
2000 13.6% -1.61%
1999 5.69% -1.25%
1998 -2.36% -0.1%
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/libya/vietnam | 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 Vietnam's deficit of $11.3B, or 2.2% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Libya recorded a fiscal deficit in 12 of those years, while Vietnam ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, Libya posted an annual surplus equal to 1.21% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.06% of GDP for Vietnam.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Libya

Vietnam
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Libya Vietnam
2025 1.84% 3.3%
2024 2.13% 3.6%
2023 2.37% 3.3%
2022 4.51% 3.2%
2021 2.87% 1.8%
2020 1.45% 3.2%
2019 -2.16% 2.8%
2018 13.2% 3.5%
2017 25.8% 3.5%
2016 25.9% 2.7%
2015 10.4% 0.6%
2014 2.43% 4.1%
2013 2.61% 6.6%
2012 6.06% 9.1%
2011 15.5% 18.7%
2010 2.8% 10.5%
2009 2.46% 6.7%
2008 10.4% 23.1%
2007 6.25% 8.3%
2006 1.46% 7.5%
2005 2.65% 8.4%
2004 -2.2% 7.9%
2003 -2.19% 3.3%
2002 -9.8% 4.1%
2001 -8.81% -0.3%
2000 -2.9% -1.8%
1999 2.65% 4.1%
1998 3.71% 7.2%
1997 3.55% 3.1%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Libya has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.3%, compared with 5.59% in Vietnam. In 2025, inflation was 1.84% in Libya and 3.3% in Vietnam.

Balance of trade

Libya Vietnam
Current account balance
$1.86B
2023
$30.2B
2024
Current account balance ranking
44/190
2023
18/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.24%
2023
+6.33%
2024
Goods imports
$23.2B
2023
$363B
2024
Goods exports
$37.1B
2023
$407B
2024
Service imports
$10.1B
2023
$35.6B
2024
Service exports
$642M
2023
$25B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
65.9%
2025
92.1%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
71.7%
2025
98.2%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Libya Vietnam
Economic freedom 35.9 64.4
Economic freedom ranking 189/197 73/197
Property rights 6.3 47.3
Government integrity 10.3 39.2
Judicial effectiveness 4.9 31.3
Tax burden 95 80.9
Government spending 0 89.5
Fiscal health 19.9 96.9
Business freedom 32.4 70
Labor freedom 48.2 54.7
Monetary freedom 75.2 73.2
Trade freedom 80 79.8
Investment freedom 5 60
Financial freedom 20 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Libya
Vietnam
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Libya Vietnam
2026 - 64.4
2025 - 65.2
2024 - 62.8
2023 - 61.8
2022 - 60.6
2021 - 61.7
2020 - 58.8
2019 - 55.3
2018 - 53.1
2017 - 52.4
2016 - 54
2015 - 51.7
2014 - 50.8
2013 - 51
2012 35.9 51.3
2011 38.6 51.6
2010 40.2 49.8
2009 43.5 51
2008 38.7 50.4
2007 37 49.8
2006 33.2 50.5
2005 32.8 48.1
2004 31.5 46.1
2003 34.6 46.2
2002 35.4 45.6
2001 34 44.3
2000 34.7 43.7
1999 32.3 42.7
1998 32 40.4
1997 28.9 38.6
1996 31.7 40.2
1995 - 41.7

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Libya is 35.9, ranking 189/197, compared to 64.4 for Vietnam, ranking 73/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Libya Vietnam
Services, % of GDP
26.9%
2025
42.7%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
73.2%
2025
37.6%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.5%
2025
11.6%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$54.1B
2025
$505B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$17,150
2025
$17,580
2025
Total reserves including gold
$105B
2025
$85.6B
2025
Total reserves ranking
29/177
2025
33/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$795M
2023
-$19.6B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$20.2B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$56.5M
2024
$600M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
7.29%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
7.4%
2005
4.2%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
14.3%
2025
30.8%
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/vietnam | 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 (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2004–2005, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. 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.