Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya

Libya: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 140.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
140.4%
Change on year
up 81.1%
World rank
1st
of 166 countries
All-time high
187.5%
in 2017
All-time low
67.1%
in 2012
Years of data
11
2012–2023

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya, 2012–2023

0501001502002012201720232012: 67.1 %2013: 86.9 %2014: 77.6 %2015: 100.7 %2016: 86.9 %2017: 187.5 %2018: 138.8 %2019: 137.5 %2020: 119.2 %2021: 77.5 %2023: 140.4 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2023, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya stood at 140.4%.

That represents a change of up 81.1% on the previous year and up 61.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya peaked at 187.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 67.1%, in 2012.

Libya ranks 1st of 166 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya, 2012 to 2023.
Year % Change
2012 67.1%
2013 86.9% +29.5%
2014 77.6% -10.7%
2015 100.7% +29.7%
2016 86.9% -13.6%
2017 187.5% +115.7%
2018 138.8% -26.0%
2019 137.5% -0.9%
2020 119.2% -13.3%
2021 77.5% -35.0%
2023 140.4% +81.1%

Libya compared with similar countries

  • Libya's 140.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.6%, 1.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • Libya's 140.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.3%, 1.4× the median. (15 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 110.4% 67.1% 187.5% 8
2020s 112.4% 77.5% 140.4% 3

Countries ranked near Libya

  1. 2 Nicaragua 134.6% compare
  2. 3 Slovakia 133.5% compare
  3. 4 Argentina 128.2% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Libya

All data for Libya →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya was 140.4% in 2023, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Libya?
The highest recorded value was 187.5% in 2017.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Libya?
The lowest recorded value was 67.1% in 2012.
How does Libya rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Libya ranks 1st out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Libya?
Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Libya data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Libya. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/libya/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).