Military spending in Libya
Libya: Military spending was 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.60 billion constant 2024 US$
Change on year
up 26.7%
World rank
75th
of 162 countries
All-time high
2.36 billion constant 2024 US$
in 2013
All-time low
41.70 million constant 2024 US$
in 1964
Years of data
36
1964–2023
Military spending in Libya, 1964–2023
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Libya stood at 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$.
The figure is up 26.7% on the previous year and down 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Libya peaked at 2.36 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 41.70 million constant 2024 US$, in 1964.
Libya ranks 75th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Libya, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 41.70 million constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1965 | 50.74 million constant 2024 US$ | +21.7% |
| 1966 | 90.85 million constant 2024 US$ | +79.0% |
| 1967 | 115.05 million constant 2024 US$ | +26.6% |
| 1968 | 137.60 million constant 2024 US$ | +19.6% |
| 1969 | 187.82 million constant 2024 US$ | +36.5% |
| 1970 | 336.11 million constant 2024 US$ | +78.9% |
| 1971 | 346.88 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 267.84 million constant 2024 US$ | -22.8% |
| 1973 | 332.86 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.3% |
| 1974 | 442.31 million constant 2024 US$ | +32.9% |
| 1975 | 270.24 million constant 2024 US$ | -38.9% |
| 1976 | 290.48 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1977 | 401.76 million constant 2024 US$ | +38.3% |
| 1978 | 472.57 million constant 2024 US$ | +17.6% |
| 1979 | 588.13 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.5% |
| 1980 | 674.45 million constant 2024 US$ | +14.7% |
| 1981 | 314.71 million constant 2024 US$ | -53.3% |
| 1982 | 363.27 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.4% |
| 1997 | 353.82 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 399.11 million constant 2024 US$ | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 308.17 million constant 2024 US$ | -22.8% |
| 2000 | 329.83 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 322.68 million constant 2024 US$ | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 414.70 million constant 2024 US$ | +28.5% |
| 2003 | 516.17 million constant 2024 US$ | +24.5% |
| 2004 | 674.03 million constant 2024 US$ | +30.6% |
| 2005 | 663.98 million constant 2024 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 584.21 million constant 2024 US$ | -12.0% |
| 2007 | 549.84 million constant 2024 US$ | -5.9% |
| 2008 | 830.98 million constant 2024 US$ | +51.1% |
| 2012 | 1.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | +117.7% |
| 2013 | 2.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | +30.4% |
| 2014 | 2.18 billion constant 2024 US$ | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 1.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | -42.1% |
| 2023 | 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | +26.7% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.62 billion constant 2024 US$, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Libya's 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.93 billion constant 2024 US$, 27% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 103.96 million constant 2024 US$ | 41.70 million constant 2024 US$ | 187.82 million constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
| 1970s | 374.92 million constant 2024 US$ | 267.84 million constant 2024 US$ | 588.13 million constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 450.81 million constant 2024 US$ | 314.71 million constant 2024 US$ | 674.45 million constant 2024 US$ | 3 |
| 1990s | 353.70 million constant 2024 US$ | 308.17 million constant 2024 US$ | 399.11 million constant 2024 US$ | 3 |
| 2000s | 542.93 million constant 2024 US$ | 322.68 million constant 2024 US$ | 830.98 million constant 2024 US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.81 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.36 billion constant 2024 US$ | 3 |
| 2020s | 1.43 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More reference data data for Libya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2136 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1144 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Libya?
- Military spending in Libya was 1.60 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2023, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 2.36 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.70 million constant 2024 US$ in 1964.
- How does Libya rank for military spending?
- Libya ranks 75th out of 162 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.