Lebanon Budget Deficit
General government net lending/borrowing as % of GDP GGXCNL_NGDP
Lebanon's budget deficit was -0.19% in 2024, ranked 149th globally. This represents a 89.0% increase from 2023. Data from IMF WEO, covering 1990–2024.
Overview
Lebanon's budget deficit stood at -0.19% in 2024, a rise of +1.52% from 2023. Lebanon ranked 149th globally.
Lebanon’s budget deficit has narrowed dramatically over the past 35 years, moving from an all‑time trough of –30.16 % of GDP in 1990 to an all‑time peak of –0.19 % in 2024, the lowest deficit among 149 economies tracked by the IMF World Economic Outlook. This contraction reflects successive fiscal consolidation measures, higher tax collection and a modest recovery in public revenues despite persistent macro‑financial stress. By contrast, peer economies such as Bhutan record a slightly larger deficit of –0.17 % and San Marino a more pronounced shortfall of –0.53 %, underscoring Lebanon’s relative improvement within a comparable range of small‑state fiscal positions. The sustained reduction suggests that continued structural reforms, enhanced debt management and external financing could further compress the deficit, while any reversal of fiscal discipline or resurgence of political instability would likely halt or reverse the current downward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Budget Deficit | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | -0.19% | +1.52% | #149 |
| 2023 | -1.70% | +6.06% | #116 |
| 2022 | -7.77% | −5.10% | #20 |
| 2021 | -2.67% | +4.70% | #122 |
| 2020 | -7.37% | +3.15% | #75 |
| 2019 | -10.52% | +0.79% | #5 |
| 2018 | -11.30% | −2.65% | #3 |
| 2017 | -8.65% | +0.23% | #8 |
| 2016 | -8.88% | −1.40% | #21 |
| 2015 | -7.48% | −1.27% | #23 |
| 2014 | -6.22% | +2.61% | #24 |
| 2013 | -8.82% | −0.39% | #8 |
| 2012 | -8.43% | −2.49% | #9 |
| 2011 | -5.95% | +1.52% | #30 |
| 2010 | -7.47% | +0.63% | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw budget deficit improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's budget deficit was -0.19% in 2024. Ranked 149th globally. This represents a 89.0% increase from the previous year.
Lebanon's budget deficit peaked at -0.19% in 2024.
The lowest budget deficit in Lebanon was -30.16% in 1990.
Lebanon ranks 149th globally in budget deficit as of 2024.
The World Bank indicator code is GGXCNL_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.
The budget deficit of Lebanon in 2024 was -0.19%. This ranks 149th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_budget-deficit,
title = {Lebanon Budget Deficit},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/budget-deficit/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}