Libya FDI Outflows
Foreign direct investment, net outflows as % of GDP BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS
Libya's fdi outflows was -0.61% in 2025, ranked 157th globally. This represents a 427.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1972–2025.
Overview
Libya's fdi outflows stood at -0.61% in 2025, a decline of +0.50% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.61% by 2025. Libya ranked 157th globally.
Libya’s foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows have turned markedly negative in recent years, with the World Bank reporting a 2025 outflow of –0.61 % of GDP, placing the country at 157th globally. This contrasts sharply with the modest positive outflow of 0.03 % recorded in 1972 and the all‑time peak of 6.79 % in 2008, a period when higher oil revenues and liberalised investment policies encouraged outward capital flows. The deepest decline occurred in 1993, when outflows fell to –1.56 % of GDP, reflecting the impact of international sanctions and domestic instability. Compared with peers of similar rank, Libya’s outflow is slightly more negative than Togo (–0.50 %) and close to Kazakhstan (–0.64 %), underscoring a regional pattern of limited outward investment capacity. Persistent political uncertainty and volatile oil prices continue to constrain Libya’s ability to generate surplus capital for overseas projects; however, any sustained improvement in governance and diversification of the economy could reverse the current downward trajectory and restore modest FDI outflows.
Data & projection
| Year | FDI Outflows | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | -1.16% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | -0.89% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.61% | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.61% | −0.50% | #157 |
| 2024 | -0.12% | +0.26% | #19 |
| 2023 | -0.37% | −0.51% | #16 |
| 2022 | 0.14% | −0.50% | #65 |
| 2021 | 0.64% | −0.11% | #104 |
| 2020 | 0.75% | +1.14% | #125 |
| 2019 | -0.39% | −0.75% | #19 |
| 2018 | 0.36% | +0.80% | #93 |
| 2017 | -0.44% | −1.32% | #14 |
| 2016 | 0.88% | +0.07% | #108 |
| 2015 | 0.81% | +0.95% | #105 |
| 2014 | -0.14% | −1.07% | #18 |
| 2013 | 0.94% | −1.77% | #102 |
| 2012 | 2.71% | +2.44% | #138 |
| 2011 | 0.27% | −3.34% | #74 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Libya matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw fdi outflows improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Libya's fdi outflows was -0.61% in 2025. Ranked 157th globally. This represents a 427.5% decrease from the previous year.
Libya's fdi outflows peaked at 6.79% in 2008.
The lowest fdi outflows in Libya was -1.56% in 1993.
Libya ranks 157th globally in fdi outflows as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BM.KLT.DINV.WD.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Libya's fdi outflows is projected to reach -0.61% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The fdi outflows of Libya in 2025 was -0.61%. This ranks 157th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_libya_fdi-outflows,
title = {Libya FDI Outflows},
url = {https://historysaid.com/libya/fdi-outflows/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}