Libya Military Spending
Libya spends an estimated 4.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $1.6 billion (2023).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1960–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$1.6 billion
Ranked #71 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
4.3%
Ranked #18 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+3.0%
From $1.6B in 2023
Historical Peak Spending
$2.4 billion
Reached in 2013
How the 2026 figures are produced. Neither figure is a researched budget estimate. The share-of-GDP figure is the arithmetic mean of Libya’s last 3 reported years (2014–2023), carried across both estimate years unchanged. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2023 raised by a flat 3%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Libya run to 2023.
Libya Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Libya is estimated to have spent $1.6 billion on military and defense, representing 4.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Libya is the #71 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2023), defense spending increased by 3.0%, from $1.6 billion to $1.6 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 6.5% in 2014. The historical average military budget is 3.0% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 4.31% | $1,696M |
| 2026(estimate) | 4.31% | $1,648M |
| 2023 | 3.57% | $1,600M |
| 2022 | 2.80% | $1,263M |
| 2014 | 6.55% | $2,182M |
| 2013 | 5.26% | $2,358M |
| 2012 | 3.23% | $1,809M |
| 2008 | 1.27% | $831M |
| 2007 | 0.94% | $550M |
| 2006 | 1.02% | $584M |
| 2005 | 1.41% | $664M |
| 2004 | 2.01% | $674M |
| 2003 | 2.02% | $516M |
| 2002 | 2.14% | $415M |
| 2001 | 2.33% | $323M |
| 2000 | 2.75% | $330M |
| 1999 | 3.11% | $308M |
| 1998 | 4.67% | $399M |
| 1997 | 4.01% | $354M |
| 1982 | 2.05% | $363M |
| 1981 | 1.61% | $315M |
| 1980 | 2.67% | $674M |
| 1979 | 3.22% | $588M |
| 1978 | 3.80% | $473M |
| 1977 | 2.46% | $402M |
| 1976 | 1.97% | $290M |
| 1975 | 2.25% | $270M |
| 1974 | 3.29% | $442M |
| 1973 | 3.98% | $333M |
| 1972 | 3.71% | $268M |
| 1971 | 5.32% | $347M |
| 1970 | 6.07% | $336M |
| 1969 | 3.76% | $188M |
| 1968 | 2.86% | $138M |
| 1967 | 3.36% | $115M |
| 1966 | 2.91% | $91M |
| 1965 | 1.86% | $51M |
| 1964 | 1.84% | $42M |
| 1963 | 2.41% | — |
| 1962 | 3.10% | — |
| 1961 | 1.86% | — |
| 1960 | 1.59% | — |