Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya
Libya: Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal was 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
137th
of 179 countries
All-time high
45.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 1979
All-time low
7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal
in 2011
Years of data
48
1975–2022
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya, 1975–2022
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya is 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya peaked at 45.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 1979 and was at its lowest, 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, in 2011.
Libya ranks 137th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya, year by year
| Year | constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 35.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | — |
| 1976 | 42.26 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +17.6% |
| 1977 | 44.1 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 43.75 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 45.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 44.47 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 29.37 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -34.0% |
| 1982 | 25.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -13.1% |
| 1983 | 21.56 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -15.5% |
| 1984 | 18.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -16.3% |
| 1985 | 17.49 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 14.02 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -19.8% |
| 1987 | 10.92 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -22.1% |
| 1988 | 10.8 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 10.72 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 10.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 12.08 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +16.6% |
| 1992 | 11.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 11.5 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 11.82 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 11.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 12.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 12.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 12.53 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 12.76 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 13.37 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 12.79 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 12.34 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 13.6 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 13.86 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 15.14 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 15.74 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 16.33 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 15.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 14.9 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 15.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -51.4% |
| 2012 | 13.61 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +82.9% |
| 2013 | 11.16 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 8.59 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -23.0% |
| 2015 | 8.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 8.39 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 11.12 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +32.5% |
| 2018 | 12 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 10.66 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 7.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -29.5% |
| 2021 | 9.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | +28.3% |
| 2022 | 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | -8.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.88 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 59% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.08 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal, 44% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +82.9% | 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 13.61 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal |
| 2011 | -51.4% | 15.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.38 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 35.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 45.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 5 |
| 1980s | 20.29 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10.72 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 44.47 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.94 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10.35 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 12.81 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.4 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 12.34 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 16.33 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.68 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 15.31 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.67 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 7.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 9.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal | 3 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 134 Ethiopia 9.64 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 135 Guinea-Bissau 9.05 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 136 Kazakhstan 8.87 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 138 Peru 8.62 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 139 Bangladesh 8.52 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
- 140 Malawi 8.5 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal compare
More environment data for Libya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -35.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.37 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.386 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2239 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.1672 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya?
- Water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal in Libya was 8.84 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2022, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 45.85 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 1979.
- What is the lowest water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.44 constant 2015 US$ GDP per cubic meter of total freshwater withdrawal in 2011.
- How does Libya rank for water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal?
- Libya ranks 137th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is water productivity, gdp per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization (AQUASTAT), World Bank, and OECD (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Water productivity, GDP per cubic meter of freshwater withdrawal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Water productivity is calculated as total gross domestic product (GDP), measured in constant 2015 US$ divided by annual total water withdrawal.