Iraq and Libya
Iraq and Libya proposed reactivating their joint commission and updating agreements during an April 2025 ministerial conversation. Dialogue took place ahead of Baghdad's Arab summit and combined institutional cooperation with positions on Gaza and civilian protection.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Bilateral context
On 12 April 2025, Fuad Hussein telephoned Taher al-Baour, responsible for managing Libya's foreign affairs and international cooperation.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Iraq to Libya | ||
| Goods: Libya to Iraq | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Iraq to Libya | ||
| Export share: Libya to Iraq | ||
| Investment stock: Iraq in Libya | ||
| Investment stock: Libya in Iraq |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Iraq | Libya |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 254.37 billion USD2025 · WB | 48.1 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 5,409.68 USD2025 · WB | 6,448.82 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | -2.16 %2025 · WB | 13.37 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 0.3 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 1.84 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 15.49 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 18.76 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -6.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -31.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 53.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 2.99 %2024 · WB | 4.24 %2023 · WB |
| Population | 47,020,7742025 · WB | 7,458,5552025 · WB |
| Area | 435,050 km²2023 · WB | 1,759,540 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDIraq: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personIraq: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Iraq: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Iraq: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionIraq: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Iraq: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Libya: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Iraq: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPIraq: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleIraq: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceIraq: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.Libya: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Iraq to Libya
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Libya to Iraq
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Iraq living in Libya | ||
| Residents from Libya living in Iraq | ||
| Study and training: Iraq in Libya | ||
| Study and training: Libya in Iraq | ||
| Academic stays: Iraq in Libya | ||
| Academic stays: Libya in Iraq | ||
| Travel: Iraq to Libya | ||
| Travel: Libya to Iraq |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Iraq is 254.4 billion USD (2025), compared with 48.1 for Libya (2025). The reference populations are 47.02 and 7.46 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Iraq was 5.29 times that of Libya in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
On 12 April 2025, Fuad Hussein telephoned Taher al-Baour, responsible for managing Libya's foreign affairs and international cooperation. The ministers discussed expanding cooperation and emphasised the need to activate the Iraqi–Libyan commission and modernise existing agreement frameworks. [1]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
The call does not amount to that commission actually convening. On regional affairs, they expressed support for Palestinian rights, halting military escalation and protecting civilians in Gaza. They also reviewed preparations for the Arab summit planned for May in Baghdad. Hussein expressed Iraq's willingness to host it, and al-Baour expressed Libyan support for its success. The documented outcome is political coordination and institutional preparation, without announced new financed projects. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — IRQ-LBY
mofa.gov.iq · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07