Photo: Maher A. A. Abdussalam · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 13 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Libya: Food & Agriculture
What does a country grow, and what does it take to grow it?
Libya is placed 166th of 184 countries on food & agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) 2.33 (2024); Cereal Yield 672.2 (2023).
Share
Food & Agriculture
166th
of 184 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 2.33Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), 2024Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
- 672.2Cereal Yield, 2023Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
- 2,800Dietary Energy Supply, 2024Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
- —Agriculture Orientation Index, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Libya on food & agriculture — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.33
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
Higher is better
Libya: 2.33. Across the 186 countries in this edition, values run from 1.67 (Tuvalu) to 4.57 (Italy); the world median is 3.14.
- World median
- 3.14
- Best in Northern Africa
- 4 Morocco
- Land neighbours
- Algeria 3.5 · Egypt 3.57 · Niger 2.29 · Sudan 2.29 · Chad 2 · Tunisia 3.14
Key 2 of 4
Cereal Yield
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
672.2
Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Higher is better
Libya: 672.2. Across the 179 countries in this edition, values run from 23 (Cabo Verde) to 29,147 (Oman); the world median is 3,072.
- World median
- 3,072
- Best in Northern Africa
- 7,402 Egypt
- Land neighbours
- Algeria 1,352 · Egypt 7,402 · Niger 488.8 · Sudan 454.9 · Chad 819.3 · Tunisia 1,301
Key 3 of 4
Dietary Energy Supply
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2,800
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Higher is better
Libya: 2,800. Across the 155 countries in this edition, values run from 1,757 (Somalia) to 3,962 (United States); the world median is 2,982.
- World median
- 2,982
- Best in Northern Africa
- 3,435 Tunisia
- Land neighbours
- Algeria 3,396 · Egypt 3,174 · Niger 2,683 · Chad 2,121 · Tunisia 3,435
Key 4 of 4
Agriculture Orientation Index
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Higher is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Libya, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 132 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Ghana) to 5.38 (Singapore); the world median is 0.305.
- World median
- 0.305
- Best in Northern Africa
- 0.4 Tunisia
- Land neighbours
- Algeria 0.36 · Egypt 0.17 · Niger 0.09 · Chad 0.09 · Tunisia 0.4
02Over time
Which way Libya is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators · higher is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya fell from 2.83 in 2015 to 2.33 in 2024; the world median went from 3.14 to 3.14.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2024 2.3 3.1 2023 2.3 3.1 2022 2.5 3.2 2021 2.5 3.1 2020 2.7 3.1 2019 2.5 3.1 2018 2.7 3.2 2017 2.3 3.1 2016 2.7 3.1 2015 2.8 3.1 Cereal Yield
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) · higher is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya rose from 637.7 in 2000 to 672.2 in 2023; the world median went from 2,170 to 3,072.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2023 672.2 3,072 2022 671.9 3,217 2021 673.4 3,003 2020 672.4 3,260 2019 679.7 3,106 2018 680.5 2,883 2017 676.0 2,984 2016 669.9 3,043 2015 665.3 3,000 2014 666.8 3,001 2013 663.8 2,970 2012 681.4 2,782 2011 664.5 2,754 2010 669.9 2,647 2009 634.1 2,653 2008 621.7 2,664 2007 623.0 2,553 2006 622.6 2,514 2005 622.8 2,512 2004 620.0 2,428 2003 620.0 2,331 2002 632.3 2,378 2001 619.4 2,199 2000 637.7 2,170 Dietary Energy Supply
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) · higher is better
LibyaWorld median
Libya fell from 3,114 in 2001 to 2,800 in 2024; the world median went from 2,628 to 2,982.
Every year’s figures
Year Libya World median 2024 2,800 2,982.0 2023 2,854 2,969.0 2022 2,939 2,962.5 2021 2,975 2,967.0 2020 3,002 2,934.0 2019 2,997 2,912.5 2018 2,998 2,893.0 2017 2,986 2,886.0 2016 2,987 2,863.0 2015 2,984 2,835.0 2014 2,984 2,844.0 2013 2,974 2,856.0 2012 2,984 2,838.0 2011 3,017 2,827.5 2010 3,059 2,808.0 2009 3,091 2,818.0 2008 3,094 2,811.0 2007 3,097 2,810.5 2006 3,100 2,772.0 2005 3,102 2,740.5 2004 3,105 2,712.5 2003 3,108 2,685.0 2002 3,111 2,667.0 2001 3,114 2,628.0
03In context
Libya beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 184 countries on food & agriculture, never a place within the region.
Libya and the countries it borders
Standing among all 184; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators | Cereal YieldCereal yield (kg per hectare) | Dietary Energy SupplyDietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) | Agriculture Orientation IndexAgriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Egypt | 55th | 3.57 | 7,402 | 3,174 | 0.17 |
 Algeria | 81st | 3.5 | 1,352 | 3,396 | 0.36 |
 Tunisia | 84th | 3.14 | 1,301 | 3,435 | 0.4 |
| Libya | 166th | 2.33 | 672.2 | 2,800 | — |
 Niger | 173rd | 2.29 | 488.8 | 2,683 | 0.09 |
 Sudan | 182nd | 2.29 | 454.9 | — | — |
 Chad | 183rd | 2 | 819.3 | 2,121 | 0.09 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 184.
Placed either side on food & agriculture
The countries immediately above and below Libya in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Libya is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under food & agriculture, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Libya does better than the middle country measured.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69193.31102.69No real change since 2013
Libya: 193.31 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06120.54107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
Libya: 120.54 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 48th of 194 · derived.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413741▲ Improved since 2012
Libya: 37 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8389.9484.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Libya: 89.94 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7428,5406,742▼ Worsened since 2015
Libya: 8,540 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 71st of 151 · derived.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Libya does worse than the middle country measured.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5651.621.565▼ Worsened since 2013
Libya: 1.62 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08105.75106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Libya: 105.75 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 103rd of 195 · derived.
Per Capita Food Supply VariabilityFAO · 2024 · world median 293129▲ Improved since 2014
Libya: 31 · world median 29 · Year-to-year variability of the food supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4 to 227; lower is better.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.2398.35106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
Libya: 98.35 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 139th of 195 · derived.
Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 4.915.14.9No real change since 2015
Libya: 15.1 · world median 4.9 · Population in severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 62.9; lower is better.
Position 27th of 119 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.216.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Libya: 16.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 34th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end15
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.810042.8Moved since 2012
Libya: 100 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.2350.109Moved since 2013
Libya: 0.235 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 47th of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1483.1962.14No real change since 2012
Libya: 83.19 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 43rd of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,37533,10952,375No real change since 2014
Libya: 33,109 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1712.8816.17Moved since 2013
Libya: 12.88 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.389.99714.38No real change since 2015
Libya: 9.997 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 106th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8343.6857.83Moved since 2013
Libya: 43.68 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,6354,4138,635No real change since 2013
Libya: 4,413 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 125th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,278309,380689,278Moved since 2013
Libya: 309,380 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 114th of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.831.73No real change since 2014
Libya: 0.83 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 128th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.3622.0487.36Moved since 2013
Libya: 22.04 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 143rd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6311.6737.63Moved since 2013
Libya: 11.67 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.5721.5016.572Moved since 2015
Libya: 1.501 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 137th of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.968.72437.96No real change since 2013
Libya: 8.724 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 182nd of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.110.535No real change since 2013
Libya: 0.11 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 173rd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Libya
Agricultural Irrigated Land, Agriculture Orientation Index, Global Report on Food Crises (last 2022), Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Organic Agricultural Area and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Food & Agriculture among Libya’s 14 topics
Food & Agriculture is Libya’s 9th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade88th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital101st of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 110th of 2004/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 129th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 151st of 1763/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 158th of 1824/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties174th of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 174th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture166th of 1843/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions183rd of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality174th of 1832/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability182nd of 1862/4 keys
- Energy164th of 1652/3 keys
- Peace & Security176th of 1773/4 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on food & agriculture
The three countries placed highest of 184, and the leaders Libya can most readily be measured against.
1
SerbiaSouthern Europe
1st of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
AustriaWestern Europe
2nd of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 184 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Seychelles31st2/4 keysHighest in Northern Africa
Egypt55th4/4 keysThis page
Libya166th3/4 keys
Positions out of 184 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Libya on food & agriculture: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Libya rank on food & agriculture?
Libya is placed 166th of 184 countries on Food & Agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Cereal Yield and Dietary Energy Supply). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) figure for Libya?
2.33 in 2024 (current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3.14.
What is the latest Cereal Yield figure for Libya?
672.2 in 2023 (cereal yield (kg per hectare)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3,072.
How does Libya compare with Egypt on food & agriculture?
Egypt is placed 55th of 184, and Libya 166th. Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy): Egypt 3.57, Libya 2.33; Cereal Yield: Egypt 7,402, Libya 672.2; Dietary Energy Supply: Egypt 3,174, Libya 2,800.
How have Libya’s food & agriculture figures changed?
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) fell from 2.83 in 2015 to 2.33 in 2024; Cereal Yield rose from 637.7 in 2000 to 672.2 in 2023; Dietary Energy Supply fell from 3,114 in 2001 to 2,800 in 2024.
Which food & agriculture statistics are missing for Libya?
No current reading is published for Libya on Agricultural Irrigated Land, Agriculture Orientation Index, Global Report on Food Crises, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Organic Agricultural Area and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This subject is about production and land use, not about whether people are fed. Hunger, undernourishment and what a population actually eats are measured under Health & Wellbeing, and the two regularly disagree — a country can grow a great deal and still leave many people short, and one that grows little can be well fed by trade. The wider environmental cost of farming — emissions, water withdrawal, forest cover — is filed under Environment & Sustainability.
How the Food & Agriculture standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The food & agriculture method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Cereal Yield — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Dietary Energy Supply — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Agriculture Orientation Index — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 3 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Libya’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Libya (banner) — Maher A. A. Abdussalam, CC0
- Serbia — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Libya: Food & Agriculture — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/libya/food