Annual change in population in Libya
Libya: Annual change in population was 81,855 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
81,855 people
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
96th
of 236 countries
All-time high
197,113 people
in 1981
All-time low
-163,883 people
in 2012
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Libya, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Libya is 81,855 people, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and down 34.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Libya peaked at 197,113 people in 1981 and was at its lowest, -163,883 people, in 2012.
Libya ranks 96th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 13,918 people | — |
| 1952 | 17,091 people | +22.8% |
| 1953 | 20,820 people | +21.8% |
| 1954 | 24,883 people | +19.5% |
| 1955 | 33,206 people | +33.4% |
| 1956 | 41,573 people | +25.2% |
| 1957 | 45,896 people | +10.4% |
| 1958 | 50,348 people | +9.7% |
| 1959 | 54,759 people | +8.8% |
| 1960 | 58,925 people | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 62,813 people | +6.6% |
| 1962 | 66,257 people | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 68,498 people | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 63,234 people | -7.7% |
| 1965 | 50,324 people | -20.4% |
| 1966 | 45,050 people | -10.5% |
| 1967 | 49,137 people | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 54,586 people | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 61,505 people | +12.7% |
| 1970 | 68,303 people | +11.1% |
| 1971 | 70,940 people | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 72,568 people | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 88,095 people | +21.4% |
| 1974 | 118,018 people | +34.0% |
| 1975 | 139,345 people | +18.1% |
| 1976 | 149,683 people | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 160,294 people | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 170,992 people | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 181,317 people | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 190,526 people | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 197,113 people | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 103,284 people | -47.6% |
| 1983 | -5,806 people | -105.6% |
| 1984 | 54,673 people | -1041.7% |
| 1985 | 125,107 people | +128.8% |
| 1986 | 118,657 people | -5.2% |
| 1987 | 112,340 people | -5.3% |
| 1988 | 108,014 people | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 105,170 people | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 102,316 people | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 99,161 people | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 95,956 people | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 92,693 people | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 88,986 people | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 84,812 people | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 80,551 people | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 77,240 people | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 76,069 people | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 77,328 people | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 86,981 people | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 98,619 people | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 104,773 people | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 110,993 people | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 117,291 people | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 122,097 people | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 121,419 people | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 124,169 people | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 131,052 people | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 131,256 people | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 131,148 people | -0.1% |
| 2011 | -154,627 people | -217.9% |
| 2012 | -163,883 people | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 125,309 people | -176.5% |
| 2014 | 122,624 people | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 104,565 people | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 100,305 people | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 106,641 people | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 110,287 people | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 101,982 people | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 94,363 people | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 89,776 people | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 88,625 people | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 81,855 people | -7.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 81,855 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,200 people, 2.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 81,855 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 319,038 people, 26% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +1041.7% | -5,806 people | 54,673 people |
| 2011 | -217.9% | 131,148 people | -154,627 people |
| 2013 | +176.5% | -163,883 people | 125,309 people |
| 1985 | +128.8% | 54,673 people | 125,107 people |
| 1983 | -105.6% | 103,284 people | -5,806 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 33,610 people | 13,918 people | 54,759 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 58,033 people | 45,050 people | 68,498 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 121,956 people | 68,303 people | 181,317 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 110,908 people | -5,806 people | 197,113 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 87,511 people | 76,069 people | 102,316 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 114,865 people | 86,981 people | 131,256 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,435 people | -163,883 people | 131,148 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 88,655 people | 81,855 people | 94,363 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More population data for Libya
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3412 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 8,540 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9554 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2302 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 5.56 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 455,012 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Libya?
- Annual change in population in Libya was 81,855 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 197,113 people in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -163,883 people in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for annual change in population?
- Libya ranks 96th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.