Annual population growth in Libya
Libya: Annual population growth was 81,855 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
81,855
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
96th
of 236 countries
All-time high
197,113
in 1981
All-time low
-163,883
in 2012
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Libya, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual population growth in Libya is 81,855, 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 population growth in Libya peaked at 197,113 in 1981 and was at its lowest, -163,883, 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 population growth in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 13,918 | — |
| 1952 | 17,091 | +22.8% |
| 1953 | 20,820 | +21.8% |
| 1954 | 24,883 | +19.5% |
| 1955 | 33,206 | +33.4% |
| 1956 | 41,573 | +25.2% |
| 1957 | 45,896 | +10.4% |
| 1958 | 50,348 | +9.7% |
| 1959 | 54,759 | +8.8% |
| 1960 | 58,925 | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 62,813 | +6.6% |
| 1962 | 66,257 | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 68,498 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 63,234 | -7.7% |
| 1965 | 50,324 | -20.4% |
| 1966 | 45,050 | -10.5% |
| 1967 | 49,137 | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 54,586 | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 61,505 | +12.7% |
| 1970 | 68,303 | +11.1% |
| 1971 | 70,940 | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 72,568 | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 88,095 | +21.4% |
| 1974 | 118,018 | +34.0% |
| 1975 | 139,345 | +18.1% |
| 1976 | 149,683 | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 160,294 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 170,992 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 181,317 | +6.0% |
| 1980 | 190,526 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 197,113 | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 103,284 | -47.6% |
| 1983 | -5,806 | -105.6% |
| 1984 | 54,673 | -1041.7% |
| 1985 | 125,107 | +128.8% |
| 1986 | 118,657 | -5.2% |
| 1987 | 112,340 | -5.3% |
| 1988 | 108,014 | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 105,170 | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 102,316 | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 99,161 | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 95,956 | -3.2% |
| 1993 | 92,693 | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 88,986 | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 84,812 | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 80,551 | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 77,240 | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 76,069 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 77,328 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 86,981 | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 98,619 | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 104,773 | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 110,993 | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 117,291 | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 122,097 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 121,419 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 124,169 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 131,052 | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 131,256 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 131,148 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | -154,627 | -217.9% |
| 2012 | -163,883 | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 125,309 | -176.5% |
| 2014 | 122,624 | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 104,565 | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 100,305 | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 106,641 | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 110,287 | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 101,982 | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 94,363 | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 89,776 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 88,625 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 81,855 | -7.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 81,855 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,200, 2.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 81,855 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 319,038, 26% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth 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 | 54,673 |
| 2011 | -217.9% | 131,148 | -154,627 |
| 2013 | +176.5% | -163,883 | 125,309 |
| 1985 | +128.8% | 54,673 | 125,107 |
| 1983 | -105.6% | 103,284 | -5,806 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 33,610 | 13,918 | 54,759 | 9 |
| 1960s | 58,033 | 45,050 | 68,498 | 10 |
| 1970s | 121,956 | 68,303 | 181,317 | 10 |
| 1980s | 110,908 | -5,806 | 197,113 | 10 |
| 1990s | 87,511 | 76,069 | 102,316 | 10 |
| 2000s | 114,865 | 86,981 | 131,256 | 10 |
| 2010s | 58,435 | -163,883 | 131,148 | 10 |
| 2020s | 88,655 | 81,855 | 94,363 | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.196 (2100)
- Population density 5.56 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 455,012 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Libya?
- Annual population growth in Libya was 81,855 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 197,113 in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -163,883 in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for annual population growth?
- Libya ranks 96th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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