Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya
Libya: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 1.08 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.08 % change on previous year
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
122nd
of 234 countries
All-time high
17 % change on previous year
in 1968
All-time low
-2.61 % change on previous year
in 2012
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya is 1.08 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya peaked at 17 % change on previous year in 1968 and was at its lowest, -2.61 % change on previous year, in 2012.
Libya ranks 122nd of 234 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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 1.42 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 1.78 % change on previous year | +25.3% |
| 1953 | 2.18 % change on previous year | +22.3% |
| 1954 | 2.5 % change on previous year | +14.7% |
| 1955 | 2.85 % change on previous year | +14.0% |
| 1956 | 3.64 % change on previous year | +27.8% |
| 1957 | 4.07 % change on previous year | +11.8% |
| 1958 | 4.48 % change on previous year | +10.0% |
| 1959 | 4.85 % change on previous year | +8.2% |
| 1960 | 5.16 % change on previous year | +6.6% |
| 1961 | 5.43 % change on previous year | +5.2% |
| 1962 | 5.64 % change on previous year | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 5.75 % change on previous year | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 5.34 % change on previous year | -7.1% |
| 1965 | 7.51 % change on previous year | +40.6% |
| 1966 | 12.58 % change on previous year | +67.5% |
| 1967 | 15.83 % change on previous year | +25.9% |
| 1968 | 17 % change on previous year | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 16.77 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 15.62 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 1971 | 13.72 % change on previous year | -12.2% |
| 1972 | 11.47 % change on previous year | -16.4% |
| 1973 | 9.64 % change on previous year | -16.0% |
| 1974 | 9.24 % change on previous year | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 9.5 % change on previous year | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 9.27 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 9.04 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 8.8 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 8.53 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 8.23 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 7.85 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 1982 | 4.66 % change on previous year | -40.6% |
| 1983 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -70.3% |
| 1984 | 2.82 % change on previous year | +103.8% |
| 1985 | 4.56 % change on previous year | +61.8% |
| 1986 | 4.26 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 3.98 % change on previous year | -6.6% |
| 1988 | 3.76 % change on previous year | -5.4% |
| 1989 | 3.59 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 3.42 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 3.25 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -5.3% |
| 1994 | 2.75 % change on previous year | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 2.58 % change on previous year | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 2.4 % change on previous year | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 2.25 % change on previous year | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 2.14 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 2.07 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 2.17 % change on previous year | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 2.29 % change on previous year | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 2.3 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.29 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.29 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.24 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1 % change on previous year | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 2.07 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 2.14 % change on previous year | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 2.09 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 2.04 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2011 | -2.4 % change on previous year | -217.8% |
| 2012 | -2.61 % change on previous year | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 2 % change on previous year | -176.5% |
| 2014 | 1.91 % change on previous year | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 1.4 % change on previous year | -26.8% |
| 2016 | 1.54 % change on previous year | +9.9% |
| 2017 | 1.61 % change on previous year | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 1.64 % change on previous year | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 1.49 % change on previous year | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 1.36 % change on previous year | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 1.28 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 1.26 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 1.15 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 1.06 % change on previous year | -8.4% |
| 2025 | 1.08 % change on previous year | +2.4% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 1.08 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9495 % change on previous year, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 1.08 % change on previous year is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.97 % change on previous year, 55% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -217.8% | 2.04 % change on previous year | -2.4 % change on previous year |
| 2013 | +176.5% | -2.61 % change on previous year | 2 % change on previous year |
| 1984 | +103.8% | 1.38 % change on previous year | 2.82 % change on previous year |
| 1966 | +67.5% | 7.51 % change on previous year | 12.58 % change on previous year |
| 1983 | -70.3% | 4.66 % change on previous year | 1.38 % change on previous year |
| 1985 | +61.8% | 2.82 % change on previous year | 4.56 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.09 % change on previous year | 1.42 % change on previous year | 4.85 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 9.7 % change on previous year | 5.16 % change on previous year | 17 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.48 % change on previous year | 8.53 % change on previous year | 15.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.51 % change on previous year | 1.38 % change on previous year | 8.23 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.69 % change on previous year | 2.07 % change on previous year | 3.42 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2 % change on previous year | 2.07 % change on previous year | 2.3 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8607 % change on previous year | -2.61 % change on previous year | 2.04 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2 % change on previous year | 1.06 % change on previous year | 1.36 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 119 Malta 1.1 % change on previous year compare
- 120 Ecuador 1.1 % change on previous year compare
- 121 Myanmar 1.09 % change on previous year compare
- 123 Tunisia 1.07 % change on previous year compare
- 124 Niue 1.07 % change on previous year compare
- 125 El Salvador 1.04 % change on previous year compare
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in Libya was 1.08 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 17 % change on previous year in 1968.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.61 % change on previous year in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- Libya ranks 122nd out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.