Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya
Libya: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 22.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 22.1% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya peaked at 30.0% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 19.0%, in 1995.
Libya ranks 107th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 21.1% | — |
| 1955 | 23.0% | +9.2% |
| 1960 | 23.2% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 24.0% | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 28.4% | +18.6% |
| 1975 | 30.0% | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 25.3% | -15.7% |
| 1985 | 21.2% | -16.0% |
| 1990 | 19.7% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 20.7% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 21.8% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 21.4% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | +10.0% |
| 2020 | 22.1% | -6.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 22.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 85% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Libya's 22.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.7%, 97% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.1% | 21.1% | 23.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 23.6% | 23.2% | 24.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 29.2% | 28.4% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 23.2% | 21.2% | 25.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 19.4% | 19.0% | 19.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.3% | 20.7% | 21.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 21.4% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.1% | 22.1% | 22.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More population data for Libya
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3412 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1882 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 455,012 people (2100)
- Population density 5.56 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2302 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9554 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Libya was 22.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.0% in 1995.
- How does Libya rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Libya ranks 107th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.