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.
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
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.3 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 200,335 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.3 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.3 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.0% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 2.35 live births per woman (2023)
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.