Population in Libya
Libya: Population was 7.31 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.31 million people
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
106th
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.31 million people
in 2023
All-time low
1.13 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Libya, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Libya is 7.31 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Libya peaked at 7.31 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.13 million people, in 1950.
Libya ranks 106th 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.
Population in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.13 million people | — |
| 1951 | 1.15 million people | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 1.16 million people | +1.5% |
| 1953 | 1.18 million people | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 1.21 million people | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 1.24 million people | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 1.28 million people | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 1.33 million people | +3.6% |
| 1958 | 1.38 million people | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 1.43 million people | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 1.49 million people | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 1.56 million people | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 1.62 million people | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 1.69 million people | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 1.75 million people | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 1.80 million people | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 1.85 million people | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 1.90 million people | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 1.95 million people | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 2.01 million people | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 2.08 million people | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 2.15 million people | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 2.23 million people | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 2.31 million people | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 2.43 million people | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 2.57 million people | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 2.72 million people | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 2.88 million people | +5.9% |
| 1978 | 3.05 million people | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 3.23 million people | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 3.42 million people | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 3.62 million people | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 3.72 million people | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 3.72 million people | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 3.77 million people | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 3.90 million people | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 4.02 million people | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 4.13 million people | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 4.24 million people | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 4.34 million people | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 4.45 million people | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 4.54 million people | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 4.64 million people | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 4.73 million people | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 4.82 million people | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 4.91 million people | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 4.99 million people | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 5.06 million people | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 5.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 5.22 million people | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 5.31 million people | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 5.40 million people | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 5.51 million people | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5.62 million people | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 5.74 million people | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 5.86 million people | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 5.98 million people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 6.10 million people | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 6.24 million people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 6.37 million people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 6.50 million people | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 6.34 million people | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 6.18 million people | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 6.30 million people | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 6.43 million people | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.53 million people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 6.63 million people | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 6.74 million people | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 6.85 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.95 million people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 7.05 million people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 7.14 million people | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 7.22 million people | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 7.31 million people | +1.1% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 7.31 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 7.31 million people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.44 million people, 64% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.25 million people | 1.13 million people | 1.43 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.76 million people | 1.49 million people | 2.01 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.57 million people | 2.08 million people | 3.23 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.89 million people | 3.42 million people | 4.34 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.85 million people | 4.45 million people | 5.22 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.81 million people | 5.31 million people | 6.37 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.55 million people | 6.18 million people | 6.95 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.18 million people | 7.05 million people | 7.31 million people | 4 |
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 population in Libya?
- Population in Libya was 7.31 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 7.31 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 million people in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for population?
- Libya ranks 106th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. 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 Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.