Refugees by country of asylum in Libya
Libya: Refugees by country of asylum was 200,335 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Libya, 1993–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of asylum in Libya stood at 200,335 people. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 10,805.6% on the previous year and up 616.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Libya peaked at 200,335 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,183 people, in 1993.
Libya ranks 32nd of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,183 people | — |
| 1994 | 2,001 people | +69.1% |
| 1995 | 3,973 people | +98.6% |
| 1996 | 7,747 people | +95.0% |
| 1997 | 8,477 people | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 10,555 people | +24.5% |
| 1999 | 10,531 people | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 11,541 people | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 11,662 people | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 11,666 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 11,899 people | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 12,164 people | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 12,164 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2,760 people | -77.3% |
| 2007 | 4,090 people | +48.2% |
| 2008 | 6,713 people | +64.1% |
| 2009 | 9,000 people | +34.1% |
| 2010 | 7,922 people | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 10,129 people | +27.9% |
| 2012 | 7,065 people | -30.2% |
| 2013 | 25,561 people | +261.8% |
| 2014 | 27,964 people | +9.4% |
| 2015 | 9,305 people | -66.7% |
| 2016 | 9,311 people | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 9,352 people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 8,792 people | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 4,730 people | -46.2% |
| 2020 | 4,149 people | -12.3% |
| 2021 | 3,141 people | -24.3% |
| 2022 | 2,208 people | -29.7% |
| 2023 | 1,837 people | -16.8% |
| 2024 | 200,335 people | +10805.6% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 200,335 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 32.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 200,335 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 12.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +10805.6% | 1,837 people | 200,335 people |
| 2013 | +261.8% | 7,065 people | 25,561 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,352 people | 1,183 people | 10,555 people | 7 |
| 2000s | 9,366 people | 2,760 people | 12,164 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,013 people | 4,730 people | 27,964 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 42,334 people | 1,837 people | 200,335 people | 5 |
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 refugees by country of asylum in Libya?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Libya was 200,335 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 200,335 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,183 people in 1993.
- How does Libya rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Libya ranks 32nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 616.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.