Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya
Libya: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 45.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya stood at 45.0%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya peaked at 45.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 1950.
That places Libya 80th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15.3% | — |
| 1955 | 17.3% | +13.2% |
| 1960 | 19.1% | +10.2% |
| 1965 | 21.4% | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 25.7% | +20.4% |
| 1975 | 28.5% | +10.9% |
| 1980 | 32.3% | +13.3% |
| 1985 | 30.8% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 33.6% | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 36.7% | +9.1% |
| 2000 | 38.8% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 42.0% | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 44.7% | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 43.1% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 45.0% | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 16.3% | 15.3% | 17.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.2% | 19.1% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 27.1% | 25.7% | 28.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 31.6% | 30.8% | 32.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.1% | 33.6% | 36.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 40.4% | 38.8% | 42.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 43.9% | 43.1% | 44.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 45.0% | 45.0% | 45.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Libya
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Libya was 45.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Libya ranks 80th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.