Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Libya
Libya: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 87.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Libya, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Libya is 87.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Libya peaked at 88.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 1950.
Libya ranks 48th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.5% | 22.2% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 28.2% | 23.3% | 41.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 59.5% | 45.8% | 69.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 75.5% | 70.5% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.8% | 80.6% | 86.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 87.9% | 87.0% | 88.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.9% | 87.8% | 88.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.9% | 87.8% | 87.9% | 6 |
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 population living in urban and rural areas in Libya?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Libya was 87.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 88.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Libya ranks 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.