Total population (thousands) in Libya
Libya: Total population (thousands) was 7,420 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
7,420 thousands
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
104th
of 233 countries
All-time high
7,420 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
2,047 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Libya, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Libya is 7,420 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Libya peaked at 7,420 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,047 thousands, in 1970.
Libya ranks 104th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Libya, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,047 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,118 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 2,189 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 2,263 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 2,365 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 2,499 thousands | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 2,644 thousands | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 2,799 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1978 | 2,964 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 3,141 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 3,327 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 3,522 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 3,721 thousands | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 3,728 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 3,710 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 3,838 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 3,960 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 4,075 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 4,184 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 4,291 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 4,395 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 4,496 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 4,593 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 4,688 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 4,779 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 4,866 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 4,948 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 5,027 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 5,103 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 5,179 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 5,257 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 5,353 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 5,455 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 5,562 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 5,677 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 5,797 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 5,921 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 6,040 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 6,169 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 6,302 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 6,432 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 6,564 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 6,122 thousands | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 6,236 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 6,373 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 6,482 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 6,582 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 6,682 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 6,795 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 6,903 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 6,999 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 7,092 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 7,179 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 7,269 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 7,343 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 7,420 thousands | +1.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 7,420 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 7,420 thousands is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,575 thousands, 64% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,503 thousands | 2,047 thousands | 3,141 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,836 thousands | 3,327 thousands | 4,291 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,807 thousands | 4,395 thousands | 5,179 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,753 thousands | 5,257 thousands | 6,302 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,517 thousands | 6,122 thousands | 6,903 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,217 thousands | 6,999 thousands | 7,420 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 101 Sierra Leone 8,731 thousands compare
- 102 Laos 7,822 thousands compare
- 103 Turkmenistan 7,558 thousands compare
- 105 Hong Kong 7,397 thousands compare
- 106 Kyrgyzstan 7,241 thousands compare
- 107 Paraguay 6,972 thousands compare
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 total population in Libya?
- Total population in Libya was 7,420 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 7,420 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,047 thousands in 1970.
- How does Libya rank for total population?
- Libya ranks 104th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release