Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya
Libya: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 6.56 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya stood at 6.56 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya peaked at 6.56 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 251,397 people, in 1950.
That places Libya 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 281,902 people | 251,397 people | 330,307 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 506,245 people | 347,367 people | 825,522 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.55 million people | 954,430 people | 2.23 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.95 million people | 2.42 million people | 3.46 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.07 million people | 3.58 million people | 4.51 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.11 million people | 4.61 million people | 5.61 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.76 million people | 5.44 million people | 6.10 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.38 million people | 6.19 million people | 6.56 million people | 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya was 6.56 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.56 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 251,397 people in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Libya ranks 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.