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
Latest (2025)
6.56 million people
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
88th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.56 million people
in 2025
All-time low
251,397 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 251,397 people | — |
| 1951 | 254,974 people | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 259,518 people | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 265,174 people | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 271,802 people | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 279,548 people | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 289,732 people | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 301,530 people | +4.1% |
| 1958 | 315,036 people | +4.5% |
| 1959 | 330,307 people | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 347,367 people | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 366,235 people | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 386,899 people | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 409,157 people | +5.8% |
| 1964 | 431,015 people | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 463,385 people | +7.5% |
| 1966 | 521,660 people | +12.6% |
| 1967 | 604,235 people | +15.8% |
| 1968 | 706,971 people | +17.0% |
| 1969 | 825,522 people | +16.8% |
| 1970 | 954,430 people | +15.6% |
| 1971 | 1.09 million people | +13.7% |
| 1972 | 1.21 million people | +11.5% |
| 1973 | 1.33 million people | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 1.45 million people | +9.2% |
| 1975 | 1.59 million people | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 1.73 million people | +9.3% |
| 1977 | 1.89 million people | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 2.06 million people | +8.8% |
| 1979 | 2.23 million people | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million people | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 2.61 million people | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 2.73 million people | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 2.76 million people | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 2.84 million people | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 2.97 million people | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 3.10 million people | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 3.22 million people | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 3.34 million people | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 3.46 million people | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 3.58 million people | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 3.70 million people | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 3.81 million people | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.92 million people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 4.03 million people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 4.14 million people | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 4.24 million people | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 4.33 million people | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 4.42 million people | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 4.51 million people | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.61 million people | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.72 million people | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 4.83 million people | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 4.94 million people | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 5.05 million people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 5.16 million people | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 5.27 million people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 5.38 million people | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 5.50 million people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 5.61 million people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 5.73 million people | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 5.59 million people | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.44 million people | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 5.55 million people | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 5.66 million people | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 5.74 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 5.82 million people | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 5.92 million people | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 6.01 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.10 million people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.19 million people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 6.27 million people | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 6.35 million people | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 6.42 million people | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 6.49 million people | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 6.56 million people | +1.1% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 6.56 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million people, 1.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 6.56 million people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million people, 67% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.