Urban and rural population in Libya
Libya: Urban and rural population was 6.56 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6.56 million
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
88th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.56 million
in 2025
All-time low
251,397
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Libya, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Libya stood at 6.56 million. 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, urban and rural population in Libya peaked at 6.56 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 251,397, 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.
Urban and rural population in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 251,397 | — |
| 1951 | 254,974 | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 259,518 | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 265,174 | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 271,802 | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 279,548 | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 289,732 | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 301,530 | +4.1% |
| 1958 | 315,036 | +4.5% |
| 1959 | 330,307 | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 347,367 | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 366,235 | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 386,899 | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 409,157 | +5.8% |
| 1964 | 431,015 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 463,385 | +7.5% |
| 1966 | 521,660 | +12.6% |
| 1967 | 604,235 | +15.8% |
| 1968 | 706,971 | +17.0% |
| 1969 | 825,522 | +16.8% |
| 1970 | 954,430 | +15.6% |
| 1971 | 1.09 million | +13.7% |
| 1972 | 1.21 million | +11.5% |
| 1973 | 1.33 million | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 1.45 million | +9.2% |
| 1975 | 1.59 million | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 1.73 million | +9.3% |
| 1977 | 1.89 million | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 2.06 million | +8.8% |
| 1979 | 2.23 million | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 2.61 million | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 2.73 million | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 2.76 million | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 2.84 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 2.97 million | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 3.10 million | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 3.22 million | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 3.34 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 3.46 million | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 3.58 million | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 3.70 million | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 3.81 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.92 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 4.03 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 4.14 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 4.24 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 4.33 million | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 4.42 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 4.51 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.61 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.72 million | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 4.83 million | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 4.94 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 5.05 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 5.16 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 5.27 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 5.38 million | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 5.50 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 5.61 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 5.73 million | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 5.59 million | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.44 million | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 5.55 million | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 5.66 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 5.74 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 5.82 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 5.92 million | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 6.01 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.10 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.19 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 6.27 million | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 6.35 million | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 6.42 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 6.49 million | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 6.56 million | +1.1% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 6.56 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 1.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 6.56 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million, 67% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 281,902 | 251,397 | 330,307 | 10 |
| 1960s | 506,245 | 347,367 | 825,522 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.55 million | 954,430 | 2.23 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.95 million | 2.42 million | 3.46 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.07 million | 3.58 million | 4.51 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.11 million | 4.61 million | 5.61 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.76 million | 5.44 million | 6.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.38 million | 6.19 million | 6.56 million | 6 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.196 (2100)
- Population density 5.56 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 455,012 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Libya?
- Urban and rural population in Libya was 6.56 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.56 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 251,397 in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for urban and rural population?
- Libya ranks 88th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).