Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya
Libya: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 87.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
87.9%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
48th
of 238 countries
All-time high
88.2%
in 2006
All-time low
0.2%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 87.9% for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya peaked at 88.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1000.
Libya ranks 48th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.2% | — |
| 1100 | 0.3% | +33.3% |
| 1200 | 0.4% | +33.3% |
| 1300 | 0.6% | +33.3% |
| 1400 | 0.8% | +33.3% |
| 1500 | 1.0% | +33.3% |
| 1600 | 1.3% | +33.3% |
| 1700 | 1.8% | +33.3% |
| 1710 | 2.0% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 2.2% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.4% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 2.6% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 2.9% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 3.2% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 3.5% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 3.8% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 4.2% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 4.6% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 5.0% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 5.5% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 6.0% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 6.6% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 7.2% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 7.9% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 8.6% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 9.5% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 10.4% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 11.3% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 12.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 13.6% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 14.9% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 16.3% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 22.2% | +36.0% |
| 1951 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
| 1952 | 22.3% | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 22.4% | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 22.5% | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 22.5% | +0.1% |
| 1956 | 22.6% | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 22.7% | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 22.8% | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 23.0% | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 23.3% | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 23.5% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 23.9% | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 24.2% | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 24.6% | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 25.7% | +4.5% |
| 1966 | 28.2% | +9.8% |
| 1967 | 31.8% | +12.8% |
| 1968 | 36.2% | +13.7% |
| 1969 | 41.0% | +13.2% |
| 1970 | 45.8% | +11.8% |
| 1971 | 50.4% | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 54.3% | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 57.3% | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 59.6% | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 61.7% | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 63.7% | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 65.6% | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 67.4% | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 69.0% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 70.5% | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 71.9% | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 73.2% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 74.3% | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 75.3% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 76.2% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 78.0% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 78.9% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 79.7% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 80.6% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 81.4% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 82.2% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 82.9% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 83.6% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 84.3% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 84.9% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 85.5% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 86.0% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 86.5% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 87.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 87.3% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 87.6% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 87.9% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 88.0% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 88.1% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 88.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 88.2% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 88.1% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 88.1% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 88.1% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 88.1% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 88.1% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 88.0% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 88.0% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 87.8% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 87.8% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 87.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 87.9% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 87.9% | +0.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 87.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 87.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +36.0% | 16.3% | 22.2% |
| 1100 | +33.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 1200 | +33.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 1300 | +33.3% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| 1400 | +33.3% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| 1500 | +33.3% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1500s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1 |
| 1790s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1850s | 7.2% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1870s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 1880s | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 10.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 1 |
| 1900s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 12.4% | 12.4% | 12.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 1930s | 14.9% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 16.3% | 16.3% | 16.3% | 1 |
| 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 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Libya was 87.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050 recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 88.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1000.
- How does Libya rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Libya ranks 48th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.