Libya Population: 6,837,096

Libya is a North African country that shares its borders with the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria, and Tunisia. The area of the country is almost 1.8 million square kilometers, which places Libya as the fourth largest country in Africa, and also the 16th largest country in the world. 90 percent of the country is either desert or semi-desert with restricted natural freshwater resources. It has the 10th largest oil reserves in the world.

Largest Cities in Libya by Population

Tripoli has the largest population of over one million, followed by Benghazi, Misratah, and Tarhuna.

CITY NAME POPULATION CITY NAME POPULATION
Tripoli 1,150,989 Bani Walid 46,350
Benghazi 650,629 At Taj 46,050
Misratah 386,120 Zuwarah 45,000
Tarhuna 210,697 Murzuq 43,732
Al Khums 201,943 Ubari 42,975
Az Zawiyah 200,000 Brak 39,444
Zawiya 186,123 Zintan 33,000
Ajdabiya 134,358 Al Abyar 32,563
Al Ajaylat 130,546 Waddan 27,590
Sabha 130,000 Nalut 26,256
Sirte 128,123 Mizdah 26,107
Al Jadid 126,386 Surman 25,235
Tobruk 121,052 Al Qubbah 24,631
Zliten 109,972 Ghat 24,347
Sabratah 102,038 Masallatah 23,702
Tagiura 100,000 Tukrah 23,164
Al Marj 85,315 Az Zuwaytinah 21,015
Gharyan 85,219 Hun 18,878
Darnah 78,782 Zaltan 17,700
Al Bayda’ 74,594 Al Jawf 17,320
Yafran 67,638 Qaryat Suluq 15,543

Libya Population History

In the year 1955, the population of Libya was just 1.2 million. Now in the year 2020, the population as increased to 6,836,699. The growth rate is estimated to be 0.04%, which remains constant from 2016. Overall the country’s population has a steady increase due to a high number of births and fewer deaths.

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 6,871,292 1.38% 93,840 -1,999 28.8 2.25 4 78.20% 5,375,771 0.09% 7,794,798,739 108
2019 6,777,452 1.48% 98,893 -1,999 27.4 2.41 4 77.90% 5,281,734 0.09% 7,713,468,100 109
2018 6,678,559 1.49% 97,835 -1,999 27.4 2.41 4 77.60% 5,183,363 0.09% 7,631,091,040 109
2017 6,580,724 1.36% 88,562 -1,999 27.4 2.41 4 77.30% 5,088,051 0.09% 7,547,858,925 109
2016 6,492,162 1.15% 73,847 -1,999 27.4 2.41 4 77.10% 5,005,658 0.09% 7,464,022,049 109
2015 6,418,315 0.70% 44,130 -60,000 27.1 2.45 4 77.00% 4,942,479 0.09% 7,379,797,139 109
2010 6,197,663 1.34% 79,810 -23,711 25.7 2.5 4 77.70% 4,815,154 0.09% 6,956,823,603 108
2005 5,798,614 1.59% 88,145 -4,114 24 2.64 3 77.00% 4,465,029 0.09% 6,541,907,027 104
2000 5,357,891 1.60% 81,819 -11,474 22.1 3.2 3 76.40% 4,091,103 0.09% 6,143,493,823 104
1995 4,948,798 2.21% 102,427 793 20.2 4.22 3 76.00% 3,760,787 0.09% 5,744,212,979 107
1990 4,436,661 2.75% 112,576 1,098 18.5 5.71 3 75.70% 3,359,579 0.08% 5,327,231,061 109
1985 3,873,781 3.77% 130,863 22,676 17.4 6.68 2 75.50% 2,922,777 0.08% 4,870,921,740 112
1980 3,219,466 4.01% 114,865 11,507 16.1 7.67 2 70.10% 2,256,637 0.07% 4,458,003,514 117
1975 2,645,139 4.39% 102,323 11,733 16.1 8.1 2 62.80% 1,660,757 0.06% 4,079,480,606 122
1970 2,133,526 4.24% 80,044 9,600 17 7.99 1 49.70% 1,059,737 0.06% 3,700,437,046 126
1965 1,733,306 3.66% 56,978 9,178 18.5 7.3 1 33.70% 583,541 0.05% 3,339,583,597 132
1960 1,448,417 3.07% 40,612 9,204 19.3 7.2 1 27.30% 395,754 0.05% 3,034,949,748 132
1955 1,245,358 2.06% 24,169 0 19.8 7.14 1 23.20% 289,027 0.04% 2,773,019,936 132

Libya Population forecast

By the end of 2020, the population of Libya is expected to reach 6.88 million, according to data provided by the Trading Economics global macro models and analysts’ expectations. On a long-term basis, the population will increase to 6.98 million and 7.08 million, for the years 2021 and 2022 respectively. It is also estimated that by the year 2050, the population would rise to 8,525,414 with a global rank of 110th position in the population ranking for all countries.

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country’s Share of World Pop World Population Global Rank
2020 6,871,292 1.37% 90,595 -1,999 28.8 2.25 4 78.20% 5,375,771 0.09% 7,794,798,739 108
2025 7,267,721 1.13% 79,286 -1,999 30.5 2.25 4 79.50% 5,780,434 0.09% 8,184,437,460 107
2030 7,606,415 0.92% 67,739 -1,999 32.1 2.25 4 80.70% 6,140,466 0.09% 8,548,487,400 107
2035 7,896,597 0.75% 58,036 -1,999 33.7 2.25 4 81.80% 6,460,474 0.09% 8,887,524,213 107
2040 8,150,993 0.64% 50,879 -1,999 35.1 2.25 5 82.80% 6,745,930 0.09% 9,198,847,240 108
2045 8,365,854 0.52% 42,972 -1,999 36.7 2.25 5 83.60% 6,992,221 0.09% 9,481,803,274 108
2050 8,525,414 0.38% 31,912 38.3 2.25 5 84.30% 7,184,097 0.09% 9,735,033,990 110

Libya Demographics

The total population of Libya accounts for 0.09% of the total world population and currently ranks at 108 in the list of countries by population. In simple terms, it can be said that one person out of every 1086 people in the world is a resident of Libya. The population density is 4 per Km2. About 78.2% of the total population is urban, and the median age is 28.8 years.

Libya Religion & Politics

The majority are adherents of Islam, with 96.7% of the population, followed by Christianity 2.8%, Buddhism 0.3%, and religiously unaffiliated is 0.2%.

The political system of Libya is under an uncertain state due to the collapse of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in 2011, along with the ongoing civil war between the Council of Deputies in Tobruk and its supporters.

Libya Economy

The economy of Libya is almost completely dependent on oil and gas exports. The average production of oil has risen to 879,000 barrels per day, which boosts GDP growth. Severe liquidity shortage is seen due to low consumer confidence in the banking sector that, in reality, affects the economy of the country as a whole.

Largest Countries in the World by Population

S.No Country Population (2020) World Population Share (%)
1 China 1,439,323,776 18.47%
2 India 1,380,004,385 17.70%
3 United States 331,002,651 4.25%
4 Indonesia 273,523,615 3.51%
5 Pakistan 220,892,340 2.83%
6 Brazil 212,559,417 2.73%
7 Nigeria 206,139,589 2.64%
8 Bangladesh 164,689,383 2.11%
9 Russia 145,934,462 1.87%
10 Mexico 128,932,753 1.65%