Population growth in Libya
Libya: Population growth was 1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Libya, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, population growth in Libya stood at 1.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and down 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Libya peaked at 5.8% in 1979 and was at its lowest, -2.6%, in 2012.
That places Libya 98th out of 215 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3% | 2.5% | 4.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.7% | 3.3% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.9% | -0.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | -2.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More climate change data for Libya
- Population, total 7.46 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Urban population 6.56 million (2025)
- Urban population 87.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 16.1% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 5.72 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 817.1% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 0.1% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 0.2% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 0.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Libya?
- Population growth in Libya was 1.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 1979.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.6% in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for population growth?
- Libya ranks 98th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.