Libya Population
Middle East & North Africa · 104th most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
7,567,067
The population of Libya is about 7,567,067 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 7.5 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.09% of the world's people.
Libya is ranked 104th of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 1.09% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 9.3 million. That is 5.1 times its 1960 population of 1.5 million. It is sparsely populated, with only 4.3 people per square kilometre. 88% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
7.5 million
Yearly change
+1.09%
World rank
104th
Share of world
0.09%
Density
4/km²
Land area
1,759,540 km²
Life expectancy
71.1 yrs
Births per woman
2.30
GDP per capita
$6,449
GDP
$48.1B
Population of Libya, 1960–2050
Libya population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,492,890 | — | 1 |
| 1970 | 2,082,589 | +3.39% | 1 |
| 1980 | 3,424,378 | +5.89% | 2 |
| 1990 | 4,445,239 | +2.36% | 3 |
| 2000 | 5,305,021 | +1.67% | 3 |
| 2010 | 6,497,839 | +2.06% | 4 |
| 2020 | 7,045,399 | +1.36% | 4 |
| 2024 | 7,381,023 | +1.03% | 4 |
| 2026proj. | 7,539,851 | +1.09% | 4 |
| 2030proj. | 7,885,806 | +1.07% | 4 |
| 2040proj. | 8,651,417 | +0.83% | 5 |
| 2050proj. | 9,260,605 | +0.56% | 5 |
Libya vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 23.6 times as many people as Libya. Bangladesh is 318.8 times more densely populated.
Libya population: questions and answers
What is the population of Libya in 2026?
About 7,539,851 (7.5 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Libya's population growing?
Yes, by about 1.09% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Libya?
About 4 people per km², with a land area of 1,759,540 km².
What will the population of Libya be in 2050?
About 9.3 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Libya?
Tripoli.
What is the life expectancy in Libya?
71.1 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.