Population and Demographics of Libya
Population changed +1.03% in 2024 · median age 27 years
Libya's demographic profile combines +1.03% annual change with fertility of 2.3, while the working-age share is 67.57%. Looking ahead, 9.26 million is projected for 2050 under the medium scenario, compared with 7.38 million in 2024.
Population Over Time in Libya
Since 2000, Libya's population has grown from 5.305M to 7.381M, a net shift of about 2.08 million. For 2050, the medium projection is 9.261M. That is a difference of about 1.88 million people from the 2024 estimate. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Libya's demographic structure is mixed when the 2024 population is divided into the three broad age groups. Under-15s account for 27.41% of residents and people 65+ for 5.02%, leaving 67.57% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Libya a female share of 49.2% and a male share of 50.8%. Males exceed females by 1.6 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 50.8% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.2% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Libya records +1.03% annual population change in 2024 and 2.3 children per woman, while 27.41% of residents are under 15 and 5.02% are 65 or older.
The 24-year population path to 2024 amounts to +39.1% for Libya, whereas the medium projection changes the population +25.5% by 2050; that contrast is reported without assigning unsupported causes.
2024 estimate for Libya. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Libya vs. World
Relative to the 2024 world benchmarks, Libya's population change is higher than the global rate, its fertility is close to the global level, and its population is younger than the corresponding global median-age profile.
| Indicator | Libya | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.03% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.3 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 27 | 30.6 | 2024 |
These are same-year, same-table comparisons. The underlying country table identifies UN World Population Prospects 2024 as its demographic framework.
Key Takeaways
At 7.381M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +1.03%.
The 2024 age structure is 27.41% under 15, 67.57% aged 15 to 64 and 5.02% aged 65 or older.
Females make up 49.2% of the 2024 population in the World Bank indicator, with males at 50.8%.
By 2050, the medium projection is 9.261M, differing from 2024 by roughly 1.88 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Libya?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Libya is 7,381,023 people.
Is the population of Libya growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Libya's population is growing, with annual change of +1.03%.
What percentage of the population of Libya is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 5.02% of Libya's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Libya in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Libya's 2050 population at 9,260,605.
What is the fertility rate in Libya?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Libya is 2.3 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.