Urban population growth in Libya
Libya: Urban population growth was 1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Libya, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Libya stood at 1.1%.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Libya peaked at 15.7% in 1968 and was at its lowest, -2.6%, in 2012.
Libya ranks 119th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in Libya, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.3% | — |
| 1962 | 5.5% | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 5.6% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 5.2% | -7.0% |
| 1965 | 7.2% | +39.1% |
| 1966 | 11.8% | +63.6% |
| 1967 | 14.7% | +24.0% |
| 1968 | 15.7% | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 15.5% | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 14.5% | -6.4% |
| 1971 | 12.9% | -11.4% |
| 1972 | 10.9% | -15.5% |
| 1973 | 9.2% | -15.3% |
| 1974 | 8.8% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 9.1% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 8.9% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 8.7% | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 8.4% | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 8.2% | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 7.9% | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 7.6% | -4.5% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | -39.7% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | -69.8% |
| 1984 | 2.8% | +102.3% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +60.5% |
| 1986 | 4.2% | -6.6% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | -6.4% |
| 1988 | 3.7% | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | -4.6% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 3.0% | -5.0% |
| 1993 | 2.9% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 2.1% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 2.1% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | -2.4% | -220.4% |
| 2012 | -2.6% | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | -174.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -26.6% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 1.0% | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 1.1% | +2.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 1.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.0%, 1.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Libya's 1.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.9%, 56% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban population growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -220.4% | 2.0% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | +174.7% | -2.6% | 2.0% |
| 1984 | +102.3% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| 1966 | +63.6% | 7.2% | 11.8% |
| 1983 | -69.8% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| 1985 | +60.5% | 2.8% | 4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.6% | 5.2% | 15.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.9% | 8.2% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 1.4% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.1% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | -2.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More climate change data for Libya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 76.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,621 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,729 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.12 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 97.48 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 455.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 452.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.71 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Libya?
- Urban population growth in Libya was 1.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 1968.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.6% in 2012.
- How does Libya rank for urban population growth?
- Libya ranks 119th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.