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Libya vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Libya has a population of 7.38M (ranked 105/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Libya's land area is 679,362 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 16th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Libya ranks 95/197 ($48.5B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Libya ranks 107/197 ($6,569), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Libya South Africa
Population
7559873
65683993
Population rank 105/197 24/197
GDP
$48.5B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 95/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$6,569
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 107/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,304
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt n/a
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
76%
2024
Government debt per person n/a
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$3,172
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 679,362 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
11.1 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.36
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
28.5 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
75.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Libya and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Libya and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Libya South Africa
2024 $48,487,151,215 $401,144,998,374
2023 $44,027,664,915 $381,440,724,491
2022 $43,246,297,922 $407,596,043,068
2021 $35,217,995,647 $419,986,284,375
2020 $46,854,285,441 $337,974,655,408
2019 $69,254,496,472 $389,330,032,224
2018 $76,686,029,772 $405,260,723,893
2017 $67,157,452,182 $381,448,814,653
2016 $49,912,073,701 $323,585,509,674
2015 $48,717,501,321 $346,709,790,459
2014 $57,372,355,592 $381,198,869,776
2013 $75,351,107,029 $400,886,013,596
2012 $92,540,938,129 $434,400,545,086
2011 $48,169,263,294 $458,199,494,831
2010 $75,380,825,062 $417,363,822,802
2009 $60,808,562,033 $329,754,060,647
2008 $86,710,767,415 $316,131,258,616
2007 $68,032,978,391 $333,077,117,254
2006 $60,094,231,607 $303,858,675,364
2005 $47,334,691,241 $288,867,217,197
2004 $33,122,307,692 $255,806,908,595
2003 $26,265,625,000 $197,018,965,309
2002 $20,481,889,764 $129,087,556,612
2001 $34,112,093,927 $135,429,905,923
2000 $38,270,954,138 $151,752,757,215
1999 $35,975,860,857 $151,516,957,079
1998 $27,251,301,398 $152,982,984,557
1997 $30,700,897,875 $168,978,057,328
1996 $27,884,615,385 $163,234,925,381
1995 $25,541,379,187 $171,735,933,897
1994 $28,610,549,763 $153,512,712,382
1993 $30,660,051,911 $147,194,747,566
1992 $33,887,047,909 $146,956,150,987
1991 $31,991,821,265 $135,203,698,238
1990 $28,904,183,602 $126,048,140,142
1989 $25,156,707,899 $108,055,624,082
1988 $24,308,959,591 $103,976,831,871
1987 $26,697,659,335 $96,535,763,418
1986 $24,180,400,959 $73,354,771,399
1985 $31,530,566,324 $64,459,376,087
1984 $29,476,109,153 $84,870,163,366
1983 $33,200,520,140 $96,204,110,942
1982 $33,760,146,991 $85,904,057,409
1981 $36,374,353,880 $93,141,472,164
1980 $40,953,924,949 $89,411,864,402
1979 $30,536,429,497 $63,038,658,089
1978 $22,136,422,643 $51,607,412,902
1977 $22,428,297,108 $45,328,411,332
1976 $19,096,943,017 $41,150,460,288
1975 $14,710,912,458 $42,906,905,672
1974 $15,112,543,717 $41,389,186,095
1973 $8,625,889,430 $33,262,772,008
1972 $6,299,395,544 $24,515,919,217
1971 $5,260,185,125 $23,411,076,638
1970 $4,601,649,451 $21,218,391,513
1969 $4,380,987,481 $19,256,992,297
1968 $3,850,623,095 $17,124,793,150
1967 $2,726,986,913 $15,821,393,671
1966 $2,312,438,536 $14,211,394,315
1965 $1,804,979,680 $13,068,994,772
1964 $1,341,395,421 $11,955,995,218
1963 $892,327,911 $10,854,195,658
1962 $619,725,785 $9,813,996,074
1961 $443,905,612 $9,225,996,310
1960 $401,644,249 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Libya and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Libya South Africa
2024 $6,569 $6,267
2023 $6,027 $6,034
2022 $5,987 $6,534
2021 $4,936 $6,829
2020 $6,650 $5,581
2019 $9,963 $6,534
2018 $11,197 $6,914
2017 $9,966 $6,618
2016 $7,526 $5,651
2015 $7,458 $6,112
2014 $8,926 $6,857
2013 $11,952 $7,332
2012 $14,976 $8,077
2011 $7,594 $8,646
2010 $11,601 $7,973
2009 $9,551 $6,375
2008 $13,906 $6,185
2007 $11,145 $6,592
2006 $10,049 $6,077
2005 $8,079 $5,837
2004 $5,774 $5,221
2003 $4,674 $4,062
2002 $3,718 $2,688
2001 $6,313 $2,847
2000 $7,214 $3,218
1999 $6,895 $3,242
1998 $5,301 $3,310
1997 $6,062 $3,700
1996 $5,591 $3,618
1995 $5,205 $3,856
1994 $5,933 $3,489
1993 $6,478 $3,400
1992 $7,303 $3,462
1991 $7,040 $3,243
1990 $6,502 $3,093
1989 $5,793 $2,727
1988 $5,736 $2,702
1987 $6,465 $2,586
1986 $6,019 $2,027
1985 $8,087 $1,839
1984 $7,811 $2,504
1983 $8,927 $2,938
1982 $9,064 $2,717
1981 $10,044 $3,050
1980 $11,960 $3,029
1979 $9,443 $2,202
1978 $7,252 $1,852
1977 $7,783 $1,671
1976 $7,018 $1,559
1975 $5,721 $1,670
1974 $6,214 $1,656
1973 $3,727 $1,369
1972 $2,830 $1,038
1971 $2,443 $1,020
1970 $2,210 $952
1969 $2,175 $891
1968 $1,972 $817
1967 $1,437 $779
1966 $1,251 $722
1965 $1,001 $685
1964 $765 $646
1963 $528 $605
1962 $382 $563
1961 $285.3 $546
1960 $269 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Libya vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Libya South Africa
2026 75.2 66.7
2025 73.2 66.5
2024 71.1 66.3
2023 69.3 66.1
2022 74.5 65.5
2021 72.1 62
2020 72.4 65.2
2019 72.9 66.1
2018 73.2 65.7
2017 72.7 65.4
2016 71.8 64.7
2015 71.6 64.1
2014 71.3 63.2
2013 72.3 62.4
2012 72.2 61.7
2011 69.9 60.6
2010 72.2 58.9
2009 72.1 57.4
2008 71.9 56
2007 71.8 54.9
2006 71.6 54.2
2005 71.4 53.9
2004 71.2 54
2003 71 54.2
2002 70.8 55.6
2001 70.7 57.2
2000 70.5 58.4
1999 70.6 59.2
1998 70.7 59.9
1997 70.7 60.5
1996 70.7 61.1
1995 70.6 61.6
1994 70.5 62.1
1993 70.2 62.6
1992 70 62.8
1991 69.6 63
1990 69.3 62.9
1989 69 63
1988 68.6 62.9
1987 68.3 62.7
1986 67.8 62.4
1985 67.3 62.2
1984 66.7 61.8
1983 66.3 61.4
1982 65.8 60.9
1981 65.3 60.4
1980 64.8 60
1979 64.3 59.5
1978 63.8 59
1977 63.1 58.5
1976 62.4 58
1975 61.6 57.6
1974 60.7 57.1
1973 59.7 56.7
1972 58.7 56.4
1971 57.6 56
1970 56.4 55.7
1969 55.2 55.4
1968 53.8 55.2
1967 52.5 55
1966 50.9 54.7
1965 49.3 54.4
1964 47.7 54.2
1963 45.6 53.9
1962 44.1 53.6
1961 42.4 53.1
1960 40.8 52.6
1959 39.3 51.9
1958 38 51.1
1957 36.9 50.2
1956 36 49.2
1955 35.2 48.2
1954 34.7 47.1
1953 34.2 46.1
1952 33.8 45
1951 33.5 44.1
1950 33.1 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Libya and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Libya South Africa
2024 7,381,023 64,007,187
2023 7,305,659 63,212,384
2022 7,223,805 62,378,410
2021 7,135,175 61,502,603
2020 7,045,399 60,562,381
2019 6,951,033 59,587,885
2018 6,849,055 58,613,001
2017 6,738,770 57,635,162
2016 6,632,126 57,259,551
2015 6,531,819 56,723,537
2014 6,427,252 55,594,838
2013 6,304,628 54,678,791
2012 6,179,328 53,782,567
2011 6,343,203 52,995,205
2010 6,497,839 52,344,051
2009 6,366,686 51,728,516
2008 6,235,430 51,114,599
2007 6,104,380 50,528,584
2006 5,980,211 49,998,277
2005 5,858,798 49,490,033
2004 5,736,693 48,991,421
2003 5,619,398 48,500,348
2002 5,508,410 48,019,415
2001 5,403,639 47,566,800
2000 5,305,021 47,159,719
1999 5,218,038 46,730,335
1998 5,140,704 46,223,880
1997 5,064,639 45,666,838
1996 4,987,393 45,123,018
1995 4,906,843 44,541,554
1994 4,822,037 44,004,139
1993 4,733,045 43,297,156
1992 4,640,352 42,443,509
1991 4,544,400 41,687,898
1990 4,445,239 40,746,268
1989 4,342,920 39,628,575
1988 4,237,755 38,480,649
1987 4,129,739 37,326,190
1986 4,017,403 36,180,515
1985 3,898,745 35,042,093
1984 3,773,633 33,892,788
1983 3,718,961 32,739,304
1982 3,724,765 31,615,339
1981 3,621,486 30,541,044
1980 3,424,378 29,518,857
1979 3,233,846 28,634,162
1978 3,052,526 27,869,507
1977 2,881,533 27,118,952
1976 2,721,237 26,395,450
1975 2,571,556 25,690,940
1974 2,432,211 24,989,108
1973 2,314,193 24,294,263
1972 2,226,091 23,609,456
1971 2,153,534 22,942,143
1970 2,082,589 22,279,984
1969 2,014,293 21,614,676
1968 1,952,781 20,957,287
1967 1,898,199 20,314,066
1966 1,849,063 19,690,087
1965 1,804,015 19,089,380
1964 1,753,691 18,511,361
1963 1,690,457 17,954,564
1962 1,621,960 17,418,522
1961 1,555,699 16,908,035
1960 1,492,890 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Libya and South Africa

Fertility rate
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Libya South Africa
2023 2.36 2.22
2022 2.4 2.23
2021 2.46 2.25
2020 2.51 2.26
2019 2.54 2.26
2018 2.58 2.27
2017 2.63 2.28
2016 2.67 2.26
2015 2.71 2.36
2014 2.75 2.42
2013 2.72 2.43
2012 2.68 2.45
2011 2.65 2.44
2010 2.6 2.44
2009 2.56 2.5
2008 2.6 2.68
2007 2.65 2.55
2006 2.7 2.55
2005 2.77 2.51
2004 2.77 2.44
2003 2.8 2.36
2002 2.83 2.32
2001 2.87 2.37
2000 2.91 2.41
1999 2.97 2.56
1998 3.04 2.63
1997 3.13 2.73
1996 3.26 2.99
1995 3.44 3.17
1994 3.65 3.26
1993 3.88 3.37
1992 4.16 3.48
1991 4.46 3.62
1990 4.78 3.72
1989 5.09 3.98
1988 5.41 4.18
1987 5.72 4.35
1986 6.02 4.41
1985 6.33 4.5
1984 6.62 4.57
1983 6.91 4.63
1982 7.16 4.7
1981 7.37 4.71
1980 7.54 4.78
1979 7.68 4.82
1978 7.79 4.85
1977 7.87 4.94
1976 7.93 5.07
1975 7.98 5.19
1974 8.02 5.3
1973 8.05 5.41
1972 8.07 5.49
1971 8.1 5.57
1970 8.05 5.63
1969 8.01 5.72
1968 7.97 5.78
1967 7.93 5.85
1966 7.89 5.91
1965 7.82 5.89
1964 7.75 5.96
1963 7.69 6.01
1962 7.61 6.05
1961 7.56 6.08
1960 7.51 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Libya and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Libya

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Libya South Africa
2024 28.5 29.5
2023 28.2 29.2
2022 28 28.9
2021 27.7 28.6
2020 27.5 28.3
2019 27.2 27.9
2018 27 27.5
2017 26.8 27
2016 26.6 26.7
2015 26.4 26.4
2014 26.2 26
2013 25.9 25.7
2012 25.7 25.3
2011 25.5 25
2010 25.3 24.6
2009 25 24.3
2008 24.6 24
2007 24.2 23.8
2006 23.8 23.5
2005 23.6 23.3
2004 23.4 23.1
2003 23.2 22.8
2002 23.1 22.4
2001 22.9 22.2
2000 22.7 21.9
1999 22.4 21.6
1998 22 21.4
1997 21.5 21.2
1996 21.1 21.2
1995 20.6 21.5
1994 20.1 22
1993 19.7 21.9
1992 19.3 21.5
1991 18.9 21.5
1990 18.6 21.3
1989 18.2 21.1
1988 17.9 20.9
1987 17.6 20.7
1986 17.3 20.5
1985 17.1 20.4
1984 16.8 20.2
1983 16.5 20
1982 16.3 19.8
1981 16.1 19.6
1980 16 19.4
1979 15.9 19.3
1978 15.9 19.2
1977 15.8 19.1
1976 15.6 19
1975 15.5 18.9
1974 15.3 18.9
1973 14.9 18.8
1972 14.7 18.8
1971 14.7 18.8
1970 14.7 18.8
1969 14.7 18.8
1968 14.9 18.8
1967 15.3 18.8
1966 15.9 18.8
1965 16.7 18.8
1964 17.2 18.9
1963 17.5 18.9
1962 17.9 18.9
1961 18.2 19
1960 18.5 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/libya/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Libya and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Libya South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$50.9B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
94.8%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.26%
1999
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
5.29%
2023
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-25.1%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
30%
2004
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
28.3%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
73.5%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
35.9
2012
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$92.9B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$16M
2006
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
760,000
2008
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.34%
2010
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
33.1%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Libya South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,539 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$4.83
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
64 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.66 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
96.3%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
3.1%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-249.7%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
3,979 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.02%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
73.2%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Libya South Africa
% of world population
0.09%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-172
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
87.9%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.8:49.2
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.79 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.33 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
30
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
29
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.5
2015
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
21.3
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
51
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.5%
1994
91.2%
2024
English speaking
2%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
88.5%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Libya South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$470
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$90.2
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
75.2 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.68%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.04
2017
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
59
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
30.8
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
37.9%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
15.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
70
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Libya South Africa
% of world land
1.18%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
92,042 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
59,267 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
838 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
22,991 mi
2010
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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