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Population in Libya compared to Mauritania: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 5,169,395 people in Mauritania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 5,505,206 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Libya's population is 1.37 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.51M (82.7% growth).

Libya vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Mauritania
2100 9,844,478 17,309,980
2099 9,862,293 17,202,690
2098 9,883,409 17,090,030
2097 9,903,494 16,975,270
2096 9,920,212 16,857,252
2095 9,931,781 16,739,240
2094 9,943,275 16,617,272
2093 9,958,570 16,492,589
2092 9,973,255 16,366,098
2091 9,982,193 16,235,771
2090 9,998,398 16,103,700
2089 10,008,842 15,969,059
2088 10,019,533 15,831,339
2087 10,023,170 15,690,143
2086 10,022,785 15,547,605
2085 10,016,359 15,403,967
2084 10,009,703 15,257,740
2083 10,006,073 15,108,271
2082 9,997,594 14,958,279
2081 9,985,386 14,805,332
2080 9,975,419 14,651,508
2079 9,962,691 14,496,397
2078 9,958,515 14,337,117
2077 9,952,827 14,175,812
2076 9,940,029 14,013,255
2075 9,927,944 13,849,027
2074 9,916,834 13,684,146
2073 9,901,120 13,517,681
2072 9,879,602 13,349,376
2071 9,867,880 13,178,237
2070 9,850,724 13,007,812
2069 9,832,072 12,835,311
2068 9,812,363 12,662,862
2067 9,799,957 12,487,379
2066 9,782,414 12,311,503
2065 9,762,806 12,136,616
2064 9,740,665 11,958,955
2063 9,729,567 11,783,144
2062 9,707,539 11,606,044
2061 9,686,619 11,428,738
2060 9,667,297 11,251,427
2059 9,638,062 11,072,236
2058 9,610,703 10,892,076
2057 9,579,595 10,713,858
2056 9,554,689 10,536,935
2055 9,522,205 10,358,532
2054 9,478,010 10,179,658
2053 9,432,683 9,999,712
2052 9,383,411 9,819,098
2051 9,335,341 9,639,209
2050 9,282,941 9,461,249
2049 9,230,811 9,283,353
2048 9,173,272 9,104,299
2047 9,118,915 8,926,851
2046 9,063,226 8,748,845
2045 8,998,841 8,572,397
2044 8,934,714 8,397,189
2043 8,866,878 8,222,194
2042 8,798,463 8,048,139
2041 8,732,168 7,876,803
2040 8,661,351 7,706,696
2039 8,588,292 7,537,689
2038 8,514,071 7,369,184
2037 8,437,766 7,202,472
2036 8,364,809 7,036,729
2035 8,289,931 6,871,981
2034 8,209,318 6,708,364
2033 8,129,142 6,546,168
2032 8,052,203 6,385,827
2031 7,969,547 6,227,564
2030 7,884,726 6,070,865
2029 7,801,482 5,916,516
2028 7,713,090 5,764,060
2027 7,621,838 5,613,919
2026 7,536,898 5,464,898
2025 7,458,392 5,317,228
2024 7,381,023 5,169,395
2023 7,305,659 5,022,441
2022 7,223,805 4,875,637
2021 7,135,175 4,734,874
2020 7,045,399 4,600,131
2019 6,951,033 4,467,708
2018 6,849,055 4,337,685
2017 6,738,770 4,210,600
2016 6,632,126 4,086,657
2015 6,531,819 3,965,959
2014 6,427,252 3,848,514
2013 6,304,628 3,734,318
2012 6,179,328 3,619,034
2011 6,343,203 3,502,811
2010 6,497,839 3,390,965
2009 6,366,686 3,284,448
2008 6,235,430 3,183,269
2007 6,104,380 3,093,059
2006 5,980,211 3,013,660
2005 5,858,798 2,939,059
2004 5,736,693 2,868,664
2003 5,619,398 2,802,046
2002 5,508,410 2,738,655
2001 5,403,639 2,678,760
2000 5,305,021 2,613,441
1999 5,218,038 2,541,698
1998 5,140,704 2,474,651
1997 5,064,639 2,411,306
1996 4,987,393 2,358,188
1995 4,906,843 2,312,017
1994 4,822,037 2,249,454
1993 4,733,045 2,174,328
1992 4,640,352 2,088,135
1991 4,544,400 2,009,738
1990 4,445,239 1,951,878
1989 4,342,920 1,903,048
1988 4,237,755 1,855,859
1987 4,129,739 1,803,014
1986 4,017,403 1,751,835
1985 3,898,745 1,702,107
1984 3,773,633 1,653,693
1983 3,718,961 1,606,746
1982 3,724,765 1,561,176
1981 3,621,486 1,516,877
1980 3,424,378 1,474,043
1979 3,233,846 1,432,758
1978 3,052,526 1,392,713
1977 2,881,533 1,353,768
1976 2,721,237 1,315,336
1975 2,571,556 1,277,330
1974 2,432,211 1,240,188
1973 2,314,193 1,203,838
1972 2,226,091 1,168,355
1971 2,153,534 1,133,702
1970 2,082,589 1,099,806
1969 2,014,293 1,066,754
1968 1,952,781 1,034,739
1967 1,898,199 1,003,843
1966 1,849,063 974,157
1965 1,804,015 945,838
1964 1,753,691 918,955
1963 1,690,457 893,423
1962 1,621,960 869,184
1961 1,555,699 846,167
1960 1,492,890 824,298

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 122nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Libya's population will grow by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th. The population of Mauritania will increase by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people and rank change from 122nd to 102nd.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Mauritania
2100 -0.18% 0.62%
2099 -0.21% 0.66%
2098 -0.2% 0.68%
2097 -0.17% 0.7%
2096 -0.12% 0.7%
2095 -0.12% 0.73%
2094 -0.15% 0.76%
2093 -0.15% 0.77%
2092 -0.09% 0.8%
2091 -0.16% 0.82%
2090 -0.1% 0.84%
2089 -0.11% 0.87%
2088 -0.04% 0.9%
2087 0.004% 0.92%
2086 0.06% 0.93%
2085 0.07% 0.96%
2084 0.04% 0.99%
2083 0.08% 1%
2082 0.12% 1.03%
2081 0.1% 1.05%
2080 0.13% 1.07%
2079 0.04% 1.11%
2078 0.06% 1.14%
2077 0.13% 1.16%
2076 0.12% 1.19%
2075 0.11% 1.2%
2074 0.16% 1.23%
2073 0.22% 1.26%
2072 0.12% 1.3%
2071 0.17% 1.31%
2070 0.19% 1.34%
2069 0.2% 1.36%
2068 0.13% 1.41%
2067 0.18% 1.43%
2066 0.2% 1.44%
2065 0.23% 1.49%
2064 0.11% 1.49%
2063 0.23% 1.53%
2062 0.22% 1.55%
2061 0.2% 1.58%
2060 0.3% 1.62%
2059 0.28% 1.65%
2058 0.32% 1.66%
2057 0.26% 1.68%
2056 0.34% 1.72%
2055 0.47% 1.76%
2054 0.48% 1.8%
2053 0.53% 1.84%
2052 0.51% 1.87%
2051 0.56% 1.88%
2050 0.56% 1.92%
2049 0.63% 1.97%
2048 0.6% 1.99%
2047 0.61% 2.03%
2046 0.72% 2.06%
2045 0.72% 2.09%
2044 0.77% 2.13%
2043 0.78% 2.16%
2042 0.76% 2.18%
2041 0.82% 2.21%
2040 0.85% 2.24%
2039 0.87% 2.29%
2038 0.9% 2.31%
2037 0.87% 2.36%
2036 0.9% 2.4%
2035 0.98% 2.44%
2034 0.99% 2.48%
2033 0.96% 2.51%
2032 1.04% 2.54%
2031 1.08% 2.58%
2030 1.07% 2.61%
2029 1.15% 2.64%
2028 1.2% 2.67%
2027 1.13% 2.73%
2026 1.05% 2.78%
2025 1.05% 2.86%
2024 1.03% 2.93%
2023 1.13% 3.01%
2022 1.24% 2.97%
2021 1.27% 2.93%
2020 1.36% 2.96%
2019 1.49% 3%
2018 1.64% 3.02%
2017 1.61% 3.03%
2016 1.54% 3.04%
2015 1.63% 3.05%
2014 1.94% 3.06%
2013 2.03% 3.19%
2012 -2.58% 3.32%
2011 -2.38% 3.3%
2010 2.06% 3.24%
2009 2.11% 3.18%
2008 2.15% 2.92%
2007 2.08% 2.63%
2006 2.07% 2.54%
2005 2.13% 2.45%
2004 2.09% 2.38%
2003 2.01% 2.31%
2002 1.94% 2.24%
2001 1.86% 2.5%
2000 1.67% 2.82%
1999 1.5% 2.71%
1998 1.5% 2.63%
1997 1.55% 2.25%
1996 1.64% 2%
1995 1.76% 2.78%
1994 1.88% 3.46%
1993 2% 4.13%
1992 2.11% 3.9%
1991 2.23% 2.96%
1990 2.36% 2.57%
1989 2.48% 2.54%
1988 2.62% 2.93%
1987 2.8% 2.92%
1986 3.04% 2.92%
1985 3.32% 2.93%
1984 1.47% 2.92%
1983 -0.16% 2.92%
1982 2.85% 2.92%
1981 5.76% 2.91%
1980 5.89% 2.88%
1979 5.94% 2.88%
1978 5.93% 2.88%
1977 5.89% 2.92%
1976 5.82% 2.98%
1975 5.73% 2.99%
1974 5.1% 3.02%
1973 3.96% 3.04%
1972 3.37% 3.06%
1971 3.41% 3.08%
1970 3.39% 3.1%
1969 3.15% 3.09%
1968 2.88% 3.08%
1967 2.66% 3.05%
1966 2.5% 2.99%
1965 2.87% 2.93%
1964 3.74% 2.86%
1963 4.22% 2.79%
1962 4.26% 2.72%
1961 4.21% 2.65%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Libya Mauritania
Current population
7559873
5505206
Population rank 105/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.07%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
3.58 minutes
One birth every
4.23 minutes
3.04 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +403
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +146,954
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 17/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -172 -5,044
Net migration rank 83/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -5,044
2024 - 3,448 - -2,185
2023 75,760 -2,001 145,164 2,999
2022 91,951 -2,001 142,451 2,999
2021 88,005 -694 137,557 -1,483
2020 92,950 -694 134,899 -1,483
2019 97,842 -1,352 134,460 -3,019
2018 101,619 5,841 131,584 -2,987
2017 103,891 9,208 128,562 -3,001
2016 105,265 -5,081 125,342 -3,008
2015 108,096 -7,660 122,092 -3,019
2014 110,420 -1,716 118,792 -2,980
2013 110,772 25,755 115,558 -2,987
2012 108,855 5,211 113,489 4,515
2011 121,016 -562,827 111,165 3,272
2010 122,926 9,611 108,121 1,128
2009 118,102 11,670 105,273 -1,481
2008 117,481 15,260 102,432 -3,860
2007 116,704 12,640 98,895 -17,048
2006 115,645 3,351 94,991 -18,033
2005 112,823 11,024 90,940 -18,693
2004 107,144 13,222 87,578 -19,042
2003 102,144 12,073 83,804 -19,104
2002 97,598 10,152 80,993 -18,903
2001 93,370 8,420 78,769 -21,067
2000 89,814 5,634 75,929 -2,997
1999 88,743 -10,206 73,554 -2,999
1998 87,613 -11,479 72,045 -8,504
1997 86,899 -10,907 71,327 -8,187
1996 86,945 -8,446 71,939 -28,840
1995 87,661 -5,068 72,244 -22,997
1994 88,765 -1,755 70,570 5,304
1993 90,553 426 68,167 6,217
1992 93,568 843 63,501 34,505
1991 96,582 902 61,782 -2,997
1990 99,898 946 59,934 -3,000
1989 102,823 981 58,666 -17,941
1988 105,469 1,053 56,654 -2,997
1987 107,761 1,740 55,037 -2,998
1986 109,325 5,844 53,313 -2,998
1985 110,194 11,962 52,125 -2,998
1984 110,028 18,039 50,705 -2,998
1983 122,183 -140,904 49,187 -2,998
1982 133,511 -126,400 47,947 -2,998
1981 130,233 69,211 46,641 -2,998
1980 128,034 66,739 45,026 -2,997
1979 121,469 64,821 43,537 -2,997
1978 114,669 61,684 42,539 -2,998
1977 107,769 57,867 41,352 -2,999
1976 101,146 53,813 40,149 -1,645
1975 94,862 49,544 38,975 -1,472
1974 89,337 44,946 38,106 -1,321
1973 81,256 20,498 37,122 -1,201
1972 77,864 -3,418 36,184 -1,139
1971 74,934 -4,265 35,279 -1,014
1970 70,488 745 34,382 -855
1969 66,782 -1,418 33,252 -688
1968 63,971 -6,323 32,029 -565
1967 61,889 -10,384 30,853 -514
1966 60,394 -13,619 29,502 -466
1965 59,134 -15,810 28,028 -434
1964 55,227 2,084 26,565 -390
1963 50,421 18,740 25,250 -362
1962 46,252 21,589 23,927 -342
1961 42,167 22,504 22,781 -332
1960 38,391 22,559 21,604 -318

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/mauritania | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.4% of the population change in Libya is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people). In Mauritania 98.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

Biggest cities by population

Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/mauritania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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