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Population in Libya compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.41 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Libya vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Netherlands
2100 9,844,693 17,329,352
2099 9,862,508 17,362,626
2098 9,883,625 17,395,665
2097 9,903,710 17,429,925
2096 9,920,429 17,465,162
2095 9,931,997 17,502,567
2094 9,943,491 17,540,959
2093 9,958,787 17,580,632
2092 9,973,472 17,619,384
2091 9,982,411 17,658,238
2090 9,998,616 17,700,204
2089 10,009,061 17,739,947
2088 10,019,752 17,779,324
2087 10,023,389 17,815,257
2086 10,023,004 17,854,371
2085 10,016,577 17,890,610
2084 10,009,921 17,926,885
2083 10,006,291 17,963,416
2082 9,997,812 17,998,527
2081 9,985,604 18,032,297
2080 9,975,637 18,062,716
2079 9,962,908 18,093,254
2078 9,958,732 18,121,649
2077 9,953,044 18,150,234
2076 9,940,245 18,175,683
2075 9,928,160 18,196,574
2074 9,917,050 18,214,405
2073 9,901,336 18,232,486
2072 9,879,817 18,249,136
2071 9,868,096 18,264,367
2070 9,850,939 18,279,781
2069 9,832,286 18,295,123
2068 9,812,577 18,310,300
2067 9,800,171 18,325,333
2066 9,782,627 18,343,435
2065 9,763,018 18,364,513
2064 9,740,878 18,386,352
2063 9,729,779 18,409,851
2062 9,707,751 18,433,299
2061 9,686,831 18,460,766
2060 9,667,507 18,488,598
2059 9,638,272 18,517,020
2058 9,610,912 18,545,884
2057 9,579,804 18,576,502
2056 9,554,897 18,606,997
2055 9,522,413 18,634,546
2054 9,478,216 18,660,585
2053 9,432,889 18,686,212
2052 9,383,615 18,709,643
2051 9,335,544 18,736,166
2050 9,283,143 18,757,302
2049 9,231,012 18,777,673
2048 9,173,472 18,795,411
2047 9,119,114 18,812,362
2046 9,063,424 18,823,628
2045 8,999,038 18,834,974
2044 8,934,909 18,844,772
2043 8,867,072 18,850,396
2042 8,798,655 18,853,495
2041 8,732,358 18,852,912
2040 8,661,540 18,847,238
2039 8,588,479 18,837,931
2038 8,514,257 18,823,220
2037 8,437,950 18,804,912
2036 8,364,991 18,779,656
2035 8,290,112 18,751,144
2034 8,209,497 18,718,013
2033 8,129,319 18,676,061
2032 8,052,378 18,630,094
2031 7,969,721 18,577,582
2030 7,884,898 18,517,866
2029 7,801,652 18,449,618
2028 7,713,258 18,372,676
2027 7,622,004 18,289,268
2026 7,537,063 18,196,186
2025 7,458,555 18,087,633
2024 7,381,023 17,993,485
2023 7,305,659 17,877,117
2022 7,223,805 17,700,982
2021 7,135,175 17,533,044
2020 7,045,399 17,441,500
2019 6,951,033 17,344,874
2018 6,849,055 17,231,624
2017 6,738,770 17,131,296
2016 6,632,126 17,030,314
2015 6,531,819 16,939,923
2014 6,427,252 16,865,008
2013 6,304,628 16,804,432
2012 6,179,328 16,754,962
2011 6,343,203 16,693,074
2010 6,497,839 16,615,394
2009 6,366,686 16,530,388
2008 6,235,430 16,445,593
2007 6,104,380 16,381,696
2006 5,980,211 16,346,101
2005 5,858,798 16,319,868
2004 5,736,693 16,281,779
2003 5,619,398 16,225,302
2002 5,508,410 16,148,929
2001 5,403,639 16,046,180
2000 5,305,021 15,925,513
1999 5,218,038 15,812,088
1998 5,140,704 15,707,209
1997 5,064,639 15,610,650
1996 4,987,393 15,530,498
1995 4,906,843 15,459,006
1994 4,822,037 15,382,838
1993 4,733,045 15,290,368
1992 4,640,352 15,184,166
1991 4,544,400 15,069,798
1990 4,445,239 14,951,510
1989 4,342,920 14,848,907
1988 4,237,755 14,760,094
1987 4,129,739 14,665,037
1986 4,017,403 14,572,278
1985 3,898,745 14,491,632
1984 3,773,633 14,424,211
1983 3,718,961 14,367,070
1982 3,724,765 14,312,690
1981 3,621,486 14,247,208
1980 3,424,378 14,149,800
1979 3,233,846 14,038,270
1978 3,052,526 13,941,700
1977 2,881,533 13,856,185
1976 2,721,237 13,774,037
1975 2,571,556 13,666,335
1974 2,432,211 13,545,056
1973 2,314,193 13,439,322
1972 2,226,091 13,328,593
1971 2,153,534 13,194,497
1970 2,082,589 13,038,526
1969 2,014,293 12,877,984
1968 1,952,781 12,729,721
1967 1,898,199 12,598,201
1966 1,849,063 12,456,251
1965 1,804,015 12,294,732
1964 1,753,691 12,127,120
1963 1,690,457 11,965,966
1962 1,621,960 11,805,689
1961 1,555,699 11,638,712
1960 1,492,890 11,486,631

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Libya's population will grow by 22.5% to 9,283,143 people and will still be ranked 105th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Netherlands
2100 -0.18% -0.19%
2099 -0.21% -0.19%
2098 -0.2% -0.2%
2097 -0.17% -0.2%
2096 -0.12% -0.21%
2095 -0.12% -0.22%
2094 -0.15% -0.23%
2093 -0.15% -0.22%
2092 -0.09% -0.22%
2091 -0.16% -0.24%
2090 -0.1% -0.22%
2089 -0.11% -0.22%
2088 -0.04% -0.2%
2087 0.004% -0.22%
2086 0.06% -0.2%
2085 0.07% -0.2%
2084 0.04% -0.2%
2083 0.08% -0.2%
2082 0.12% -0.19%
2081 0.1% -0.17%
2080 0.13% -0.17%
2079 0.04% -0.16%
2078 0.06% -0.16%
2077 0.13% -0.14%
2076 0.12% -0.11%
2075 0.11% -0.1%
2074 0.16% -0.1%
2073 0.22% -0.09%
2072 0.12% -0.08%
2071 0.17% -0.08%
2070 0.19% -0.08%
2069 0.2% -0.08%
2068 0.13% -0.08%
2067 0.18% -0.1%
2066 0.2% -0.11%
2065 0.23% -0.12%
2064 0.11% -0.13%
2063 0.23% -0.13%
2062 0.22% -0.15%
2061 0.2% -0.15%
2060 0.3% -0.15%
2059 0.28% -0.16%
2058 0.32% -0.16%
2057 0.26% -0.16%
2056 0.34% -0.15%
2055 0.47% -0.14%
2054 0.48% -0.14%
2053 0.53% -0.13%
2052 0.51% -0.14%
2051 0.56% -0.11%
2050 0.56% -0.11%
2049 0.63% -0.09%
2048 0.6% -0.09%
2047 0.61% -0.06%
2046 0.72% -0.06%
2045 0.72% -0.05%
2044 0.77% -0.03%
2043 0.78% -0.02%
2042 0.76% 0.003%
2041 0.82% 0.03%
2040 0.85% 0.05%
2039 0.87% 0.08%
2038 0.9% 0.1%
2037 0.87% 0.13%
2036 0.9% 0.15%
2035 0.98% 0.18%
2034 0.99% 0.22%
2033 0.96% 0.25%
2032 1.04% 0.28%
2031 1.08% 0.32%
2030 1.07% 0.37%
2029 1.15% 0.42%
2028 1.2% 0.46%
2027 1.13% 0.51%
2026 1.05% 0.6%
2025 1.05% 0.52%
2024 1.03% 0.65%
2023 1.13% 1%
2022 1.24% 0.96%
2021 1.27% 0.52%
2020 1.36% 0.56%
2019 1.49% 0.66%
2018 1.64% 0.59%
2017 1.61% 0.59%
2016 1.54% 0.53%
2015 1.63% 0.44%
2014 1.94% 0.36%
2013 2.03% 0.3%
2012 -2.58% 0.37%
2011 -2.38% 0.47%
2010 2.06% 0.51%
2009 2.11% 0.52%
2008 2.15% 0.39%
2007 2.08% 0.22%
2006 2.07% 0.16%
2005 2.13% 0.23%
2004 2.09% 0.35%
2003 2.01% 0.47%
2002 1.94% 0.64%
2001 1.86% 0.76%
2000 1.67% 0.72%
1999 1.5% 0.67%
1998 1.5% 0.62%
1997 1.55% 0.52%
1996 1.64% 0.46%
1995 1.76% 0.5%
1994 1.88% 0.6%
1993 2% 0.7%
1992 2.11% 0.76%
1991 2.23% 0.79%
1990 2.36% 0.69%
1989 2.48% 0.6%
1988 2.62% 0.65%
1987 2.8% 0.64%
1986 3.04% 0.56%
1985 3.32% 0.47%
1984 1.47% 0.4%
1983 -0.16% 0.38%
1982 2.85% 0.46%
1981 5.76% 0.69%
1980 5.89% 0.79%
1979 5.94% 0.69%
1978 5.93% 0.62%
1977 5.89% 0.6%
1976 5.82% 0.79%
1975 5.73% 0.9%
1974 5.1% 0.79%
1973 3.96% 0.83%
1972 3.37% 1.02%
1971 3.41% 1.2%
1970 3.39% 1.25%
1969 3.15% 1.16%
1968 2.88% 1.04%
1967 2.66% 1.14%
1966 2.5% 1.31%
1965 2.87% 1.38%
1964 3.74% 1.35%
1963 4.22% 1.36%
1962 4.26% 1.43%
1961 4.21% 1.32%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Libya Netherlands
Current population
7580693
18243998
Population rank 105/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.22%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
4.32 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 +258
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 127/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +104,681
Net migration rank 83/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 104,681
2024 73,522 3,448 -7,197 121,628
2023 75,760 -2,001 -5,363 144,558
2022 91,951 -2,001 -1,770 224,472
2021 88,005 -694 7,014 106,416
2020 92,950 -694 0 67,598
2019 97,842 -1,352 17,345 109,003
2018 101,619 5,841 15,508 87,197
2017 103,891 9,208 18,844 86,332
2016 105,265 -5,081 23,843 88,743
2015 108,096 -7,660 23,716 55,585
2014 110,420 -1,716 35,417 36,591
2013 110,772 25,755 30,248 19,973
2012 108,855 5,211 35,186 14,861
2011 121,016 -562,827 45,072 31,224
2010 122,926 9,611 48,184 33,703
2009 118,102 11,670 51,244 39,832
2008 117,481 15,260 49,337 32,406
2007 116,704 12,640 49,145 -304
2006 115,645 3,351 49,038 -25,401
2005 112,823 11,024 50,592 -22,496
2004 107,144 13,222 56,987 -9,230
2003 102,144 12,073 58,411 7,937
2002 97,598 10,152 59,751 28,824
2001 93,370 8,420 62,580 56,096
2000 89,814 5,634 66,887 59,308
1999 88,743 -10,206 60,086 47,179
1998 87,613 -11,479 61,258 52,058
1997 86,899 -10,907 56,198 31,302
1996 86,945 -8,446 51,251 21,792
1995 87,661 -5,068 54,106 15,056
1994 88,765 -1,755 61,532 20,193
1993 90,553 426 58,103 44,514
1992 93,568 843 66,811 50,148
1991 96,582 902 69,321 51,670
1990 99,898 946 68,777 53,564
1989 102,823 981 59,396 31,165
1988 105,469 1,053 61,993 31,026
1987 107,761 1,740 64,526 39,559
1986 109,325 5,844 59,746 30,380
1985 110,194 11,962 55,069 27,356
1984 110,028 18,039 54,812 12,902
1983 122,183 -140,904 51,722 11,007
1982 133,511 -126,400 54,388 7,644
1981 130,233 69,211 62,688 17,643
1980 128,034 66,739 66,504 54,010
1979 121,469 64,821 63,172 42,772
1978 114,669 61,684 61,344 26,639
1977 107,769 57,867 63,739 19,809
1976 101,146 53,813 63,361 18,774
1975 94,862 49,544 64,232 68,569
1974 89,337 44,946 75,853 31,645
1973 81,256 20,498 84,668 18,705
1972 77,864 -3,418 101,297 17,470
1971 74,934 -4,265 116,112 32,756
1970 70,488 745 129,082 32,438
1969 66,782 -1,418 139,082 21,850
1968 63,971 -6,323 132,389 7,243
1967 61,889 -10,384 138,580 -10,673
1966 60,394 -13,619 138,265 20,740
1965 59,134 -15,810 146,308 19,444
1964 55,227 2,084 157,653 15,014
1963 50,421 18,740 154,361 -21
1962 46,252 21,589 153,474 18,024
1961 42,167 22,504 159,450 8,258
1960 38,391 22,559 151,623 -13,235

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.9% of the population change in Libya is from natural causes (a gain of 938,901 people) and 0.1% is from migration (a loss of 986 people). In the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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