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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 32.3 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.04% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Libya vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Nigeria
2100 9,844,693 481,640,156
2099 9,862,508 481,456,918
2098 9,883,625 481,181,892
2097 9,903,710 480,838,161
2096 9,920,429 480,422,467
2095 9,931,997 479,938,579
2094 9,943,491 479,395,022
2093 9,958,787 478,769,369
2092 9,973,472 478,059,864
2091 9,982,411 477,236,907
2090 9,998,616 476,329,495
2089 10,009,061 475,326,347
2088 10,019,752 474,231,442
2087 10,023,389 473,035,563
2086 10,023,004 471,732,001
2085 10,016,577 470,328,175
2084 10,009,921 468,806,172
2083 10,006,291 467,187,453
2082 9,997,812 465,472,417
2081 9,985,604 463,643,190
2080 9,975,637 461,705,493
2079 9,962,908 459,644,523
2078 9,958,732 457,477,264
2077 9,953,044 455,218,871
2076 9,940,245 452,849,991
2075 9,928,160 450,367,356
2074 9,917,050 447,789,885
2073 9,901,336 445,117,028
2072 9,879,817 442,340,440
2071 9,868,096 439,464,323
2070 9,850,939 436,505,329
2069 9,832,286 433,437,998
2068 9,812,577 430,286,232
2067 9,800,171 427,032,499
2066 9,782,627 423,702,640
2065 9,763,018 420,285,359
2064 9,740,878 416,778,394
2063 9,729,779 413,198,800
2062 9,707,751 409,551,159
2061 9,686,831 405,827,482
2060 9,667,507 402,041,765
2059 9,638,272 398,197,311
2058 9,610,912 394,284,767
2057 9,579,804 390,311,065
2056 9,554,897 386,267,580
2055 9,522,413 382,162,992
2054 9,478,216 378,000,511
2053 9,432,889 373,769,779
2052 9,383,615 369,472,476
2051 9,335,544 365,120,741
2050 9,283,143 360,706,317
2049 9,231,012 356,243,287
2048 9,173,472 351,724,743
2047 9,119,114 347,142,279
2046 9,063,424 342,505,549
2045 8,999,038 337,807,869
2044 8,934,909 333,050,132
2043 8,867,072 328,230,652
2042 8,798,655 323,363,366
2041 8,732,358 318,443,989
2040 8,661,540 313,468,061
2039 8,588,479 308,450,008
2038 8,514,257 303,399,842
2037 8,437,950 298,327,800
2036 8,364,991 293,227,654
2035 8,290,112 288,115,630
2034 8,209,497 282,995,818
2033 8,129,319 277,875,880
2032 8,052,378 272,747,599
2031 7,969,721 267,645,657
2030 7,884,898 262,562,767
2029 7,801,652 257,484,616
2028 7,713,258 252,445,821
2027 7,622,004 247,437,680
2026 7,537,063 242,458,365
2025 7,458,555 237,527,782
2024 7,381,023 232,679,478
2023 7,305,659 227,882,945
2022 7,223,805 223,150,896
2021 7,135,175 218,529,286
2020 7,045,399 213,996,181
2019 6,951,033 209,485,641
2018 6,849,055 204,938,755
2017 6,738,770 200,254,579
2016 6,632,126 195,443,700
2015 6,531,819 190,671,878
2014 6,427,252 185,896,915
2013 6,304,628 181,049,443
2012 6,179,328 176,200,625
2011 6,343,203 171,379,598
2010 6,497,839 166,642,886
2009 6,366,686 162,049,464
2008 6,235,430 157,595,014
2007 6,104,380 153,267,261
2006 5,980,211 149,077,334
2005 5,858,798 145,017,253
2004 5,736,693 141,057,045
2003 5,619,398 137,202,644
2002 5,508,410 133,471,989
2001 5,403,639 129,862,595
2000 5,305,021 126,382,494
1999 5,218,038 123,047,320
1998 5,140,704 119,846,254
1997 5,064,639 116,754,792
1996 4,987,393 113,754,779
1995 4,906,843 110,819,428
1994 4,822,037 107,935,714
1993 4,733,045 105,122,069
1992 4,640,352 102,372,770
1991 4,544,400 99,720,162
1990 4,445,239 97,120,925
1989 4,342,920 94,531,014
1988 4,237,755 92,020,090
1987 4,129,739 89,591,716
1986 4,017,403 87,235,953
1985 3,898,745 84,897,973
1984 3,773,633 82,526,443
1983 3,718,961 80,438,260
1982 3,724,765 78,378,701
1981 3,621,486 76,068,103
1980 3,424,378 73,764,641
1979 3,233,846 71,498,242
1978 3,052,526 69,326,532
1977 2,881,533 67,234,590
1976 2,721,237 65,258,009
1975 2,571,556 63,410,815
1974 2,432,211 61,679,144
1973 2,314,193 60,082,139
1972 2,226,091 58,601,748
1971 2,153,534 57,214,684
1970 2,082,589 55,893,838
1969 2,014,293 54,631,914
1968 1,952,781 53,432,783
1967 1,898,199 52,293,065
1966 1,849,063 51,188,234
1965 1,804,015 50,086,764
1964 1,753,691 49,012,016
1963 1,690,457 47,973,575
1962 1,621,960 46,965,292
1961 1,555,699 45,989,310
1960 1,492,890 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Nigeria
2100 -0.18% 0.04%
2099 -0.21% 0.06%
2098 -0.2% 0.07%
2097 -0.17% 0.09%
2096 -0.12% 0.1%
2095 -0.12% 0.11%
2094 -0.15% 0.13%
2093 -0.15% 0.15%
2092 -0.09% 0.17%
2091 -0.16% 0.19%
2090 -0.1% 0.21%
2089 -0.11% 0.23%
2088 -0.04% 0.25%
2087 0.004% 0.28%
2086 0.06% 0.3%
2085 0.07% 0.32%
2084 0.04% 0.35%
2083 0.08% 0.37%
2082 0.12% 0.39%
2081 0.1% 0.42%
2080 0.13% 0.45%
2079 0.04% 0.47%
2078 0.06% 0.5%
2077 0.13% 0.52%
2076 0.12% 0.55%
2075 0.11% 0.58%
2074 0.16% 0.6%
2073 0.22% 0.63%
2072 0.12% 0.65%
2071 0.17% 0.68%
2070 0.19% 0.71%
2069 0.2% 0.73%
2068 0.13% 0.76%
2067 0.18% 0.79%
2066 0.2% 0.81%
2065 0.23% 0.84%
2064 0.11% 0.87%
2063 0.23% 0.89%
2062 0.22% 0.92%
2061 0.2% 0.94%
2060 0.3% 0.97%
2059 0.28% 0.99%
2058 0.32% 1.02%
2057 0.26% 1.05%
2056 0.34% 1.07%
2055 0.47% 1.1%
2054 0.48% 1.13%
2053 0.53% 1.16%
2052 0.51% 1.19%
2051 0.56% 1.22%
2050 0.56% 1.25%
2049 0.63% 1.28%
2048 0.6% 1.32%
2047 0.61% 1.35%
2046 0.72% 1.39%
2045 0.72% 1.43%
2044 0.77% 1.47%
2043 0.78% 1.51%
2042 0.76% 1.54%
2041 0.82% 1.59%
2040 0.85% 1.63%
2039 0.87% 1.66%
2038 0.9% 1.7%
2037 0.87% 1.74%
2036 0.9% 1.77%
2035 0.98% 1.81%
2034 0.99% 1.84%
2033 0.96% 1.88%
2032 1.04% 1.91%
2031 1.08% 1.94%
2030 1.07% 1.97%
2029 1.15% 2%
2028 1.2% 2.02%
2027 1.13% 2.05%
2026 1.05% 2.08%
2025 1.05% 2.08%
2024 1.03% 2.1%
2023 1.13% 2.12%
2022 1.24% 2.11%
2021 1.27% 2.12%
2020 1.36% 2.15%
2019 1.49% 2.22%
2018 1.64% 2.34%
2017 1.61% 2.46%
2016 1.54% 2.5%
2015 1.63% 2.57%
2014 1.94% 2.68%
2013 2.03% 2.75%
2012 -2.58% 2.81%
2011 -2.38% 2.84%
2010 2.06% 2.83%
2009 2.11% 2.83%
2008 2.15% 2.82%
2007 2.08% 2.81%
2006 2.07% 2.8%
2005 2.13% 2.81%
2004 2.09% 2.81%
2003 2.01% 2.8%
2002 1.94% 2.78%
2001 1.86% 2.75%
2000 1.67% 2.71%
1999 1.5% 2.67%
1998 1.5% 2.65%
1997 1.55% 2.64%
1996 1.64% 2.65%
1995 1.76% 2.67%
1994 1.88% 2.68%
1993 2% 2.69%
1992 2.11% 2.66%
1991 2.23% 2.68%
1990 2.36% 2.74%
1989 2.48% 2.73%
1988 2.62% 2.71%
1987 2.8% 2.7%
1986 3.04% 2.75%
1985 3.32% 2.87%
1984 1.47% 2.6%
1983 -0.16% 2.63%
1982 2.85% 3.04%
1981 5.76% 3.12%
1980 5.89% 3.17%
1979 5.94% 3.13%
1978 5.93% 3.11%
1977 5.89% 3.03%
1976 5.82% 2.91%
1975 5.73% 2.81%
1974 5.1% 2.66%
1973 3.96% 2.53%
1972 3.37% 2.42%
1971 3.41% 2.36%
1970 3.39% 2.31%
1969 3.15% 2.24%
1968 2.88% 2.18%
1967 2.66% 2.16%
1966 2.5% 2.2%
1965 2.87% 2.19%
1964 3.74% 2.16%
1963 4.22% 2.15%
1962 4.26% 2.12%
1961 4.21% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Libya Nigeria
Current population
7580693
245016045
Population rank 105/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 2.95%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
4.32 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +212 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 45/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -172 -15,258
Net migration rank 83/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -15,258
2024 73,522 3,448 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 75,760 -2,001 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 91,951 -2,001 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 88,005 -694 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 92,950 -694 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 97,842 -1,352 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 101,619 5,841 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 103,891 9,208 4,706,183 78,685
2016 105,265 -5,081 4,761,594 75,265
2015 108,096 -7,660 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 110,420 -1,716 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 110,772 25,755 4,811,751 40,201
2012 108,855 5,211 4,774,508 71,138
2011 121,016 -562,827 4,728,363 67,808
2010 122,926 9,611 4,629,173 47,966
2009 118,102 11,670 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 117,481 15,260 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 116,704 12,640 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 115,645 3,351 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 112,823 11,024 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 107,144 13,222 3,877,376 46,370
2003 102,144 12,073 3,751,120 33,857
2002 97,598 10,152 3,606,814 69,594
2001 93,370 8,420 3,478,370 64,163
2000 89,814 5,634 3,343,196 74,535
1999 88,743 -10,206 3,155,425 97,195
1998 87,613 -11,479 3,003,946 145,575
1997 86,899 -10,907 2,936,500 96,885
1996 86,945 -8,446 2,882,205 84,448
1995 87,661 -5,068 2,830,771 73,243
1994 88,765 -1,755 2,735,198 128,134
1993 90,553 426 2,673,675 90,200
1992 93,568 843 2,596,173 138,412
1991 96,582 902 2,527,807 42,760
1990 99,898 946 2,491,928 135,959
1989 102,823 981 2,452,324 99,588
1988 105,469 1,053 2,376,419 93,510
1987 107,761 1,740 2,322,397 64,418
1986 109,325 5,844 2,295,003 29,682
1985 110,194 11,962 2,289,784 61,514
1984 110,028 18,039 2,278,060 113,758
1983 122,183 -140,904 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 133,511 -126,400 2,233,401 101,116
1981 130,233 69,211 2,179,884 106,723
1980 128,034 66,739 2,121,618 198,672
1979 121,469 64,821 2,074,807 137,721
1978 114,669 61,684 2,019,621 111,258
1977 107,769 57,867 1,923,917 129,075
1976 101,146 53,813 1,827,289 72,889
1975 94,862 49,544 1,718,623 75,603
1974 89,337 44,946 1,624,813 44,281
1973 81,256 20,498 1,525,485 -618
1972 77,864 -3,418 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 74,934 -4,265 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 70,488 745 1,295,507 7,953
1969 66,782 -1,418 1,213,484 6,912
1968 63,971 -6,323 1,168,254 9,615
1967 61,889 -10,384 1,082,884 18,683
1966 60,394 -13,619 1,095,582 12,513
1965 59,134 -15,810 1,061,840 32,988
1964 55,227 2,084 1,028,272 26,411
1963 50,421 18,740 995,116 27,115
1962 46,252 21,589 966,452 27,906
1961 42,167 22,504 932,111 25,515
1960 38,391 22,559 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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