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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 243,824,469 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 3.03% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Libya vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Nigeria
2100 9,844,478 481,678,166
2099 9,862,293 481,494,914
2098 9,883,409 481,219,866
2097 9,903,494 480,876,108
2096 9,920,212 480,460,381
2095 9,931,781 479,976,454
2094 9,943,275 479,432,855
2093 9,958,570 478,807,152
2092 9,973,255 478,097,591
2091 9,982,193 477,274,569
2090 9,998,398 476,367,086
2089 10,008,842 475,363,859
2088 10,019,533 474,268,867
2087 10,023,170 473,072,894
2086 10,022,785 471,769,229
2085 10,016,359 470,365,292
2084 10,009,703 468,843,169
2083 10,006,073 467,224,322
2082 9,997,594 465,509,151
2081 9,985,386 463,679,779
2080 9,975,419 461,741,930
2079 9,962,691 459,680,797
2078 9,958,515 457,513,367
2077 9,952,827 455,254,796
2076 9,940,029 452,885,729
2075 9,927,944 450,402,898
2074 9,916,834 447,825,224
2073 9,901,120 445,152,156
2072 9,879,602 442,375,349
2071 9,867,880 439,499,004
2070 9,850,724 436,539,777
2069 9,832,072 433,472,204
2068 9,812,363 430,320,190
2067 9,799,957 427,066,199
2066 9,782,414 423,736,078
2065 9,762,806 420,318,527
2064 9,740,665 416,811,285
2063 9,729,567 413,231,409
2062 9,707,539 409,583,480
2061 9,686,619 405,859,509
2060 9,667,297 402,073,494
2059 9,638,062 398,228,736
2058 9,610,703 394,315,883
2057 9,579,595 390,341,867
2056 9,554,689 386,298,064
2055 9,522,205 382,193,151
2054 9,478,010 378,030,342
2053 9,432,683 373,799,276
2052 9,383,411 369,501,634
2051 9,335,341 365,149,555
2050 9,282,941 360,734,783
2049 9,230,811 356,271,401
2048 9,173,272 351,752,501
2047 9,118,915 347,169,674
2046 9,063,226 342,532,578
2045 8,998,841 337,834,528
2044 8,934,714 333,076,416
2043 8,866,878 328,256,555
2042 8,798,463 323,388,886
2041 8,732,168 318,469,120
2040 8,661,351 313,492,800
2039 8,588,292 308,474,350
2038 8,514,071 303,423,786
2037 8,437,766 298,351,344
2036 8,364,809 293,250,795
2035 8,289,931 288,138,368
2034 8,209,318 283,018,151
2033 8,129,142 277,897,810
2032 8,052,203 272,769,123
2031 7,969,547 267,666,779
2030 7,884,726 262,583,487
2029 7,801,482 257,504,936
2028 7,713,090 252,465,743
2027 7,621,838 247,457,208
2026 7,536,898 242,477,499
2025 7,458,392 237,546,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th 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 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 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% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Libya Nigeria
Current population
7559873
243824469
Population rank 105/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 2.94%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
4.23 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +206 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 48/197
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 - 3,448 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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