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Population in Libya compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 3.52 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Libya vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya North Korea
2100 9,844,693 19,601,003
2099 9,862,508 19,729,897
2098 9,883,625 19,859,274
2097 9,903,710 19,989,589
2096 9,920,429 20,120,795
2095 9,931,997 20,252,653
2094 9,943,491 20,384,384
2093 9,958,787 20,516,457
2092 9,973,472 20,649,140
2091 9,982,411 20,781,939
2090 9,998,616 20,914,434
2089 10,009,061 21,046,685
2088 10,019,752 21,178,406
2087 10,023,389 21,310,103
2086 10,023,004 21,441,361
2085 10,016,577 21,571,843
2084 10,009,921 21,701,761
2083 10,006,291 21,830,989
2082 9,997,812 21,960,135
2081 9,985,604 22,088,774
2080 9,975,637 22,216,836
2079 9,962,908 22,344,442
2078 9,958,732 22,471,597
2077 9,953,044 22,598,635
2076 9,940,245 22,725,293
2075 9,928,160 22,852,140
2074 9,917,050 22,979,532
2073 9,901,336 23,107,165
2072 9,879,817 23,234,961
2071 9,868,096 23,363,260
2070 9,850,939 23,491,789
2069 9,832,286 23,621,167
2068 9,812,577 23,750,741
2067 9,800,171 23,880,460
2066 9,782,627 24,010,584
2065 9,763,018 24,140,518
2064 9,740,878 24,269,765
2063 9,729,779 24,397,924
2062 9,707,751 24,525,403
2061 9,686,831 24,651,788
2060 9,667,507 24,776,326
2059 9,638,272 24,898,430
2058 9,610,912 25,018,630
2057 9,579,804 25,135,871
2056 9,554,897 25,250,670
2055 9,522,413 25,361,704
2054 9,478,216 25,469,578
2053 9,432,889 25,574,137
2052 9,383,615 25,675,211
2051 9,335,544 25,772,870
2050 9,283,143 25,866,886
2049 9,231,012 25,957,363
2048 9,173,472 26,043,774
2047 9,119,114 26,126,594
2046 9,063,424 26,205,638
2045 8,999,038 26,281,344
2044 8,934,909 26,353,455
2043 8,867,072 26,422,173
2042 8,798,655 26,486,580
2041 8,732,358 26,547,651
2040 8,661,540 26,604,634
2039 8,588,479 26,656,882
2038 8,514,257 26,703,458
2037 8,437,950 26,744,185
2036 8,364,991 26,778,348
2035 8,290,112 26,805,065
2034 8,209,497 26,823,948
2033 8,129,319 26,834,263
2032 8,052,378 26,835,978
2031 7,969,721 26,827,992
2030 7,884,898 26,809,850
2029 7,801,652 26,782,161
2028 7,713,258 26,744,278
2027 7,622,004 26,696,504
2026 7,537,063 26,638,530
2025 7,458,555 26,571,036
2024 7,381,023 26,498,823
2023 7,305,659 26,418,204
2022 7,223,805 26,328,845
2021 7,135,175 26,232,534
2020 7,045,399 26,136,312
2019 6,951,033 26,037,632
2018 6,849,055 25,931,147
2017 6,738,770 25,817,709
2016 6,632,126 25,698,326
2015 6,531,819 25,575,350
2014 6,427,252 25,451,262
2013 6,304,628 25,329,451
2012 6,179,328 25,211,728
2011 6,343,203 25,097,874
2010 6,497,839 24,987,258
2009 6,366,686 24,878,332
2008 6,235,430 24,764,618
2007 6,104,380 24,646,383
2006 5,980,211 24,524,507
2005 5,858,798 24,396,433
2004 5,736,693 24,254,943
2003 5,619,398 24,090,380
2002 5,508,410 23,943,973
2001 5,403,639 23,815,358
2000 5,305,021 23,665,910
1999 5,218,038 23,497,599
1998 5,140,704 23,311,564
1997 5,064,639 23,110,830
1996 4,987,393 22,895,746
1995 4,906,843 22,669,304
1994 4,822,037 22,393,975
1993 4,733,045 22,073,352
1992 4,640,352 21,750,911
1991 4,544,400 21,428,638
1990 4,445,239 21,112,137
1989 4,342,920 20,804,367
1988 4,237,755 20,503,161
1987 4,129,739 20,205,483
1986 4,017,403 19,910,855
1985 3,898,745 19,620,388
1984 3,773,633 19,335,043
1983 3,718,961 19,054,034
1982 3,724,765 18,776,357
1981 3,621,486 18,501,295
1980 3,424,378 18,236,786
1979 3,233,846 17,983,470
1978 3,052,526 17,735,995
1977 2,881,533 17,492,798
1976 2,721,237 17,243,450
1975 2,571,556 16,971,055
1974 2,432,211 16,673,121
1973 2,314,193 16,350,367
1972 2,226,091 15,975,069
1971 2,153,534 15,572,457
1970 2,082,589 15,172,775
1969 2,014,293 14,767,615
1968 1,952,781 14,365,596
1967 1,898,199 13,958,350
1966 1,849,063 13,569,094
1965 1,804,015 13,219,369
1964 1,753,691 12,889,770
1963 1,690,457 12,567,057
1962 1,621,960 12,262,882
1961 1,555,699 11,990,713
1960 1,492,890 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya North Korea
2100 -0.18% -0.65%
2099 -0.21% -0.65%
2098 -0.2% -0.65%
2097 -0.17% -0.65%
2096 -0.12% -0.65%
2095 -0.12% -0.65%
2094 -0.15% -0.64%
2093 -0.15% -0.64%
2092 -0.09% -0.64%
2091 -0.16% -0.63%
2090 -0.1% -0.63%
2089 -0.11% -0.62%
2088 -0.04% -0.62%
2087 0.004% -0.61%
2086 0.06% -0.6%
2085 0.07% -0.6%
2084 0.04% -0.59%
2083 0.08% -0.59%
2082 0.12% -0.58%
2081 0.1% -0.58%
2080 0.13% -0.57%
2079 0.04% -0.57%
2078 0.06% -0.56%
2077 0.13% -0.56%
2076 0.12% -0.56%
2075 0.11% -0.55%
2074 0.16% -0.55%
2073 0.22% -0.55%
2072 0.12% -0.55%
2071 0.17% -0.55%
2070 0.19% -0.55%
2069 0.2% -0.55%
2068 0.13% -0.54%
2067 0.18% -0.54%
2066 0.2% -0.54%
2065 0.23% -0.53%
2064 0.11% -0.53%
2063 0.23% -0.52%
2062 0.22% -0.51%
2061 0.2% -0.5%
2060 0.3% -0.49%
2059 0.28% -0.48%
2058 0.32% -0.47%
2057 0.26% -0.45%
2056 0.34% -0.44%
2055 0.47% -0.42%
2054 0.48% -0.41%
2053 0.53% -0.39%
2052 0.51% -0.38%
2051 0.56% -0.36%
2050 0.56% -0.35%
2049 0.63% -0.33%
2048 0.6% -0.32%
2047 0.61% -0.3%
2046 0.72% -0.29%
2045 0.72% -0.27%
2044 0.77% -0.26%
2043 0.78% -0.24%
2042 0.76% -0.23%
2041 0.82% -0.21%
2040 0.85% -0.2%
2039 0.87% -0.17%
2038 0.9% -0.15%
2037 0.87% -0.13%
2036 0.9% -0.1%
2035 0.98% -0.07%
2034 0.99% -0.04%
2033 0.96% -0.006%
2032 1.04% 0.03%
2031 1.08% 0.07%
2030 1.07% 0.1%
2029 1.15% 0.14%
2028 1.2% 0.18%
2027 1.13% 0.22%
2026 1.05% 0.25%
2025 1.05% 0.27%
2024 1.03% 0.31%
2023 1.13% 0.34%
2022 1.24% 0.37%
2021 1.27% 0.37%
2020 1.36% 0.38%
2019 1.49% 0.41%
2018 1.64% 0.44%
2017 1.61% 0.46%
2016 1.54% 0.48%
2015 1.63% 0.49%
2014 1.94% 0.48%
2013 2.03% 0.47%
2012 -2.58% 0.45%
2011 -2.38% 0.44%
2010 2.06% 0.44%
2009 2.11% 0.46%
2008 2.15% 0.48%
2007 2.08% 0.5%
2006 2.07% 0.52%
2005 2.13% 0.58%
2004 2.09% 0.68%
2003 2.01% 0.61%
2002 1.94% 0.54%
2001 1.86% 0.63%
2000 1.67% 0.72%
1999 1.5% 0.8%
1998 1.5% 0.87%
1997 1.55% 0.94%
1996 1.64% 1%
1995 1.76% 1.23%
1994 1.88% 1.45%
1993 2% 1.48%
1992 2.11% 1.5%
1991 2.23% 1.5%
1990 2.36% 1.48%
1989 2.48% 1.47%
1988 2.62% 1.47%
1987 2.8% 1.48%
1986 3.04% 1.48%
1985 3.32% 1.48%
1984 1.47% 1.47%
1983 -0.16% 1.48%
1982 2.85% 1.49%
1981 5.76% 1.45%
1980 5.89% 1.41%
1979 5.94% 1.4%
1978 5.93% 1.39%
1977 5.89% 1.45%
1976 5.82% 1.61%
1975 5.73% 1.79%
1974 5.1% 1.97%
1973 3.96% 2.35%
1972 3.37% 2.59%
1971 3.41% 2.63%
1970 3.39% 2.74%
1969 3.15% 2.8%
1968 2.88% 2.92%
1967 2.66% 2.87%
1966 2.5% 2.65%
1965 2.87% 2.56%
1964 3.74% 2.57%
1963 4.22% 2.48%
1962 4.26% 2.27%
1961 4.21% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Libya North Korea
Current population
7580693
26668308
Population rank 105/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.32%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
4.32 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 +198
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 146/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -172 -2,787
Net migration rank 83/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -2,787
2024 73,522 3,448 79,496 -2,473
2023 75,760 -2,001 86,203 -1,997
2022 91,951 -2,001 96,495 -1,997
2021 88,005 -694 99,710 -1,585
2020 92,950 -694 95,920 -1,585
2019 97,842 -1,352 106,208 -3,142
2018 101,619 5,841 113,164 -3,225
2017 103,891 9,208 120,181 -3,224
2016 105,265 -5,081 125,048 -3,222
2015 108,096 -7,660 127,365 -3,208
2014 110,420 -1,716 127,078 -3,042
2013 110,772 25,755 122,519 -2,933
2012 108,855 5,211 118,773 -2,919
2011 121,016 -562,827 114,798 -2,957
2010 122,926 9,611 112,443 -3,053
2009 118,102 11,670 111,530 -3,058
2008 117,481 15,260 122,015 -3,051
2007 116,704 12,640 120,521 -3,021
2006 115,645 3,351 129,171 -2,948
2005 112,823 11,024 132,765 -2,861
2004 107,144 13,222 155,838 -2,758
2003 102,144 12,073 178,775 -2,717
2002 97,598 10,152 119,504 -2,763
2001 93,370 8,420 143,321 -2,884
2000 89,814 5,634 161,591 -3,142
1999 88,743 -10,206 181,613 -3,443
1998 87,613 -11,479 197,589 -3,706
1997 86,899 -10,907 211,325 -3,745
1996 86,945 -8,446 226,095 -3,512
1995 87,661 -5,068 233,381 -3,094
1994 88,765 -1,755 320,861 -517
1993 90,553 426 320,880 0
1992 93,568 843 324,002 0
1991 96,582 902 320,551 0
1990 99,898 946 312,460 0
1989 102,823 981 303,078 0
1988 105,469 1,053 299,305 0
1987 107,761 1,740 296,030 0
1986 109,325 5,844 293,227 0
1985 110,194 11,962 287,714 0
1984 110,028 18,039 282,987 0
1983 122,183 -140,904 279,046 0
1982 133,511 -126,400 276,332 0
1981 130,233 69,211 273,800 0
1980 128,034 66,739 255,206 0
1979 121,469 64,821 251,409 0
1978 114,669 61,684 243,533 0
1977 107,769 57,867 242,870 0
1976 101,146 53,813 255,841 0
1975 94,862 49,544 288,966 0
1974 89,337 44,946 306,902 0
1973 81,256 20,498 338,600 0
1972 77,864 -3,418 411,997 0
1971 74,934 -4,265 393,220 0
1970 70,488 745 406,129 0
1969 66,782 -1,418 404,189 0
1968 63,971 -6,323 399,837 0
1967 61,889 -10,384 414,632 0
1966 60,394 -13,619 363,882 0
1965 59,134 -15,810 335,587 0
1964 55,227 2,084 323,623 0
1963 50,421 18,740 321,805 0
1962 46,252 21,589 286,534 0
1961 42,167 22,504 257,788 0
1960 38,391 22,559 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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