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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 3.53 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 +1.44% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Libya vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya North Korea
2100 9,844,478 19,604,631
2099 9,862,293 19,733,548
2098 9,883,409 19,862,949
2097 9,903,494 19,993,288
2096 9,920,212 20,124,518
2095 9,931,781 20,256,401
2094 9,943,275 20,388,156
2093 9,958,570 20,520,253
2092 9,973,255 20,652,961
2091 9,982,193 20,785,785
2090 9,998,398 20,918,305
2089 10,008,842 21,050,580
2088 10,019,533 21,182,325
2087 10,023,170 21,314,047
2086 10,022,785 21,445,329
2085 10,016,359 21,575,835
2084 10,009,703 21,705,777
2083 10,006,073 21,835,029
2082 9,997,594 21,964,199
2081 9,985,386 22,092,862
2080 9,975,419 22,220,948
2079 9,962,691 22,348,577
2078 9,958,515 22,475,755
2077 9,952,827 22,602,817
2076 9,940,029 22,729,499
2075 9,927,944 22,856,369
2074 9,916,834 22,983,784
2073 9,901,120 23,111,441
2072 9,879,602 23,239,261
2071 9,867,880 23,367,583
2070 9,850,724 23,496,136
2069 9,832,072 23,625,538
2068 9,812,363 23,755,136
2067 9,799,957 23,884,879
2066 9,782,414 24,015,027
2065 9,762,806 24,144,985
2064 9,740,665 24,274,257
2063 9,729,567 24,402,439
2062 9,707,539 24,529,941
2061 9,686,619 24,656,350
2060 9,667,297 24,780,911
2059 9,638,062 24,903,037
2058 9,610,703 25,023,260
2057 9,579,595 25,140,523
2056 9,554,689 25,255,342
2055 9,522,205 25,366,397
2054 9,478,010 25,474,292
2053 9,432,683 25,578,870
2052 9,383,411 25,679,963
2051 9,335,341 25,777,639
2050 9,282,941 25,871,673
2049 9,230,811 25,962,167
2048 9,173,272 26,048,593
2047 9,118,915 26,131,429
2046 9,063,226 26,210,487
2045 8,998,841 26,286,208
2044 8,934,714 26,358,331
2043 8,866,878 26,427,062
2042 8,798,463 26,491,482
2041 8,732,168 26,552,564
2040 8,661,351 26,609,557
2039 8,588,292 26,661,815
2038 8,514,071 26,708,400
2037 8,437,766 26,749,134
2036 8,364,809 26,783,304
2035 8,289,931 26,810,026
2034 8,209,318 26,828,912
2033 8,129,142 26,839,229
2032 8,052,203 26,840,944
2031 7,969,547 26,832,957
2030 7,884,726 26,814,812
2029 7,801,482 26,787,117
2028 7,713,090 26,749,227
2027 7,621,838 26,701,444
2026 7,536,898 26,643,460
2025 7,458,392 26,575,953
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th 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 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 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% 0.29%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Libya North Korea
Current population
7559873
26659144
Population rank 105/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.32%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
4.23 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +221
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 150/197
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 - 3,448 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 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 (1960–2024, 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/north-korea | 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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