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Population in Libya compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 4.86 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Libya vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Saudi Arabia
2100 9,844,478 74,230,118
2099 9,862,293 73,760,045
2098 9,883,409 73,287,526
2097 9,903,494 72,813,125
2096 9,920,212 72,336,039
2095 9,931,781 71,858,206
2094 9,943,275 71,379,928
2093 9,958,570 70,900,460
2092 9,973,255 70,420,464
2091 9,982,193 69,940,749
2090 9,998,398 69,462,214
2089 10,008,842 68,985,976
2088 10,019,533 68,510,277
2087 10,023,170 68,035,545
2086 10,022,785 67,562,521
2085 10,016,359 67,091,615
2084 10,009,703 66,621,667
2083 10,006,073 66,152,653
2082 9,997,594 65,684,321
2081 9,985,386 65,216,102
2080 9,975,419 64,749,128
2079 9,962,691 64,282,393
2078 9,958,515 63,815,918
2077 9,952,827 63,348,712
2076 9,940,029 62,880,120
2075 9,927,944 62,409,793
2074 9,916,834 61,937,628
2073 9,901,120 61,462,662
2072 9,879,602 60,984,202
2071 9,867,880 60,502,791
2070 9,850,724 60,018,216
2069 9,832,072 59,529,456
2068 9,812,363 59,036,086
2067 9,799,957 58,539,487
2066 9,782,414 58,039,687
2065 9,762,806 57,537,106
2064 9,740,665 57,032,172
2063 9,729,567 56,524,331
2062 9,707,539 56,014,549
2061 9,686,619 55,501,467
2060 9,667,297 54,986,901
2059 9,638,062 54,469,809
2058 9,610,703 53,950,469
2057 9,579,595 53,430,639
2056 9,554,689 52,909,061
2055 9,522,205 52,386,571
2054 9,478,010 51,862,312
2053 9,432,683 51,336,335
2052 9,383,411 50,809,100
2051 9,335,341 50,280,719
2050 9,282,941 49,751,739
2049 9,230,811 49,221,828
2048 9,173,272 48,690,143
2047 9,118,915 48,157,605
2046 9,063,226 47,623,246
2045 8,998,841 47,087,215
2044 8,934,714 46,550,306
2043 8,866,878 46,013,232
2042 8,798,463 45,475,200
2041 8,732,168 44,936,131
2040 8,661,351 44,396,093
2039 8,588,292 43,856,006
2038 8,514,071 43,314,707
2037 8,437,766 42,773,375
2036 8,364,809 42,231,639
2035 8,289,931 41,690,245
2034 8,209,318 41,150,029
2033 8,129,142 40,611,021
2032 8,052,203 40,073,144
2031 7,969,547 39,535,357
2030 7,884,726 38,998,581
2029 7,801,482 38,417,447
2028 7,713,090 37,810,902
2027 7,621,838 37,189,969
2026 7,536,898 36,566,201
2025 7,458,392 35,932,673
2024 7,381,023 35,300,280
2023 7,305,659 33,702,731
2022 7,223,805 32,175,224
2021 7,135,175 30,784,383
2020 7,045,399 31,552,510
2019 6,951,033 30,063,799
2018 6,849,055 30,196,281
2017 6,738,770 30,977,355
2016 6,632,126 30,954,198
2015 6,531,819 29,816,382
2014 6,427,252 28,309,273
2013 6,304,628 27,624,004
2012 6,179,328 26,168,861
2011 6,343,203 25,091,867
2010 6,497,839 23,978,487
2009 6,366,686 24,217,654
2008 6,235,430 23,287,877
2007 6,104,380 22,368,313
2006 5,980,211 21,459,144
2005 5,858,798 20,559,890
2004 5,736,693 19,669,480
2003 5,619,398 18,786,767
2002 5,508,410 17,910,910
2001 5,403,639 17,041,397
2000 5,305,021 16,177,722
1999 5,218,038 15,472,075
1998 5,140,704 14,922,185
1997 5,064,639 14,374,943
1996 4,987,393 13,831,009
1995 4,906,843 13,289,245
1994 4,822,037 12,750,040
1993 4,733,045 12,215,862
1992 4,640,352 11,686,676
1991 4,544,400 11,160,744
1990 4,445,239 10,640,691
1989 4,342,920 10,128,394
1988 4,237,755 9,629,165
1987 4,129,739 9,130,194
1986 4,017,403 8,628,639
1985 3,898,745 8,151,779
1984 3,773,633 7,697,307
1983 3,718,961 7,252,941
1982 3,724,765 6,824,486
1981 3,621,486 6,420,551
1980 3,424,378 6,047,997
1979 3,233,846 5,703,698
1978 3,052,526 5,381,902
1977 2,881,533 5,083,048
1976 2,721,237 4,807,933
1975 2,571,556 4,556,287
1974 2,432,211 4,323,632
1973 2,314,193 4,106,344
1972 2,226,091 3,905,722
1971 2,153,534 3,724,031
1970 2,082,589 3,562,470
1969 2,014,293 3,417,114
1968 1,952,781 3,282,711
1967 1,898,199 3,157,242
1966 1,849,063 3,039,887
1965 1,804,015 2,928,771
1964 1,753,691 2,821,968
1963 1,690,457 2,719,341
1962 1,621,960 2,620,910
1961 1,555,699 2,526,347
1960 1,492,890 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.18% 0.64%
2099 -0.21% 0.64%
2098 -0.2% 0.65%
2097 -0.17% 0.66%
2096 -0.12% 0.66%
2095 -0.12% 0.67%
2094 -0.15% 0.68%
2093 -0.15% 0.68%
2092 -0.09% 0.69%
2091 -0.16% 0.69%
2090 -0.1% 0.69%
2089 -0.11% 0.69%
2088 -0.04% 0.7%
2087 0.004% 0.7%
2086 0.06% 0.7%
2085 0.07% 0.71%
2084 0.04% 0.71%
2083 0.08% 0.71%
2082 0.12% 0.72%
2081 0.1% 0.72%
2080 0.13% 0.73%
2079 0.04% 0.73%
2078 0.06% 0.74%
2077 0.13% 0.75%
2076 0.12% 0.75%
2075 0.11% 0.76%
2074 0.16% 0.77%
2073 0.22% 0.78%
2072 0.12% 0.8%
2071 0.17% 0.81%
2070 0.19% 0.82%
2069 0.2% 0.84%
2068 0.13% 0.85%
2067 0.18% 0.86%
2066 0.2% 0.87%
2065 0.23% 0.89%
2064 0.11% 0.9%
2063 0.23% 0.91%
2062 0.22% 0.92%
2061 0.2% 0.94%
2060 0.3% 0.95%
2059 0.28% 0.96%
2058 0.32% 0.97%
2057 0.26% 0.99%
2056 0.34% 1%
2055 0.47% 1.01%
2054 0.48% 1.02%
2053 0.53% 1.04%
2052 0.51% 1.05%
2051 0.56% 1.06%
2050 0.56% 1.08%
2049 0.63% 1.09%
2048 0.6% 1.11%
2047 0.61% 1.12%
2046 0.72% 1.14%
2045 0.72% 1.15%
2044 0.77% 1.17%
2043 0.78% 1.18%
2042 0.76% 1.2%
2041 0.82% 1.22%
2040 0.85% 1.23%
2039 0.87% 1.25%
2038 0.9% 1.27%
2037 0.87% 1.28%
2036 0.9% 1.3%
2035 0.98% 1.31%
2034 0.99% 1.33%
2033 0.96% 1.34%
2032 1.04% 1.36%
2031 1.08% 1.38%
2030 1.07% 1.51%
2029 1.15% 1.6%
2028 1.2% 1.67%
2027 1.13% 1.71%
2026 1.05% 1.76%
2025 1.05% 1.79%
2024 1.03% 4.74%
2023 1.13% 4.75%
2022 1.24% 4.52%
2021 1.27% -2.43%
2020 1.36% 4.95%
2019 1.49% -0.44%
2018 1.64% -2.52%
2017 1.61% 0.07%
2016 1.54% 3.82%
2015 1.63% 5.32%
2014 1.94% 2.48%
2013 2.03% 5.56%
2012 -2.58% 4.29%
2011 -2.38% 4.64%
2010 2.06% -0.99%
2009 2.11% 3.99%
2008 2.15% 4.11%
2007 2.08% 4.24%
2006 2.07% 4.37%
2005 2.13% 4.53%
2004 2.09% 4.7%
2003 2.01% 4.89%
2002 1.94% 5.1%
2001 1.86% 5.34%
2000 1.67% 4.56%
1999 1.5% 3.69%
1998 1.5% 3.81%
1997 1.55% 3.93%
1996 1.64% 4.08%
1995 1.76% 4.23%
1994 1.88% 4.37%
1993 2% 4.53%
1992 2.11% 4.71%
1991 2.23% 4.89%
1990 2.36% 5.06%
1989 2.48% 5.18%
1988 2.62% 5.47%
1987 2.8% 5.81%
1986 3.04% 5.85%
1985 3.32% 5.9%
1984 1.47% 6.13%
1983 -0.16% 6.28%
1982 2.85% 6.29%
1981 5.76% 6.16%
1980 5.89% 6.04%
1979 5.94% 5.98%
1978 5.93% 5.88%
1977 5.89% 5.72%
1976 5.82% 5.52%
1975 5.73% 5.38%
1974 5.1% 5.29%
1973 3.96% 5.14%
1972 3.37% 4.88%
1971 3.41% 4.54%
1970 3.39% 4.25%
1969 3.15% 4.09%
1968 2.88% 3.97%
1967 2.66% 3.86%
1966 2.5% 3.79%
1965 2.87% 3.78%
1964 3.74% 3.77%
1963 4.22% 3.76%
1962 4.26% 3.74%
1961 4.21% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Libya Saudi Arabia
Current population
7559873
36734925
Population rank 105/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.44%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
4.23 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 4/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +119,738
Net migration rank 83/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 119,738
2024 - 3,448 - 122,170
2023 75,760 -2,001 474,366 325,691
2022 91,951 -2,001 406,920 977,072
2021 88,005 -694 409,032 -106,287
2020 92,950 -694 447,036 -74,725
2019 97,842 -1,352 474,407 191,582
2018 101,619 5,841 528,767 -988,751
2017 103,891 9,208 546,751 -920,812
2016 105,265 -5,081 537,829 -26,997
2015 108,096 -7,660 511,023 465,292
2014 110,420 -1,716 493,431 469,144
2013 110,772 25,755 475,299 485,794
2012 108,855 5,211 465,649 479,206
2011 121,016 -562,827 443,675 491,253
2010 122,926 9,611 418,641 504,955
2009 118,102 11,670 438,557 496,229
2008 117,481 15,260 433,457 491,337
2007 116,704 12,640 425,199 489,136
2006 115,645 3,351 399,333 504,661
2005 112,823 11,024 375,938 518,565
2004 107,144 13,222 362,843 523,472
2003 102,144 12,073 364,520 514,606
2002 97,598 10,152 372,099 500,508
2001 93,370 8,420 382,153 484,252
2000 89,814 5,634 392,407 468,515
1999 88,743 -10,206 390,112 160,263
1998 87,613 -11,479 389,499 159,898
1997 86,899 -10,907 385,033 160,066
1996 86,945 -8,446 382,248 160,532
1995 87,661 -5,068 380,231 160,512
1994 88,765 -1,755 377,351 160,306
1993 90,553 426 372,621 158,074
1992 93,568 843 366,763 160,908
1991 96,582 902 361,329 162,857
1990 99,898 946 355,495 160,416
1989 102,823 981 349,399 159,273
1988 105,469 1,053 342,865 146,918
1987 107,761 1,740 333,088 175,075
1986 109,325 5,844 322,340 172,606
1985 110,194 11,962 310,558 148,208
1984 110,028 18,039 296,615 153,562
1983 122,183 -140,904 280,616 157,930
1982 133,511 -126,400 264,831 153,528
1981 130,233 69,211 249,156 140,355
1980 128,034 66,739 234,372 121,220
1979 121,469 64,821 220,186 112,826
1978 114,669 61,684 205,331 105,263
1977 107,769 57,867 191,103 96,015
1976 101,146 53,813 178,024 85,083
1975 94,862 49,544 166,223 73,960
1974 89,337 44,946 155,478 69,653
1973 81,256 20,498 145,450 63,995
1972 77,864 -3,418 136,360 55,439
1971 74,934 -4,265 127,600 43,989
1970 70,488 745 120,440 31,097
1969 66,782 -1,418 113,859 25,312
1968 63,971 -6,323 108,281 21,366
1967 61,889 -10,384 103,343 17,947
1966 60,394 -13,619 98,361 15,054
1965 59,134 -15,810 93,820 15,000
1964 55,227 2,084 89,776 15,000
1963 50,421 18,740 85,480 15,000
1962 46,252 21,589 81,393 15,000
1961 42,167 22,504 77,743 15,000
1960 38,391 22,559 74,143 15,000

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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