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Population in Libya compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.2 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Libya vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Sierra Leone
2100 9,844,478 16,111,324
2099 9,862,293 16,126,181
2098 9,883,409 16,139,280
2097 9,903,494 16,154,153
2096 9,920,212 16,164,923
2095 9,931,781 16,173,557
2094 9,943,275 16,173,155
2093 9,958,570 16,177,864
2092 9,973,255 16,175,032
2091 9,982,193 16,168,153
2090 9,998,398 16,158,415
2089 10,008,842 16,146,773
2088 10,019,533 16,133,018
2087 10,023,170 16,116,823
2086 10,022,785 16,089,780
2085 10,016,359 16,068,438
2084 10,009,703 16,044,782
2083 10,006,073 16,011,134
2082 9,997,594 15,975,073
2081 9,985,386 15,935,071
2080 9,975,419 15,896,846
2079 9,962,691 15,854,898
2078 9,958,515 15,805,607
2077 9,952,827 15,754,551
2076 9,940,029 15,699,439
2075 9,927,944 15,639,458
2074 9,916,834 15,584,377
2073 9,901,120 15,516,736
2072 9,879,602 15,446,543
2071 9,867,880 15,374,790
2070 9,850,724 15,297,449
2069 9,832,072 15,216,666
2068 9,812,363 15,128,048
2067 9,799,957 15,032,144
2066 9,782,414 14,935,222
2065 9,762,806 14,837,697
2064 9,740,665 14,740,749
2063 9,729,567 14,642,031
2062 9,707,539 14,529,557
2061 9,686,619 14,423,861
2060 9,667,297 14,311,215
2059 9,638,062 14,198,706
2058 9,610,703 14,080,827
2057 9,579,595 13,960,869
2056 9,554,689 13,836,132
2055 9,522,205 13,706,113
2054 9,478,010 13,579,802
2053 9,432,683 13,444,465
2052 9,383,411 13,303,409
2051 9,335,341 13,156,370
2050 9,282,941 13,010,109
2049 9,230,811 12,867,021
2048 9,173,272 12,716,015
2047 9,118,915 12,570,250
2046 9,063,226 12,414,307
2045 8,998,841 12,257,874
2044 8,934,714 12,092,075
2043 8,866,878 11,931,531
2042 8,798,463 11,770,467
2041 8,732,168 11,602,993
2040 8,661,351 11,431,337
2039 8,588,292 11,262,807
2038 8,514,071 11,100,099
2037 8,437,766 10,931,629
2036 8,364,809 10,760,758
2035 8,289,931 10,585,702
2034 8,209,318 10,413,826
2033 8,129,142 10,241,196
2032 8,052,203 10,062,575
2031 7,969,547 9,883,708
2030 7,884,726 9,708,038
2029 7,801,482 9,532,000
2028 7,713,090 9,360,873
2027 7,621,838 9,179,702
2026 7,536,898 9,001,269
2025 7,458,392 8,822,114
2024 7,381,023 8,642,022
2023 7,305,659 8,460,512
2022 7,223,805 8,276,807
2021 7,135,175 8,094,602
2020 7,045,399 7,912,558
2019 6,951,033 7,731,991
2018 6,849,055 7,554,563
2017 6,738,770 7,379,299
2016 6,632,126 7,205,328
2015 6,531,819 7,037,655
2014 6,427,252 6,876,385
2013 6,304,628 6,714,051
2012 6,179,328 6,551,080
2011 6,343,203 6,387,251
2010 6,497,839 6,222,714
2009 6,366,686 6,055,646
2008 6,235,430 5,894,722
2007 6,104,380 5,749,352
2006 5,980,211 5,624,466
2005 5,858,798 5,501,712
2004 5,736,693 5,355,717
2003 5,619,398 5,177,687
2002 5,508,410 4,971,435
2001 5,403,639 4,692,716
2000 5,305,021 4,423,611
1999 5,218,038 4,318,043
1998 5,140,704 4,295,785
1997 5,064,639 4,253,716
1996 4,987,393 4,199,210
1995 4,906,843 4,179,179
1994 4,822,037 4,173,105
1993 4,733,045 4,157,130
1992 4,640,352 4,166,366
1991 4,544,400 4,246,267
1990 4,445,239 4,196,828
1989 4,342,920 4,034,037
1988 4,237,755 3,934,517
1987 4,129,739 3,829,718
1986 4,017,403 3,728,380
1985 3,898,745 3,638,438
1984 3,773,633 3,558,758
1983 3,718,961 3,481,646
1982 3,724,765 3,408,183
1981 3,621,486 3,338,940
1980 3,424,378 3,272,089
1979 3,233,846 3,207,499
1978 3,052,526 3,145,517
1977 2,881,533 3,085,354
1976 2,721,237 3,028,820
1975 2,571,556 2,974,657
1974 2,432,211 2,920,459
1973 2,314,193 2,866,955
1972 2,226,091 2,814,388
1971 2,153,534 2,763,222
1970 2,082,589 2,712,286
1969 2,014,293 2,661,365
1968 1,952,781 2,611,532
1967 1,898,199 2,562,384
1966 1,849,063 2,514,638
1965 1,804,015 2,468,666
1964 1,753,691 2,424,390
1963 1,690,457 2,382,258
1962 1,621,960 2,342,242
1961 1,555,699 2,304,227
1960 1,492,890 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Sierra Leone
2100 -0.18% -0.09%
2099 -0.21% -0.08%
2098 -0.2% -0.09%
2097 -0.17% -0.07%
2096 -0.12% -0.05%
2095 -0.12% 0.002%
2094 -0.15% -0.03%
2093 -0.15% 0.02%
2092 -0.09% 0.04%
2091 -0.16% 0.06%
2090 -0.1% 0.07%
2089 -0.11% 0.09%
2088 -0.04% 0.1%
2087 0.004% 0.17%
2086 0.06% 0.13%
2085 0.07% 0.15%
2084 0.04% 0.21%
2083 0.08% 0.23%
2082 0.12% 0.25%
2081 0.1% 0.24%
2080 0.13% 0.26%
2079 0.04% 0.31%
2078 0.06% 0.32%
2077 0.13% 0.35%
2076 0.12% 0.38%
2075 0.11% 0.35%
2074 0.16% 0.44%
2073 0.22% 0.45%
2072 0.12% 0.47%
2071 0.17% 0.51%
2070 0.19% 0.53%
2069 0.2% 0.59%
2068 0.13% 0.64%
2067 0.18% 0.65%
2066 0.2% 0.66%
2065 0.23% 0.66%
2064 0.11% 0.67%
2063 0.23% 0.77%
2062 0.22% 0.73%
2061 0.2% 0.79%
2060 0.3% 0.79%
2059 0.28% 0.84%
2058 0.32% 0.86%
2057 0.26% 0.9%
2056 0.34% 0.95%
2055 0.47% 0.93%
2054 0.48% 1.01%
2053 0.53% 1.06%
2052 0.51% 1.12%
2051 0.56% 1.12%
2050 0.56% 1.11%
2049 0.63% 1.19%
2048 0.6% 1.16%
2047 0.61% 1.26%
2046 0.72% 1.28%
2045 0.72% 1.37%
2044 0.77% 1.35%
2043 0.78% 1.37%
2042 0.76% 1.44%
2041 0.82% 1.5%
2040 0.85% 1.5%
2039 0.87% 1.47%
2038 0.9% 1.54%
2037 0.87% 1.59%
2036 0.9% 1.65%
2035 0.98% 1.65%
2034 0.99% 1.69%
2033 0.96% 1.78%
2032 1.04% 1.81%
2031 1.08% 1.81%
2030 1.07% 1.85%
2029 1.15% 1.83%
2028 1.2% 1.97%
2027 1.13% 1.98%
2026 1.05% 2.03%
2025 1.05% 2.08%
2024 1.03% 2.15%
2023 1.13% 2.22%
2022 1.24% 2.25%
2021 1.27% 2.3%
2020 1.36% 2.34%
2019 1.49% 2.35%
2018 1.64% 2.38%
2017 1.61% 2.41%
2016 1.54% 2.38%
2015 1.63% 2.35%
2014 1.94% 2.42%
2013 2.03% 2.49%
2012 -2.58% 2.56%
2011 -2.38% 2.64%
2010 2.06% 2.76%
2009 2.11% 2.73%
2008 2.15% 2.53%
2007 2.08% 2.22%
2006 2.07% 2.23%
2005 2.13% 2.73%
2004 2.09% 3.44%
2003 2.01% 4.15%
2002 1.94% 5.94%
2001 1.86% 6.08%
2000 1.67% 2.44%
1999 1.5% 0.52%
1998 1.5% 0.99%
1997 1.55% 1.3%
1996 1.64% 0.48%
1995 1.76% 0.15%
1994 1.88% 0.38%
1993 2% -0.22%
1992 2.11% -1.88%
1991 2.23% 1.18%
1990 2.36% 4.04%
1989 2.48% 2.53%
1988 2.62% 2.74%
1987 2.8% 2.72%
1986 3.04% 2.47%
1985 3.32% 2.24%
1984 1.47% 2.21%
1983 -0.16% 2.16%
1982 2.85% 2.07%
1981 5.76% 2.04%
1980 5.89% 2.01%
1979 5.94% 1.97%
1978 5.93% 1.95%
1977 5.89% 1.87%
1976 5.82% 1.82%
1975 5.73% 1.86%
1974 5.1% 1.87%
1973 3.96% 1.87%
1972 3.37% 1.85%
1971 3.41% 1.88%
1970 3.39% 1.91%
1969 3.15% 1.91%
1968 2.88% 1.92%
1967 2.66% 1.9%
1966 2.5% 1.86%
1965 2.87% 1.83%
1964 3.74% 1.77%
1963 4.22% 1.71%
1962 4.26% 1.65%
1961 4.21% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Libya Sierra Leone
Current population
7559873
9049533
Population rank 105/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.11%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
2.9 minutes
One birth every
4.23 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +497
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 47/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -172 -11,309
Net migration rank 83/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -11,309
2024 - 3,448 - -11,000
2023 75,760 -2,001 188,788 -4,000
2022 91,951 -2,001 186,625 -4,000
2021 88,005 -694 183,326 -1,544
2020 92,950 -694 181,015 1,292
2019 97,842 -1,352 181,068 -2,238
2018 101,619 5,841 178,772 -2,741
2017 103,891 9,208 173,259 1,234
2016 105,265 -5,081 168,784 4,657
2015 108,096 -7,660 162,275 -356
2014 110,420 -1,716 160,137 485
2013 110,772 25,755 161,265 2,773
2012 108,855 5,211 160,915 988
2011 121,016 -562,827 158,858 6,895
2010 122,926 9,611 155,338 7,983
2009 118,102 11,670 152,669 18,145
2008 117,481 15,260 149,855 1,182
2007 116,704 12,640 145,740 -6,042
2006 115,645 3,351 144,127 -34,052
2005 112,823 11,024 137,234 -1,805
2004 107,144 13,222 132,661 23,897
2003 102,144 12,073 130,312 69,185
2002 97,598 10,152 126,429 86,578
2001 93,370 8,420 116,647 227,791
2000 89,814 5,634 110,754 83,013
1999 88,743 -10,206 102,295 -84,926
1998 87,613 -11,479 103,906 -76,766
1997 86,899 -10,907 105,433 -48,437
1996 86,945 -8,446 104,140 -52,110
1995 87,661 -5,068 100,885 -112,857
1994 88,765 -1,755 101,486 -77,371
1993 90,553 426 103,317 -95,476
1992 93,568 843 103,251 -129,565
1991 96,582 902 105,477 -238,965
1990 99,898 946 100,778 131,587
1989 102,823 981 98,298 -5,079
1988 105,469 1,053 96,344 9,470
1987 107,761 1,740 94,235 9,558
1986 109,325 5,844 90,902 7,992
1985 110,194 11,962 88,869 -7,873
1984 110,028 18,039 87,072 -8,708
1983 122,183 -140,904 84,628 -8,783
1982 133,511 -126,400 82,457 -11,379
1981 130,233 69,211 80,111 -12,699
1980 128,034 66,739 77,932 -11,641
1979 121,469 64,821 75,992 -13,095
1978 114,669 61,684 74,130 -13,073
1977 107,769 57,867 71,663 -12,399
1976 101,146 53,813 69,506 -15,686
1975 94,862 49,544 67,560 -13,058
1974 89,337 44,946 65,357 -11,473
1973 81,256 20,498 62,443 -9,322
1972 77,864 -3,418 60,279 -8,267
1971 74,934 -4,265 58,484 -8,162
1970 70,488 745 56,513 -4,957
1969 66,782 -1,418 54,768 -4,485
1968 63,971 -6,323 53,126 -3,743
1967 61,889 -10,384 51,734 -2,819
1966 60,394 -13,619 49,486 -2,911
1965 59,134 -15,810 47,223 -1,851
1964 55,227 2,084 45,487 -2,308
1963 50,421 18,740 43,569 -2,480
1962 46,252 21,589 41,603 -2,658
1961 42,167 22,504 40,022 -2,947
1960 38,391 22,559 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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

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