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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 2.71 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Libya vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Somalia
2100 9,844,478 68,384,185
2099 9,862,293 68,040,371
2098 9,883,409 67,702,230
2097 9,903,494 67,362,336
2096 9,920,212 66,972,933
2095 9,931,781 66,585,659
2094 9,943,275 66,179,819
2093 9,958,570 65,760,590
2092 9,973,255 65,324,261
2091 9,982,193 64,852,843
2090 9,998,398 64,362,727
2089 10,008,842 63,922,797
2088 10,019,533 63,464,036
2087 10,023,170 62,987,028
2086 10,022,785 62,447,029
2085 10,016,359 61,873,597
2084 10,009,703 61,318,916
2083 10,006,073 60,761,800
2082 9,997,594 60,187,980
2081 9,985,386 59,676,722
2080 9,975,419 59,100,915
2079 9,962,691 58,477,428
2078 9,958,515 57,852,528
2077 9,952,827 57,211,821
2076 9,940,029 56,602,463
2075 9,927,944 56,005,600
2074 9,916,834 55,330,165
2073 9,901,120 54,651,918
2072 9,879,602 53,978,548
2071 9,867,880 53,284,016
2070 9,850,724 52,573,210
2069 9,832,072 51,878,214
2068 9,812,363 51,197,653
2067 9,799,957 50,493,028
2066 9,782,414 49,779,172
2065 9,762,806 49,024,665
2064 9,740,665 48,265,876
2063 9,729,567 47,522,361
2062 9,707,539 46,785,920
2061 9,686,619 46,037,526
2060 9,667,297 45,220,507
2059 9,638,062 44,397,936
2058 9,610,703 43,659,021
2057 9,579,595 42,897,422
2056 9,554,689 42,121,542
2055 9,522,205 41,318,179
2054 9,478,010 40,513,141
2053 9,432,683 39,744,995
2052 9,383,411 38,992,177
2051 9,335,341 38,228,872
2050 9,282,941 37,471,735
2049 9,230,811 36,739,905
2048 9,173,272 35,984,999
2047 9,118,915 35,218,863
2046 9,063,226 34,462,403
2045 8,998,841 33,717,596
2044 8,934,714 32,977,674
2043 8,866,878 32,247,710
2042 8,798,463 31,537,272
2041 8,732,168 30,794,853
2040 8,661,351 30,032,324
2039 8,588,292 29,312,883
2038 8,514,071 28,583,386
2037 8,437,766 27,838,646
2036 8,364,809 27,114,453
2035 8,289,931 26,385,421
2034 8,209,318 25,687,629
2033 8,129,142 25,018,509
2032 8,052,203 24,338,597
2031 7,969,547 23,657,353
2030 7,884,726 22,965,742
2029 7,801,482 22,299,610
2028 7,713,090 21,651,582
2027 7,621,838 20,991,860
2026 7,536,898 20,322,668
2025 7,458,392 19,666,990
2024 7,381,023 19,009,151
2023 7,305,659 18,358,615
2022 7,223,805 17,801,897
2021 7,135,175 17,271,431
2020 7,045,399 16,651,191
2019 6,951,033 16,030,971
2018 6,849,055 15,452,487
2017 6,738,770 14,916,629
2016 6,632,126 14,348,740
2015 6,531,819 13,806,963
2014 6,427,252 13,339,491
2013 6,304,628 12,869,594
2012 6,179,328 12,461,160
2011 6,343,203 12,348,830
2010 6,497,839 12,261,756
2009 6,366,686 11,961,201
2008 6,235,430 11,663,084
2007 6,104,380 11,322,582
2006 5,980,211 10,975,502
2005 5,858,798 10,644,228
2004 5,736,693 10,280,998
2003 5,619,398 9,909,157
2002 5,508,410 9,550,063
2001 5,403,639 9,198,493
2000 5,305,021 8,838,713
1999 5,218,038 8,492,059
1998 5,140,704 8,155,417
1997 5,064,639 7,824,525
1996 4,987,393 7,554,474
1995 4,906,843 7,285,007
1994 4,822,037 7,026,797
1993 4,733,045 6,681,399
1992 4,640,352 6,495,107
1991 4,544,400 6,813,760
1990 4,445,239 7,082,811
1989 4,342,920 7,114,817
1988 4,237,755 7,235,360
1987 4,129,739 7,228,302
1986 4,017,403 6,974,788
1985 3,898,745 6,693,289
1984 3,773,633 6,428,389
1983 3,718,961 6,198,430
1982 3,724,765 6,003,840
1981 3,621,486 5,982,849
1980 3,424,378 5,936,154
1979 3,233,846 5,449,117
1978 3,052,526 4,814,892
1977 2,881,533 4,484,050
1976 2,721,237 4,365,812
1975 2,571,556 4,257,535
1974 2,432,211 4,151,842
1973 2,314,193 4,045,592
1972 2,226,091 3,939,436
1971 2,153,534 3,837,691
1970 2,082,589 3,738,448
1969 2,014,293 3,641,015
1968 1,952,781 3,546,590
1967 1,898,199 3,454,537
1966 1,849,063 3,365,106
1965 1,804,015 3,277,874
1964 1,753,691 3,192,796
1963 1,690,457 3,110,361
1962 1,621,960 3,030,091
1961 1,555,699 2,952,054
1960 1,492,890 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Somalia
2100 -0.18% 0.51%
2099 -0.21% 0.5%
2098 -0.2% 0.5%
2097 -0.17% 0.58%
2096 -0.12% 0.58%
2095 -0.12% 0.61%
2094 -0.15% 0.64%
2093 -0.15% 0.67%
2092 -0.09% 0.73%
2091 -0.16% 0.76%
2090 -0.1% 0.69%
2089 -0.11% 0.72%
2088 -0.04% 0.76%
2087 0.004% 0.86%
2086 0.06% 0.93%
2085 0.07% 0.9%
2084 0.04% 0.92%
2083 0.08% 0.95%
2082 0.12% 0.86%
2081 0.1% 0.97%
2080 0.13% 1.07%
2079 0.04% 1.08%
2078 0.06% 1.12%
2077 0.13% 1.08%
2076 0.12% 1.07%
2075 0.11% 1.22%
2074 0.16% 1.24%
2073 0.22% 1.25%
2072 0.12% 1.3%
2071 0.17% 1.35%
2070 0.19% 1.34%
2069 0.2% 1.33%
2068 0.13% 1.4%
2067 0.18% 1.43%
2066 0.2% 1.54%
2065 0.23% 1.57%
2064 0.11% 1.56%
2063 0.23% 1.57%
2062 0.22% 1.63%
2061 0.2% 1.81%
2060 0.3% 1.85%
2059 0.28% 1.69%
2058 0.32% 1.78%
2057 0.26% 1.84%
2056 0.34% 1.94%
2055 0.47% 1.99%
2054 0.48% 1.93%
2053 0.53% 1.93%
2052 0.51% 2%
2051 0.56% 2.02%
2050 0.56% 1.99%
2049 0.63% 2.1%
2048 0.6% 2.18%
2047 0.61% 2.2%
2046 0.72% 2.21%
2045 0.72% 2.24%
2044 0.77% 2.26%
2043 0.78% 2.25%
2042 0.76% 2.41%
2041 0.82% 2.54%
2040 0.85% 2.45%
2039 0.87% 2.55%
2038 0.9% 2.68%
2037 0.87% 2.67%
2036 0.9% 2.76%
2035 0.98% 2.72%
2034 0.99% 2.67%
2033 0.96% 2.79%
2032 1.04% 2.88%
2031 1.08% 3.01%
2030 1.07% 2.99%
2029 1.15% 2.99%
2028 1.2% 3.14%
2027 1.13% 3.29%
2026 1.05% 3.33%
2025 1.05% 3.46%
2024 1.03% 3.54%
2023 1.13% 3.13%
2022 1.24% 3.07%
2021 1.27% 3.72%
2020 1.36% 3.87%
2019 1.49% 3.74%
2018 1.64% 3.59%
2017 1.61% 3.96%
2016 1.54% 3.92%
2015 1.63% 3.5%
2014 1.94% 3.65%
2013 2.03% 3.28%
2012 -2.58% 0.91%
2011 -2.38% 0.71%
2010 2.06% 2.51%
2009 2.11% 2.56%
2008 2.15% 3.01%
2007 2.08% 3.16%
2006 2.07% 3.11%
2005 2.13% 3.53%
2004 2.09% 3.75%
2003 2.01% 3.76%
2002 1.94% 3.82%
2001 1.86% 4.07%
2000 1.67% 4.08%
1999 1.5% 4.13%
1998 1.5% 4.23%
1997 1.55% 3.57%
1996 1.64% 3.7%
1995 1.76% 3.67%
1994 1.88% 5.17%
1993 2% 2.87%
1992 2.11% -4.68%
1991 2.23% -3.8%
1990 2.36% -0.45%
1989 2.48% -1.67%
1988 2.62% 0.1%
1987 2.8% 3.63%
1986 3.04% 4.21%
1985 3.32% 4.12%
1984 1.47% 3.71%
1983 -0.16% 3.24%
1982 2.85% 0.35%
1981 5.76% 0.79%
1980 5.89% 8.94%
1979 5.94% 13.2%
1978 5.93% 7.38%
1977 5.89% 2.71%
1976 5.82% 2.54%
1975 5.73% 2.55%
1974 5.1% 2.63%
1973 3.96% 2.69%
1972 3.37% 2.65%
1971 3.41% 2.65%
1970 3.39% 2.68%
1969 3.15% 2.66%
1968 2.88% 2.66%
1967 2.66% 2.66%
1966 2.5% 2.66%
1965 2.87% 2.66%
1964 3.74% 2.65%
1963 4.22% 2.65%
1962 4.26% 2.64%
1961 4.21% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Libya Somalia
Current population
7559873
20503678
Population rank 105/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.25%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
4.23 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 8/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +12,077
Net migration rank 83/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 12,077
2024 - 3,448 - 26,859
2023 75,760 -2,001 608,203 46,217
2022 91,951 -2,001 551,450 -92,434
2021 88,005 -694 566,399 35,506
2020 92,950 -694 561,311 77,259
2019 97,842 -1,352 548,756 53,124
2018 101,619 5,841 514,244 40,844
2017 103,891 9,208 478,556 38,067
2016 105,265 -5,081 495,132 124,017
2015 108,096 -7,660 481,573 -17,178
2014 110,420 -1,716 464,481 6,065
2013 110,772 25,755 448,518 20,723
2012 108,855 5,211 399,468 -51,833
2011 121,016 -562,827 203,213 -326,192
2010 122,926 9,611 385,571 -88,448
2009 118,102 11,670 405,784 -101,795
2008 117,481 15,260 394,258 -102,035
2007 116,704 12,640 380,303 8,476
2006 115,645 3,351 372,597 -67,200
2005 112,823 11,024 363,117 -5,955
2004 107,144 13,222 351,959 17,353
2003 102,144 12,073 341,192 33,174
2002 97,598 10,152 331,215 12,603
2001 93,370 8,420 319,059 40,274
2000 89,814 5,634 306,651 53,580
1999 88,743 -10,206 295,523 37,548
1998 87,613 -11,479 284,779 55,426
1997 86,899 -10,907 271,894 49,692
1996 86,945 -8,446 264,807 -46,291
1995 87,661 -5,068 254,509 65,888
1994 88,765 -1,755 246,950 -50,921
1993 90,553 426 232,960 261,815
1992 93,568 843 57,495 -179,675
1991 96,582 902 53,052 -568,166
1990 99,898 946 225,162 -248,155
1989 102,823 981 225,255 -266,281
1988 105,469 1,053 215,599 -415,660
1987 107,761 1,740 231,580 -17,391
1986 109,325 5,844 218,416 74,424
1985 110,194 11,962 207,960 62,183
1984 110,028 18,039 199,017 60,630
1983 122,183 -140,904 190,775 9,505
1982 133,511 -126,400 182,793 6,115
1981 130,233 69,211 185,211 -332,129
1980 128,034 66,739 174,790 65,519
1979 121,469 64,821 151,016 582,746
1978 114,669 61,684 132,689 402,005
1977 107,769 57,867 124,818 2,170
1976 101,146 53,813 113,319 -3,831
1975 94,862 49,544 108,998 -1,934
1974 89,337 44,946 104,813 -495
1973 81,256 20,498 108,038 143
1972 77,864 -3,418 104,493 -351
1971 74,934 -4,265 101,196 -1,850
1970 70,488 745 98,025 1,104
1969 66,782 -1,418 95,045 690
1968 63,971 -6,323 92,208 906
1967 61,889 -10,384 89,497 1,498
1966 60,394 -13,619 86,930 941
1965 59,134 -15,810 84,448 2,142
1964 55,227 2,084 82,042 1,518
1963 50,421 18,740 79,859 1,449
1962 46,252 21,589 77,737 1,496
1961 42,167 22,504 75,513 1,336
1960 38,391 22,559 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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