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Population in Libya compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 8.68 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.88% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Libya vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya South Africa
2100 9,844,693 94,734,082
2099 9,862,508 94,523,360
2098 9,883,625 94,316,049
2097 9,903,710 94,125,043
2096 9,920,429 93,927,246
2095 9,931,997 93,719,451
2094 9,943,491 93,494,697
2093 9,958,787 93,267,274
2092 9,973,472 93,041,793
2091 9,982,411 92,793,249
2090 9,998,616 92,561,159
2089 10,009,061 92,322,396
2088 10,019,752 92,080,212
2087 10,023,389 91,833,409
2086 10,023,004 91,581,639
2085 10,016,577 91,352,906
2084 10,009,921 91,106,961
2083 10,006,291 90,845,161
2082 9,997,812 90,583,188
2081 9,985,604 90,313,417
2080 9,975,637 90,039,857
2079 9,962,908 89,770,116
2078 9,958,732 89,494,440
2077 9,953,044 89,217,520
2076 9,940,245 88,954,522
2075 9,928,160 88,681,719
2074 9,917,050 88,397,221
2073 9,901,336 88,118,589
2072 9,879,817 87,835,051
2071 9,868,096 87,509,098
2070 9,850,939 87,178,463
2069 9,832,286 86,870,660
2068 9,812,577 86,558,000
2067 9,800,171 86,237,764
2066 9,782,627 85,904,801
2065 9,763,018 85,573,984
2064 9,740,878 85,214,686
2063 9,729,779 84,845,370
2062 9,707,751 84,473,236
2061 9,686,831 84,103,016
2060 9,667,507 83,719,266
2059 9,638,272 83,325,330
2058 9,610,912 82,918,226
2057 9,579,804 82,508,742
2056 9,554,897 82,098,320
2055 9,522,413 81,669,191
2054 9,478,216 81,227,019
2053 9,432,889 80,789,939
2052 9,383,615 80,338,877
2051 9,335,544 79,858,310
2050 9,283,143 79,383,784
2049 9,231,012 78,897,472
2048 9,173,472 78,409,829
2047 9,119,114 77,894,547
2046 9,063,424 77,369,819
2045 8,999,038 76,852,544
2044 8,934,909 76,330,046
2043 8,867,072 75,800,788
2042 8,798,655 75,264,885
2041 8,732,358 74,721,871
2040 8,661,540 74,179,185
2039 8,588,479 73,636,894
2038 8,514,257 73,079,976
2037 8,437,950 72,506,991
2036 8,364,991 71,930,701
2035 8,290,112 71,337,219
2034 8,209,497 70,737,692
2033 8,129,319 70,128,299
2032 8,052,378 69,502,726
2031 7,969,721 68,865,544
2030 7,884,898 68,221,143
2029 7,801,652 67,549,189
2028 7,713,258 66,860,631
2027 7,622,004 66,166,759
2026 7,537,063 65,473,024
2025 7,458,555 64,747,319
2024 7,381,023 64,007,187
2023 7,305,659 63,212,384
2022 7,223,805 62,378,410
2021 7,135,175 61,502,603
2020 7,045,399 60,562,381
2019 6,951,033 59,587,885
2018 6,849,055 58,613,001
2017 6,738,770 57,635,162
2016 6,632,126 57,259,551
2015 6,531,819 56,723,537
2014 6,427,252 55,594,838
2013 6,304,628 54,678,791
2012 6,179,328 53,782,567
2011 6,343,203 52,995,205
2010 6,497,839 52,344,051
2009 6,366,686 51,728,516
2008 6,235,430 51,114,599
2007 6,104,380 50,528,584
2006 5,980,211 49,998,277
2005 5,858,798 49,490,033
2004 5,736,693 48,991,421
2003 5,619,398 48,500,348
2002 5,508,410 48,019,415
2001 5,403,639 47,566,800
2000 5,305,021 47,159,719
1999 5,218,038 46,730,335
1998 5,140,704 46,223,880
1997 5,064,639 45,666,838
1996 4,987,393 45,123,018
1995 4,906,843 44,541,554
1994 4,822,037 44,004,139
1993 4,733,045 43,297,156
1992 4,640,352 42,443,509
1991 4,544,400 41,687,898
1990 4,445,239 40,746,268
1989 4,342,920 39,628,575
1988 4,237,755 38,480,649
1987 4,129,739 37,326,190
1986 4,017,403 36,180,515
1985 3,898,745 35,042,093
1984 3,773,633 33,892,788
1983 3,718,961 32,739,304
1982 3,724,765 31,615,339
1981 3,621,486 30,541,044
1980 3,424,378 29,518,857
1979 3,233,846 28,634,162
1978 3,052,526 27,869,507
1977 2,881,533 27,118,952
1976 2,721,237 26,395,450
1975 2,571,556 25,690,940
1974 2,432,211 24,989,108
1973 2,314,193 24,294,263
1972 2,226,091 23,609,456
1971 2,153,534 22,942,143
1970 2,082,589 22,279,984
1969 2,014,293 21,614,676
1968 1,952,781 20,957,287
1967 1,898,199 20,314,066
1966 1,849,063 19,690,087
1965 1,804,015 19,089,380
1964 1,753,691 18,511,361
1963 1,690,457 17,954,564
1962 1,621,960 17,418,522
1961 1,555,699 16,908,035
1960 1,492,890 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya South Africa
2100 -0.18% 0.22%
2099 -0.21% 0.22%
2098 -0.2% 0.2%
2097 -0.17% 0.21%
2096 -0.12% 0.22%
2095 -0.12% 0.24%
2094 -0.15% 0.24%
2093 -0.15% 0.24%
2092 -0.09% 0.27%
2091 -0.16% 0.25%
2090 -0.1% 0.26%
2089 -0.11% 0.26%
2088 -0.04% 0.27%
2087 0.004% 0.27%
2086 0.06% 0.25%
2085 0.07% 0.27%
2084 0.04% 0.29%
2083 0.08% 0.29%
2082 0.12% 0.3%
2081 0.1% 0.3%
2080 0.13% 0.3%
2079 0.04% 0.31%
2078 0.06% 0.31%
2077 0.13% 0.3%
2076 0.12% 0.31%
2075 0.11% 0.32%
2074 0.16% 0.32%
2073 0.22% 0.32%
2072 0.12% 0.37%
2071 0.17% 0.38%
2070 0.19% 0.35%
2069 0.2% 0.36%
2068 0.13% 0.37%
2067 0.18% 0.39%
2066 0.2% 0.39%
2065 0.23% 0.42%
2064 0.11% 0.44%
2063 0.23% 0.44%
2062 0.22% 0.44%
2061 0.2% 0.46%
2060 0.3% 0.47%
2059 0.28% 0.49%
2058 0.32% 0.5%
2057 0.26% 0.5%
2056 0.34% 0.53%
2055 0.47% 0.54%
2054 0.48% 0.54%
2053 0.53% 0.56%
2052 0.51% 0.6%
2051 0.56% 0.6%
2050 0.56% 0.62%
2049 0.63% 0.62%
2048 0.6% 0.66%
2047 0.61% 0.68%
2046 0.72% 0.67%
2045 0.72% 0.68%
2044 0.77% 0.7%
2043 0.78% 0.71%
2042 0.76% 0.73%
2041 0.82% 0.73%
2040 0.85% 0.74%
2039 0.87% 0.76%
2038 0.9% 0.79%
2037 0.87% 0.8%
2036 0.9% 0.83%
2035 0.98% 0.85%
2034 0.99% 0.87%
2033 0.96% 0.9%
2032 1.04% 0.93%
2031 1.08% 0.94%
2030 1.07% 0.99%
2029 1.15% 1.03%
2028 1.2% 1.05%
2027 1.13% 1.06%
2026 1.05% 1.12%
2025 1.05% 1.16%
2024 1.03% 1.26%
2023 1.13% 1.34%
2022 1.24% 1.42%
2021 1.27% 1.55%
2020 1.36% 1.64%
2019 1.49% 1.66%
2018 1.64% 1.7%
2017 1.61% 0.66%
2016 1.54% 0.94%
2015 1.63% 2.03%
2014 1.94% 1.68%
2013 2.03% 1.67%
2012 -2.58% 1.49%
2011 -2.38% 1.24%
2010 2.06% 1.19%
2009 2.11% 1.2%
2008 2.15% 1.16%
2007 2.08% 1.06%
2006 2.07% 1.03%
2005 2.13% 1.02%
2004 2.09% 1.01%
2003 2.01% 1%
2002 1.94% 0.95%
2001 1.86% 0.86%
2000 1.67% 0.92%
1999 1.5% 1.1%
1998 1.5% 1.22%
1997 1.55% 1.21%
1996 1.64% 1.31%
1995 1.76% 1.22%
1994 1.88% 1.63%
1993 2% 2.01%
1992 2.11% 1.81%
1991 2.23% 2.31%
1990 2.36% 2.82%
1989 2.48% 2.98%
1988 2.62% 3.09%
1987 2.8% 3.17%
1986 3.04% 3.25%
1985 3.32% 3.39%
1984 1.47% 3.52%
1983 -0.16% 3.56%
1982 2.85% 3.52%
1981 5.76% 3.46%
1980 5.89% 3.09%
1979 5.94% 2.74%
1978 5.93% 2.77%
1977 5.89% 2.74%
1976 5.82% 2.74%
1975 5.73% 2.81%
1974 5.1% 2.86%
1973 3.96% 2.9%
1972 3.37% 2.91%
1971 3.41% 2.97%
1970 3.39% 3.08%
1969 3.15% 3.14%
1968 2.88% 3.17%
1967 2.66% 3.17%
1966 2.5% 3.15%
1965 2.87% 3.12%
1964 3.74% 3.1%
1963 4.22% 3.08%
1962 4.26% 3.02%
1961 4.21% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Libya South Africa
Current population
7580693
65829368
Population rank 105/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.79%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
4.32 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +212 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 91/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +146,370
Net migration rank 83/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 146,370
2024 73,522 3,448 591,618 166,972
2023 75,760 -2,001 602,793 228,222
2022 91,951 -2,001 603,636 233,284
2021 88,005 -694 456,411 458,246
2020 92,950 -694 595,873 369,901
2019 97,842 -1,352 652,130 331,124
2018 101,619 5,841 648,319 318,260
2017 103,891 9,208 645,975 343,146
2016 105,265 -5,081 641,365 -879,235
2015 108,096 -7,660 668,771 641,150
2014 110,420 -1,716 674,754 272,697
2013 110,772 25,755 652,427 232,230
2012 108,855 5,211 643,723 264,091
2011 121,016 -562,827 601,708 65,166
2010 122,926 9,611 566,834 68,563
2009 118,102 11,670 554,115 41,528
2008 117,481 15,260 595,332 36,869
2007 116,704 12,640 503,567 36,339
2006 115,645 3,351 487,584 33,159
2005 112,823 11,024 464,464 31,286
2004 107,144 13,222 442,540 58,924
2003 102,144 12,073 415,018 65,604
2002 97,598 10,152 430,926 50,313
2001 93,370 8,420 484,801 -60,793
2000 89,814 5,634 526,963 -136,794
1999 88,743 -10,206 594,643 -126,011
1998 87,613 -11,479 627,027 -82,722
1997 86,899 -10,907 667,969 -98,181
1996 86,945 -8,446 710,868 -193,007
1995 87,661 -5,068 743,488 -98,403
1994 88,765 -1,755 698,609 -268,849
1993 90,553 426 789,220 194,977
1992 93,568 843 794,415 -71,342
1991 96,582 902 827,296 -39,131
1990 99,898 946 835,421 259,718
1989 102,823 981 884,629 255,605
1988 105,469 1,053 909,221 246,382
1987 107,761 1,740 922,330 231,009
1986 109,325 5,844 903,644 234,378
1985 110,194 11,962 893,889 244,940
1984 110,028 18,039 869,011 290,789
1983 122,183 -140,904 837,013 310,172
1982 133,511 -126,400 807,550 293,195
1981 130,233 69,211 767,833 279,985
1980 128,034 66,739 738,415 258,127
1979 121,469 64,821 716,541 56,323
1978 114,669 61,684 694,341 62,121
1977 107,769 57,867 680,929 63,739
1976 101,146 53,813 675,011 27,333
1975 94,862 49,544 667,862 38,809
1974 89,337 44,946 658,438 38,518
1973 81,256 20,498 651,596 41,125
1972 77,864 -3,418 638,754 38,163
1971 74,934 -4,265 624,761 32,961
1970 70,488 745 605,102 61,514
1969 66,782 -1,418 590,794 73,225
1968 63,971 -6,323 571,841 78,932
1967 61,889 -10,384 553,741 81,932
1966 60,394 -13,619 534,862 77,417
1965 59,134 -15,810 506,632 82,514
1964 55,227 2,084 490,606 76,298
1963 50,421 18,740 473,821 72,844
1962 46,252 21,589 455,634 69,771
1961 42,167 22,504 437,851 57,728
1960 38,391 22,559 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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