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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 1.66 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.24% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Libya vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya South Sudan
2100 9,844,693 24,078,379
2099 9,862,508 24,072,957
2098 9,883,625 24,054,947
2097 9,903,710 24,056,753
2096 9,920,429 24,045,972
2095 9,931,997 24,037,837
2094 9,943,491 24,039,267
2093 9,958,787 24,030,512
2092 9,973,472 24,010,555
2091 9,982,411 23,991,816
2090 9,998,616 23,970,012
2089 10,009,061 23,929,017
2088 10,019,752 23,883,712
2087 10,023,389 23,848,809
2086 10,023,004 23,794,890
2085 10,016,577 23,750,772
2084 10,009,921 23,678,728
2083 10,006,291 23,609,290
2082 9,997,812 23,532,790
2081 9,985,604 23,458,146
2080 9,975,637 23,383,482
2079 9,962,908 23,286,011
2078 9,958,732 23,188,860
2077 9,953,044 23,078,416
2076 9,940,245 22,979,198
2075 9,928,160 22,860,496
2074 9,917,050 22,718,148
2073 9,901,336 22,575,682
2072 9,879,817 22,431,004
2071 9,868,096 22,280,140
2070 9,850,939 22,143,813
2069 9,832,286 21,995,874
2068 9,812,577 21,822,076
2067 9,800,171 21,654,546
2066 9,782,627 21,489,275
2065 9,763,018 21,309,913
2064 9,740,878 21,134,522
2063 9,729,779 20,957,705
2062 9,707,751 20,777,701
2061 9,686,831 20,601,672
2060 9,667,507 20,423,629
2059 9,638,272 20,227,862
2058 9,610,912 20,041,880
2057 9,579,804 19,846,671
2056 9,554,897 19,652,407
2055 9,522,413 19,457,411
2054 9,478,216 19,250,667
2053 9,432,889 19,053,773
2052 9,383,615 18,833,795
2051 9,335,544 18,626,605
2050 9,283,143 18,427,690
2049 9,231,012 18,224,430
2048 9,173,472 18,014,650
2047 9,119,114 17,799,982
2046 9,063,424 17,572,953
2045 8,999,038 17,348,901
2044 8,934,909 17,115,914
2043 8,867,072 16,882,303
2042 8,798,655 16,639,465
2041 8,732,358 16,390,966
2040 8,661,540 16,137,104
2039 8,588,479 15,884,330
2038 8,514,257 15,622,514
2037 8,437,950 15,358,539
2036 8,364,991 15,085,936
2035 8,290,112 14,810,066
2034 8,209,497 14,538,365
2033 8,129,319 14,273,128
2032 8,052,378 14,002,178
2031 7,969,721 13,725,779
2030 7,884,898 13,460,850
2029 7,801,652 13,201,804
2028 7,713,258 12,942,501
2027 7,622,004 12,688,278
2026 7,537,063 12,434,895
2025 7,458,555 12,188,788
2024 7,381,023 11,943,408
2023 7,305,659 11,483,374
2022 7,223,805 11,021,177
2021 7,135,175 10,865,780
2020 7,045,399 10,698,467
2019 6,951,033 10,423,384
2018 6,849,055 10,122,977
2017 6,738,770 10,259,154
2016 6,632,126 10,830,102
2015 6,531,819 11,107,561
2014 6,427,252 11,235,073
2013 6,304,628 11,166,275
2012 6,179,328 10,756,240
2011 6,343,203 10,288,109
2010 6,497,839 9,745,953
2009 6,366,686 9,243,556
2008 6,235,430 8,817,647
2007 6,104,380 8,388,788
2006 5,980,211 7,976,526
2005 5,858,798 7,590,143
2004 5,736,693 7,233,041
2003 5,619,398 6,903,127
2002 5,508,410 6,596,806
2001 5,403,639 6,308,391
2000 5,305,021 6,032,267
1999 5,218,038 5,771,628
1998 5,140,704 5,620,068
1997 5,064,639 5,509,136
1996 4,987,393 5,356,925
1995 4,906,843 5,225,836
1994 4,822,037 5,071,184
1993 4,733,045 4,956,002
1992 4,640,352 4,909,749
1991 4,544,400 4,836,677
1990 4,445,239 4,737,633
1989 4,342,920 4,713,229
1988 4,237,755 4,848,029
1987 4,129,739 4,962,395
1986 4,017,403 4,921,240
1985 3,898,745 4,834,296
1984 3,773,633 4,750,627
1983 3,718,961 4,661,574
1982 3,724,765 4,557,686
1981 3,621,486 4,447,272
1980 3,424,378 4,339,030
1979 3,233,846 4,232,605
1978 3,052,526 4,127,657
1977 2,881,533 4,024,032
1976 2,721,237 3,921,910
1975 2,571,556 3,821,494
1974 2,432,211 3,723,259
1973 2,314,193 3,627,383
1972 2,226,091 3,542,497
1971 2,153,534 3,468,646
1970 2,082,589 3,409,614
1969 2,014,293 3,365,533
1968 1,952,781 3,321,528
1967 1,898,199 3,277,648
1966 1,849,063 3,236,423
1965 1,804,015 3,189,835
1964 1,753,691 3,129,918
1963 1,690,457 3,072,669
1962 1,621,960 3,024,308
1961 1,555,699 2,976,724
1960 1,492,890 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya South Sudan
2100 -0.18% 0.02%
2099 -0.21% 0.07%
2098 -0.2% -0.008%
2097 -0.17% 0.04%
2096 -0.12% 0.03%
2095 -0.12% -0.006%
2094 -0.15% 0.04%
2093 -0.15% 0.08%
2092 -0.09% 0.08%
2091 -0.16% 0.09%
2090 -0.1% 0.17%
2089 -0.11% 0.19%
2088 -0.04% 0.15%
2087 0.004% 0.23%
2086 0.06% 0.19%
2085 0.07% 0.3%
2084 0.04% 0.29%
2083 0.08% 0.33%
2082 0.12% 0.32%
2081 0.1% 0.32%
2080 0.13% 0.42%
2079 0.04% 0.42%
2078 0.06% 0.48%
2077 0.13% 0.43%
2076 0.12% 0.52%
2075 0.11% 0.63%
2074 0.16% 0.63%
2073 0.22% 0.64%
2072 0.12% 0.68%
2071 0.17% 0.62%
2070 0.19% 0.67%
2069 0.2% 0.8%
2068 0.13% 0.77%
2067 0.18% 0.77%
2066 0.2% 0.84%
2065 0.23% 0.83%
2064 0.11% 0.84%
2063 0.23% 0.87%
2062 0.22% 0.85%
2061 0.2% 0.87%
2060 0.3% 0.97%
2059 0.28% 0.93%
2058 0.32% 0.98%
2057 0.26% 0.99%
2056 0.34% 1%
2055 0.47% 1.07%
2054 0.48% 1.03%
2053 0.53% 1.17%
2052 0.51% 1.11%
2051 0.56% 1.08%
2050 0.56% 1.12%
2049 0.63% 1.16%
2048 0.6% 1.21%
2047 0.61% 1.29%
2046 0.72% 1.29%
2045 0.72% 1.36%
2044 0.77% 1.38%
2043 0.78% 1.46%
2042 0.76% 1.52%
2041 0.82% 1.57%
2040 0.85% 1.59%
2039 0.87% 1.68%
2038 0.9% 1.72%
2037 0.87% 1.81%
2036 0.9% 1.86%
2035 0.98% 1.87%
2034 0.99% 1.86%
2033 0.96% 1.94%
2032 1.04% 2.01%
2031 1.08% 1.97%
2030 1.07% 1.96%
2029 1.15% 2%
2028 1.2% 2%
2027 1.13% 2.04%
2026 1.05% 2.02%
2025 1.05% 2.05%
2024 1.03% 4.01%
2023 1.13% 4.19%
2022 1.24% 1.43%
2021 1.27% 1.56%
2020 1.36% 2.64%
2019 1.49% 2.97%
2018 1.64% -1.33%
2017 1.61% -5.27%
2016 1.54% -2.5%
2015 1.63% -1.13%
2014 1.94% 0.62%
2013 2.03% 3.81%
2012 -2.58% 4.55%
2011 -2.38% 5.56%
2010 2.06% 5.44%
2009 2.11% 4.83%
2008 2.15% 5.11%
2007 2.08% 5.17%
2006 2.07% 5.09%
2005 2.13% 4.94%
2004 2.09% 4.78%
2003 2.01% 4.64%
2002 1.94% 4.57%
2001 1.86% 4.58%
2000 1.67% 4.52%
1999 1.5% 2.7%
1998 1.5% 2.01%
1997 1.55% 2.84%
1996 1.64% 2.51%
1995 1.76% 3.05%
1994 1.88% 2.32%
1993 2% 0.94%
1992 2.11% 1.51%
1991 2.23% 2.09%
1990 2.36% 0.52%
1989 2.48% -2.78%
1988 2.62% -2.3%
1987 2.8% 0.84%
1986 3.04% 1.8%
1985 3.32% 1.76%
1984 1.47% 1.91%
1983 -0.16% 2.28%
1982 2.85% 2.48%
1981 5.76% 2.49%
1980 5.89% 2.51%
1979 5.94% 2.54%
1978 5.93% 2.58%
1977 5.89% 2.6%
1976 5.82% 2.63%
1975 5.73% 2.64%
1974 5.1% 2.64%
1973 3.96% 2.4%
1972 3.37% 2.13%
1971 3.41% 1.73%
1970 3.39% 1.31%
1969 3.15% 1.32%
1968 2.88% 1.34%
1967 2.66% 1.27%
1966 2.5% 1.46%
1965 2.87% 1.91%
1964 3.74% 1.86%
1963 4.22% 1.6%
1962 4.26% 1.6%
1961 4.21% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Libya South Sudan
Current population
7580693
12565048
Population rank 105/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.15%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
2.15 minutes
One birth every
4.32 minutes
1.51 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 +672
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 48/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -172 +6,145
Net migration rank 83/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 6,145
2024 73,522 3,448 231,714 15,374
2023 75,760 -2,001 217,966 455,000
2022 91,951 -2,001 211,166 40,259
2021 88,005 -694 213,567 -154,359
2020 92,950 -694 212,332 62,935
2019 97,842 -1,352 209,708 65,198
2018 101,619 5,841 168,497 157,408
2017 103,891 9,208 72,193 -670,477
2016 105,265 -5,081 110,553 -654,225
2015 108,096 -7,660 148,542 -159,822
2014 110,420 -1,716 227,611 -471,523
2013 110,772 25,755 315,983 65,337
2012 108,855 5,211 312,974 125,771
2011 121,016 -562,827 303,181 194,325
2010 122,926 9,611 287,409 299,402
2009 118,102 11,670 278,859 139,129
2008 117,481 15,260 268,268 165,557
2007 116,704 12,640 256,546 167,350
2006 115,645 3,351 246,706 153,926
2005 112,823 11,024 239,272 132,869
2004 107,144 13,222 231,877 110,182
2003 102,144 12,073 225,822 91,951
2002 97,598 10,152 212,014 82,847
2001 93,370 8,420 204,108 77,856
2000 89,814 5,634 196,055 74,227
1999 88,743 -10,206 180,721 70,271
1998 87,613 -11,479 -12,157 64,285
1997 86,899 -10,907 121,454 48,280
1996 86,945 -8,446 116,728 17,953
1995 87,661 -5,068 110,417 17,077
1994 88,765 -1,755 165,407 16,407
1993 90,553 426 32,779 15,772
1992 93,568 843 28,874 15,077
1991 96,582 902 87,873 14,327
1990 99,898 946 82,900 12,988
1989 102,823 981 83,735 -130,821
1988 105,469 1,053 -125,447 -97,065
1987 107,761 1,740 5,756 -11,976
1986 109,325 5,844 99,502 -10,973
1985 110,194 11,962 95,342 -9,986
1984 110,028 18,039 90,970 -8,984
1983 122,183 -140,904 104,107 -7,986
1982 133,511 -126,400 118,641 -6,983
1981 130,233 69,211 115,163 -5,994
1980 128,034 66,739 112,307 -4,997
1979 121,469 64,821 109,540 -3,997
1978 114,669 61,684 107,352 -2,998
1977 107,769 57,867 104,886 -1,997
1976 101,146 53,813 102,346 -995
1975 94,862 49,544 99,882 -395
1974 89,337 44,946 97,181 -192
1973 81,256 20,498 94,765 0
1972 77,864 -3,418 74,803 193
1971 74,934 -4,265 72,308 394
1970 70,488 745 44,776 587
1969 66,782 -1,418 42,015 786
1968 63,971 -6,323 44,213 995
1967 61,889 -10,384 41,357 1,194
1966 60,394 -13,619 38,523 1,386
1965 59,134 -15,810 51,682 1,591
1964 55,227 2,084 64,786 1,785
1963 50,421 18,740 46,333 1,591
1962 46,252 21,589 47,406 1,386
1961 42,167 22,504 45,186 1,194
1960 38,391 22,559 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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