Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 6.46 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Libya vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Spain
2100 9,844,478 33,862,981
2099 9,862,293 34,039,965
2098 9,883,409 34,215,187
2097 9,903,494 34,387,116
2096 9,920,212 34,552,002
2095 9,931,781 34,719,411
2094 9,943,275 34,882,039
2093 9,958,570 35,044,043
2092 9,973,255 35,204,657
2091 9,982,193 35,366,895
2090 9,998,398 35,535,838
2089 10,008,842 35,707,942
2088 10,019,533 35,877,681
2087 10,023,170 36,043,209
2086 10,022,785 36,210,710
2085 10,016,359 36,386,207
2084 10,009,703 36,564,622
2083 10,006,073 36,749,680
2082 9,997,594 36,936,644
2081 9,985,386 37,133,976
2080 9,975,419 37,337,517
2079 9,962,691 37,551,557
2078 9,958,515 37,771,135
2077 9,952,827 38,002,963
2076 9,940,029 38,249,247
2075 9,927,944 38,506,040
2074 9,916,834 38,777,715
2073 9,901,120 39,056,249
2072 9,879,602 39,348,447
2071 9,867,880 39,642,346
2070 9,850,724 39,949,413
2069 9,832,072 40,256,590
2068 9,812,363 40,575,543
2067 9,799,957 40,893,798
2066 9,782,414 41,218,263
2065 9,762,806 41,543,254
2064 9,740,665 41,878,338
2063 9,729,567 42,208,320
2062 9,707,539 42,542,893
2061 9,686,619 42,874,096
2060 9,667,297 43,191,452
2059 9,638,062 43,506,737
2058 9,610,703 43,809,907
2057 9,579,595 44,112,668
2056 9,554,689 44,415,689
2055 9,522,205 44,691,749
2054 9,478,010 44,958,971
2053 9,432,683 45,223,225
2052 9,383,411 45,470,541
2051 9,335,341 45,695,307
2050 9,282,941 45,911,520
2049 9,230,811 46,127,777
2048 9,173,272 46,322,244
2047 9,118,915 46,510,152
2046 9,063,226 46,687,914
2045 8,998,841 46,858,778
2044 8,934,714 47,016,278
2043 8,866,878 47,158,325
2042 8,798,463 47,301,091
2041 8,732,168 47,434,593
2040 8,661,351 47,563,236
2039 8,588,292 47,685,343
2038 8,514,071 47,798,797
2037 8,437,766 47,910,899
2036 8,364,809 48,020,350
2035 8,289,931 48,124,430
2034 8,209,318 48,220,051
2033 8,129,142 48,311,842
2032 8,052,203 48,402,470
2031 7,969,547 48,495,278
2030 7,884,726 48,579,920
2029 7,801,482 48,648,699
2028 7,713,090 48,707,969
2027 7,621,838 48,758,200
2026 7,536,898 48,806,901
2025 7,458,392 48,838,057
2024 7,381,023 48,848,840
2023 7,305,659 48,352,528
2022 7,223,805 47,786,102
2021 7,135,175 47,443,821
2020 7,045,399 47,359,424
2019 6,951,033 47,118,501
2018 6,849,055 46,782,011
2017 6,738,770 46,571,232
2016 6,632,126 46,458,139
2015 6,531,819 46,422,303
2014 6,427,252 46,460,733
2013 6,304,628 46,604,197
2012 6,179,328 46,773,055
2011 6,343,203 46,742,697
2010 6,497,839 46,576,897
2009 6,366,686 46,362,946
2008 6,235,430 45,954,106
2007 6,104,380 45,226,803
2006 5,980,211 44,397,319
2005 5,858,798 43,653,155
2004 5,736,693 42,921,895
2003 5,619,398 42,187,645
2002 5,508,410 41,431,558
2001 5,403,639 40,850,412
2000 5,305,021 40,567,864
1999 5,218,038 40,386,875
1998 5,140,704 40,223,509
1997 5,064,639 40,057,389
1996 4,987,393 39,889,852
1995 4,906,843 39,724,050
1994 4,822,037 39,549,108
1993 4,733,045 39,361,262
1992 4,640,352 39,157,685
1991 4,544,400 38,966,376
1990 4,445,239 38,867,322
1989 4,342,920 38,827,764
1988 4,237,755 38,766,939
1987 4,129,739 38,684,815
1986 4,017,403 38,584,624
1985 3,898,745 38,469,512
1984 3,773,633 38,330,364
1983 3,718,961 38,171,525
1982 3,724,765 37,986,012
1981 3,621,486 37,758,631
1980 3,424,378 37,491,165
1979 3,233,846 37,191,330
1978 3,052,526 36,864,898
1977 2,881,533 36,511,638
1976 2,721,237 36,137,812
1975 2,571,556 35,757,900
1974 2,432,211 35,373,335
1973 2,314,193 34,988,947
1972 2,226,091 34,604,469
1971 2,153,534 34,224,490
1970 2,082,589 33,814,531
1969 2,014,293 33,441,054
1968 1,952,781 33,113,134
1967 1,898,199 32,682,947
1966 1,849,063 32,283,194
1965 1,804,015 31,954,292
1964 1,753,691 31,609,195
1963 1,690,457 31,296,651
1962 1,621,960 31,023,366
1961 1,555,699 30,739,250
1960 1,492,890 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Spain
2100 -0.18% -0.52%
2099 -0.21% -0.51%
2098 -0.2% -0.5%
2097 -0.17% -0.48%
2096 -0.12% -0.48%
2095 -0.12% -0.47%
2094 -0.15% -0.46%
2093 -0.15% -0.46%
2092 -0.09% -0.46%
2091 -0.16% -0.48%
2090 -0.1% -0.48%
2089 -0.11% -0.47%
2088 -0.04% -0.46%
2087 0.004% -0.46%
2086 0.06% -0.48%
2085 0.07% -0.49%
2084 0.04% -0.5%
2083 0.08% -0.51%
2082 0.12% -0.53%
2081 0.1% -0.55%
2080 0.13% -0.57%
2079 0.04% -0.58%
2078 0.06% -0.61%
2077 0.13% -0.64%
2076 0.12% -0.67%
2075 0.11% -0.7%
2074 0.16% -0.71%
2073 0.22% -0.74%
2072 0.12% -0.74%
2071 0.17% -0.77%
2070 0.19% -0.76%
2069 0.2% -0.79%
2068 0.13% -0.78%
2067 0.18% -0.79%
2066 0.2% -0.78%
2065 0.23% -0.8%
2064 0.11% -0.78%
2063 0.23% -0.79%
2062 0.22% -0.77%
2061 0.2% -0.73%
2060 0.3% -0.72%
2059 0.28% -0.69%
2058 0.32% -0.69%
2057 0.26% -0.68%
2056 0.34% -0.62%
2055 0.47% -0.59%
2054 0.48% -0.58%
2053 0.53% -0.54%
2052 0.51% -0.49%
2051 0.56% -0.47%
2050 0.56% -0.47%
2049 0.63% -0.42%
2048 0.6% -0.4%
2047 0.61% -0.38%
2046 0.72% -0.36%
2045 0.72% -0.33%
2044 0.77% -0.3%
2043 0.78% -0.3%
2042 0.76% -0.28%
2041 0.82% -0.27%
2040 0.85% -0.26%
2039 0.87% -0.24%
2038 0.9% -0.23%
2037 0.87% -0.23%
2036 0.9% -0.22%
2035 0.98% -0.2%
2034 0.99% -0.19%
2033 0.96% -0.19%
2032 1.04% -0.19%
2031 1.08% -0.17%
2030 1.07% -0.14%
2029 1.15% -0.12%
2028 1.2% -0.1%
2027 1.13% -0.1%
2026 1.05% -0.06%
2025 1.05% -0.02%
2024 1.03% 1.03%
2023 1.13% 1.19%
2022 1.24% 0.72%
2021 1.27% 0.18%
2020 1.36% 0.51%
2019 1.49% 0.72%
2018 1.64% 0.45%
2017 1.61% 0.24%
2016 1.54% 0.08%
2015 1.63% -0.08%
2014 1.94% -0.31%
2013 2.03% -0.36%
2012 -2.58% 0.06%
2011 -2.38% 0.36%
2010 2.06% 0.46%
2009 2.11% 0.89%
2008 2.15% 1.61%
2007 2.08% 1.87%
2006 2.07% 1.7%
2005 2.13% 1.7%
2004 2.09% 1.74%
2003 2.01% 1.82%
2002 1.94% 1.42%
2001 1.86% 0.7%
2000 1.67% 0.45%
1999 1.5% 0.41%
1998 1.5% 0.41%
1997 1.55% 0.42%
1996 1.64% 0.42%
1995 1.76% 0.44%
1994 1.88% 0.48%
1993 2% 0.52%
1992 2.11% 0.49%
1991 2.23% 0.25%
1990 2.36% 0.1%
1989 2.48% 0.16%
1988 2.62% 0.21%
1987 2.8% 0.26%
1986 3.04% 0.3%
1985 3.32% 0.36%
1984 1.47% 0.42%
1983 -0.16% 0.49%
1982 2.85% 0.6%
1981 5.76% 0.71%
1980 5.89% 0.81%
1979 5.94% 0.89%
1978 5.93% 0.97%
1977 5.89% 1.03%
1976 5.82% 1.06%
1975 5.73% 1.09%
1974 5.1% 1.1%
1973 3.96% 1.11%
1972 3.37% 1.11%
1971 3.41% 1.21%
1970 3.39% 1.12%
1969 3.15% 0.99%
1968 2.88% 1.32%
1967 2.66% 1.24%
1966 2.5% 1.03%
1965 2.87% 1.09%
1964 3.74% 1%
1963 4.22% 0.88%
1962 4.26% 0.92%
1961 4.21% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Libya Spain
Current population
7559873
48806901
Population rank 105/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.59%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
4.23 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 100/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +96,630
Net migration rank 83/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 96,630
2024 - 3,448 - 111,674
2023 75,760 -2,001 -111,211 119,099
2022 91,951 -2,001 -133,801 299,779
2021 88,005 -694 -113,865 144,385
2020 92,950 -694 -151,551 236,854
2019 97,842 -1,352 -56,542 464,783
2018 101,619 5,841 -56,139 337,467
2017 103,891 9,208 -32,600 201,135
2016 105,265 -5,081 0 106,474
2015 108,096 -7,660 -4,642 -1,979
2014 110,420 -1,716 32,522 -97,870
2013 110,772 25,755 37,284 -250,741
2012 108,855 5,211 51,450 -153,486
2011 121,016 -562,827 84,137 60,761
2010 122,926 9,611 102,469 69,406
2009 118,102 11,670 106,635 129,557
2008 117,481 15,260 133,267 434,135
2007 116,704 12,640 108,545 772,317
2006 115,645 3,351 110,994 659,720
2005 112,823 11,024 78,576 629,803
2004 107,144 13,222 85,844 661,158
2003 102,144 12,073 54,844 658,428
2002 97,598 10,152 53,861 737,880
2001 93,370 8,420 44,936 181,307
2000 89,814 5,634 36,512 176,269
1999 88,743 -10,206 8,077 178,559
1998 87,613 -11,479 4,022 182,926
1997 86,899 -10,907 20,028 165,345
1996 86,945 -8,446 11,967 162,704
1995 87,661 -5,068 15,889 162,434
1994 88,765 -1,755 31,639 160,407
1993 90,553 426 47,234 160,907
1992 93,568 843 62,652 177,544
1991 96,582 902 58,450 122,841
1990 99,898 946 66,075 -30,684
1989 102,823 981 81,538 -25,892
1988 105,469 1,053 100,794 -17,663
1987 107,761 1,740 116,054 -12,681
1986 109,325 5,844 131,188 -13,540
1985 110,194 11,962 146,184 -589
1984 110,028 18,039 172,487 2,754
1983 122,183 -140,904 183,223 1,241
1982 133,511 -126,400 231,714 -7,384
1981 130,233 69,211 237,879 2,563
1980 128,034 66,739 281,184 20,166
1979 121,469 64,821 312,407 -5,929
1978 114,669 61,684 339,157 -2,504
1977 107,769 57,867 361,465 -1,332
1976 101,146 53,813 375,834 2,804
1975 94,862 49,544 371,882 -218
1974 89,337 44,946 396,182 105,838
1973 81,256 20,498 374,381 8,624
1972 77,864 -3,418 391,030 7,935
1971 74,934 -4,265 369,625 7,363
1970 70,488 745 378,723 -60,580
1969 66,782 -1,418 367,851 -49,956
1968 63,971 -6,323 387,423 -46,088
1967 61,889 -10,384 402,001 -42,344
1966 60,394 -13,619 397,084 -41,467
1965 59,134 -15,810 405,819 -42,476
1964 55,227 2,084 429,885 -41,461
1963 50,421 18,740 394,338 -44,446
1962 46,252 21,589 384,690 -45,211
1961 42,167 22,504 396,537 -46,517
1960 38,391 22,559 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.