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Population in Libya compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 2.89 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Libya vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Sri Lanka
2100 9,844,693 20,009,380
2099 9,862,508 20,121,095
2098 9,883,625 20,234,513
2097 9,903,710 20,345,619
2096 9,920,429 20,456,607
2095 9,931,997 20,566,246
2094 9,943,491 20,674,019
2093 9,958,787 20,780,946
2092 9,973,472 20,886,274
2091 9,982,411 20,990,047
2090 9,998,616 21,095,968
2089 10,009,061 21,198,788
2088 10,019,752 21,299,229
2087 10,023,389 21,398,269
2086 10,023,004 21,496,892
2085 10,016,577 21,594,661
2084 10,009,921 21,687,323
2083 10,006,291 21,778,597
2082 9,997,812 21,866,395
2081 9,985,604 21,954,337
2080 9,975,637 22,038,953
2079 9,962,908 22,122,744
2078 9,958,732 22,200,069
2077 9,953,044 22,274,355
2076 9,940,245 22,345,857
2075 9,928,160 22,414,609
2074 9,917,050 22,485,066
2073 9,901,336 22,550,427
2072 9,879,817 22,610,645
2071 9,868,096 22,669,042
2070 9,850,939 22,725,948
2069 9,832,286 22,779,050
2068 9,812,577 22,831,596
2067 9,800,171 22,885,941
2066 9,782,627 22,935,123
2065 9,763,018 22,985,942
2064 9,740,878 23,030,844
2063 9,729,779 23,071,114
2062 9,707,751 23,107,970
2061 9,686,831 23,139,924
2060 9,667,507 23,171,649
2059 9,638,272 23,199,387
2058 9,610,912 23,224,997
2057 9,579,804 23,247,211
2056 9,554,897 23,267,292
2055 9,522,413 23,278,653
2054 9,478,216 23,287,520
2053 9,432,889 23,297,347
2052 9,383,615 23,301,287
2051 9,335,544 23,302,108
2050 9,283,143 23,299,282
2049 9,231,012 23,293,630
2048 9,173,472 23,283,465
2047 9,119,114 23,267,251
2046 9,063,424 23,244,081
2045 8,999,038 23,212,221
2044 8,934,909 23,181,041
2043 8,867,072 23,144,217
2042 8,798,655 23,103,489
2041 8,732,358 23,056,478
2040 8,661,540 23,005,928
2039 8,588,479 22,948,866
2038 8,514,257 22,888,821
2037 8,437,950 22,822,943
2036 8,364,991 22,756,462
2035 8,290,112 22,685,766
2034 8,209,497 22,611,514
2033 8,129,319 22,532,374
2032 8,052,378 22,449,310
2031 7,969,721 22,364,063
2030 7,884,898 22,273,377
2029 7,801,652 22,181,300
2028 7,713,258 22,082,826
2027 7,622,004 21,979,196
2026 7,537,063 21,870,145
2025 7,458,555 21,756,000
2024 7,381,023 21,916,000
2023 7,305,659 22,037,000
2022 7,223,805 22,181,000
2021 7,135,175 22,156,000
2020 7,045,399 21,919,000
2019 6,951,033 21,803,000
2018 6,849,055 21,670,000
2017 6,738,770 21,453,000
2016 6,632,126 21,209,000
2015 6,531,819 20,970,000
2014 6,427,252 20,778,000
2013 6,304,628 20,585,000
2012 6,179,328 21,169,458
2011 6,343,203 21,009,048
2010 6,497,839 20,879,089
2009 6,366,686 20,756,435
2008 6,235,430 20,629,378
2007 6,104,380 20,492,545
2006 5,980,211 20,352,411
2005 5,858,798 20,216,524
2004 5,736,693 20,087,605
2003 5,619,398 19,951,521
2002 5,508,410 19,805,752
2001 5,403,639 19,600,362
2000 5,305,021 19,293,054
1999 5,218,038 18,944,731
1998 5,140,704 18,596,003
1997 5,064,639 18,248,200
1996 4,987,393 17,905,018
1995 4,906,843 17,564,068
1994 4,822,037 17,275,773
1993 4,733,045 17,025,918
1992 4,640,352 16,739,284
1991 4,544,400 16,475,354
1990 4,445,239 16,352,458
1989 4,342,920 16,248,557
1988 4,237,755 16,078,621
1987 4,129,739 15,916,576
1986 4,017,403 15,731,256
1985 3,898,745 15,544,154
1984 3,773,633 15,441,860
1983 3,718,961 15,388,794
1982 3,724,765 15,286,567
1981 3,621,486 15,099,414
1980 3,424,378 14,847,974
1979 3,233,846 14,579,614
1978 3,052,526 14,310,128
1977 2,881,533 14,049,371
1976 2,721,237 13,796,770
1975 2,571,556 13,548,984
1974 2,432,211 13,305,693
1973 2,314,193 13,060,916
1972 2,226,091 12,809,205
1971 2,153,534 12,551,910
1970 2,082,589 12,287,110
1969 2,014,293 12,013,858
1968 1,952,781 11,736,088
1967 1,898,199 11,457,328
1966 1,849,063 11,183,928
1965 1,804,015 10,916,965
1964 1,753,691 10,653,397
1963 1,690,457 10,395,040
1962 1,621,960 10,143,754
1961 1,555,699 9,899,372
1960 1,492,890 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Sri Lanka
2100 -0.18% -0.56%
2099 -0.21% -0.56%
2098 -0.2% -0.55%
2097 -0.17% -0.54%
2096 -0.12% -0.53%
2095 -0.12% -0.52%
2094 -0.15% -0.51%
2093 -0.15% -0.5%
2092 -0.09% -0.49%
2091 -0.16% -0.5%
2090 -0.1% -0.49%
2089 -0.11% -0.47%
2088 -0.04% -0.46%
2087 0.004% -0.46%
2086 0.06% -0.45%
2085 0.07% -0.43%
2084 0.04% -0.42%
2083 0.08% -0.4%
2082 0.12% -0.4%
2081 0.1% -0.38%
2080 0.13% -0.38%
2079 0.04% -0.35%
2078 0.06% -0.33%
2077 0.13% -0.32%
2076 0.12% -0.31%
2075 0.11% -0.31%
2074 0.16% -0.29%
2073 0.22% -0.27%
2072 0.12% -0.26%
2071 0.17% -0.25%
2070 0.19% -0.23%
2069 0.2% -0.23%
2068 0.13% -0.24%
2067 0.18% -0.21%
2066 0.2% -0.22%
2065 0.23% -0.19%
2064 0.11% -0.17%
2063 0.23% -0.16%
2062 0.22% -0.14%
2061 0.2% -0.14%
2060 0.3% -0.12%
2059 0.28% -0.11%
2058 0.32% -0.1%
2057 0.26% -0.09%
2056 0.34% -0.05%
2055 0.47% -0.04%
2054 0.48% -0.04%
2053 0.53% -0.02%
2052 0.51% -0.004%
2051 0.56% 0.01%
2050 0.56% 0.02%
2049 0.63% 0.04%
2048 0.6% 0.07%
2047 0.61% 0.1%
2046 0.72% 0.14%
2045 0.72% 0.13%
2044 0.77% 0.16%
2043 0.78% 0.18%
2042 0.76% 0.2%
2041 0.82% 0.22%
2040 0.85% 0.25%
2039 0.87% 0.26%
2038 0.9% 0.29%
2037 0.87% 0.29%
2036 0.9% 0.31%
2035 0.98% 0.33%
2034 0.99% 0.35%
2033 0.96% 0.37%
2032 1.04% 0.38%
2031 1.08% 0.41%
2030 1.07% 0.42%
2029 1.15% 0.45%
2028 1.2% 0.47%
2027 1.13% 0.5%
2026 1.05% 0.52%
2025 1.05% -0.73%
2024 1.03% -0.55%
2023 1.13% -0.65%
2022 1.24% 0.11%
2021 1.27% 1.08%
2020 1.36% 0.53%
2019 1.49% 0.61%
2018 1.64% 1.01%
2017 1.61% 1.15%
2016 1.54% 1.14%
2015 1.63% 0.92%
2014 1.94% 0.94%
2013 2.03% -2.76%
2012 -2.58% 0.76%
2011 -2.38% 0.62%
2010 2.06% 0.59%
2009 2.11% 0.62%
2008 2.15% 0.67%
2007 2.08% 0.69%
2006 2.07% 0.67%
2005 2.13% 0.64%
2004 2.09% 0.68%
2003 2.01% 0.74%
2002 1.94% 1.05%
2001 1.86% 1.59%
2000 1.67% 1.84%
1999 1.5% 1.88%
1998 1.5% 1.91%
1997 1.55% 1.92%
1996 1.64% 1.94%
1995 1.76% 1.67%
1994 1.88% 1.47%
1993 2% 1.71%
1992 2.11% 1.6%
1991 2.23% 0.75%
1990 2.36% 0.64%
1989 2.48% 1.06%
1988 2.62% 1.02%
1987 2.8% 1.18%
1986 3.04% 1.2%
1985 3.32% 0.66%
1984 1.47% 0.34%
1983 -0.16% 0.67%
1982 2.85% 1.24%
1981 5.76% 1.69%
1980 5.89% 1.84%
1979 5.94% 1.88%
1978 5.93% 1.86%
1977 5.89% 1.83%
1976 5.82% 1.83%
1975 5.73% 1.83%
1974 5.1% 1.87%
1973 3.96% 1.97%
1972 3.37% 2.05%
1971 3.41% 2.16%
1970 3.39% 2.27%
1969 3.15% 2.37%
1968 2.88% 2.43%
1967 2.66% 2.44%
1966 2.5% 2.45%
1965 2.87% 2.47%
1964 3.74% 2.49%
1963 4.22% 2.48%
1962 4.26% 2.47%
1961 4.21% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Libya Sri Lanka
Current population
7580693
21926160
Population rank 105/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.26%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
4.32 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 -438
Annual growth/decline +77,532 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 190/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -172 -30,724
Net migration rank 83/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -30,724
2024 73,522 3,448 50,407 -27,245
2023 75,760 -2,001 66,111 -28,011
2022 91,951 -2,001 95,378 -27,435
2021 88,005 -694 121,858 -29,586
2020 92,950 -694 170,968 -29,875
2019 97,842 -1,352 172,243 -28,426
2018 101,619 5,841 183,610 -28,607
2017 103,891 9,208 187,993 -22,324
2016 105,265 -5,081 194,232 -18,388
2015 108,096 -7,660 201,815 -29,797
2014 110,420 -1,716 211,541 -33,672
2013 110,772 25,755 221,021 -37,754
2012 108,855 5,211 229,138 -41,955
2011 121,016 -562,827 224,461 -90,839
2010 122,926 9,611 224,325 -98,060
2009 118,102 11,670 200,175 -81,130
2008 117,481 15,260 232,225 -97,144
2007 116,704 12,640 248,287 -109,695
2006 115,645 3,351 248,706 -107,045
2005 112,823 11,024 248,683 -118,594
2004 107,144 13,222 212,527 -84,795
2003 102,144 12,073 252,008 -107,573
2002 97,598 10,152 252,840 -105,718
2001 93,370 8,420 244,377 19,273
2000 89,814 5,634 227,060 123,894
1999 88,743 -10,206 206,876 138,799
1998 87,613 -11,479 201,059 150,724
1997 86,899 -10,907 208,193 135,636
1996 86,945 -8,446 215,290 127,236
1995 87,661 -5,068 221,957 117,416
1994 88,765 -1,755 228,904 8,323
1993 90,553 426 226,257 36,232
1992 93,568 843 222,230 88,542
1991 96,582 902 218,117 -1,047
1990 99,898 946 224,454 -195,736
1989 102,823 981 212,401 -33,305
1988 105,469 1,053 219,184 -58,415
1987 107,761 1,740 226,414 -63,105
1986 109,325 5,844 233,782 -26,460
1985 110,194 11,962 247,836 -80,950
1984 110,028 18,039 263,175 -225,450
1983 122,183 -140,904 277,768 -209,362
1982 133,511 -126,400 300,030 -163,987
1981 130,233 69,211 328,096 -89,824
1980 128,034 66,739 328,155 -63,541
1979 121,469 64,821 329,791 -57,683
1978 114,669 61,684 317,055 -50,189
1977 107,769 57,867 300,038 -45,383
1976 101,146 53,813 291,816 -41,258
1975 94,862 49,544 282,496 -37,475
1974 89,337 44,946 275,521 -33,979
1973 81,256 20,498 278,577 -30,582
1972 77,864 -3,418 282,494 -27,071
1971 74,934 -4,265 281,200 -22,021
1970 70,488 745 286,719 -16,299
1969 66,782 -1,418 286,218 -10,152
1968 63,971 -6,323 286,642 -7,163
1967 61,889 -10,384 284,738 -6,696
1966 60,394 -13,619 275,549 -6,794
1965 59,134 -15,810 272,422 -7,249
1964 55,227 2,084 269,584 -7,614
1963 50,421 18,740 262,880 -8,118
1962 46,252 21,589 256,719 -8,909
1961 42,167 22,504 251,087 -10,144
1960 38,391 22,559 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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