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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 3.55 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Libya vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Syria
2100 9,844,478 44,620,090
2099 9,862,293 44,690,260
2098 9,883,409 44,750,249
2097 9,903,494 44,813,148
2096 9,920,212 44,867,740
2095 9,931,781 44,895,489
2094 9,943,275 44,945,231
2093 9,958,570 44,974,311
2092 9,973,255 45,003,795
2091 9,982,193 45,016,478
2090 9,998,398 45,048,083
2089 10,008,842 45,047,102
2088 10,019,533 45,041,864
2087 10,023,170 45,049,516
2086 10,022,785 45,068,928
2085 10,016,359 45,034,847
2084 10,009,703 44,999,929
2083 10,006,073 44,971,600
2082 9,997,594 44,910,859
2081 9,985,386 44,843,908
2080 9,975,419 44,744,718
2079 9,962,691 44,687,371
2078 9,958,515 44,649,760
2077 9,952,827 44,604,175
2076 9,940,029 44,520,132
2075 9,927,944 44,426,423
2074 9,916,834 44,328,795
2073 9,901,120 44,221,016
2072 9,879,602 44,084,262
2071 9,867,880 43,939,848
2070 9,850,724 43,795,999
2069 9,832,072 43,648,130
2068 9,812,363 43,465,442
2067 9,799,957 43,271,173
2066 9,782,414 43,060,752
2065 9,762,806 42,810,442
2064 9,740,665 42,559,554
2063 9,729,567 42,311,907
2062 9,707,539 42,062,193
2061 9,686,619 41,808,082
2060 9,667,297 41,522,274
2059 9,638,062 41,208,825
2058 9,610,703 40,925,728
2057 9,579,595 40,643,453
2056 9,554,689 40,332,578
2055 9,522,205 40,026,632
2054 9,478,010 39,691,425
2053 9,432,683 39,348,020
2052 9,383,411 39,045,268
2051 9,335,341 38,733,827
2050 9,282,941 38,410,423
2049 9,230,811 38,089,455
2048 9,173,272 37,784,449
2047 9,118,915 37,492,636
2046 9,063,226 37,181,526
2045 8,998,841 36,843,579
2044 8,934,714 36,526,509
2043 8,866,878 36,188,225
2042 8,798,463 35,825,419
2041 8,732,168 35,447,414
2040 8,661,351 35,042,107
2039 8,588,292 34,626,945
2038 8,514,071 34,183,740
2037 8,437,766 33,703,682
2036 8,364,809 33,223,843
2035 8,289,931 32,696,648
2034 8,209,318 32,148,814
2033 8,129,142 31,562,427
2032 8,052,203 30,967,322
2031 7,969,547 30,329,874
2030 7,884,726 29,672,629
2029 7,801,482 28,949,535
2028 7,713,090 28,217,748
2027 7,621,838 27,428,807
2026 7,536,898 26,607,148
2025 7,458,392 25,689,551
2024 7,381,023 24,672,760
2023 7,305,659 23,594,623
2022 7,223,805 22,462,173
2021 7,135,175 21,628,839
2020 7,045,399 21,049,429
2019 6,951,033 20,353,534
2018 6,849,055 19,577,845
2017 6,738,770 19,224,668
2016 6,632,126 19,193,834
2015 6,531,819 19,424,618
2014 6,427,252 20,273,659
2013 6,304,628 21,666,917
2012 6,179,328 22,759,763
2011 6,343,203 22,878,098
2010 6,497,839 22,482,421
2009 6,366,686 21,976,969
2008 6,235,430 21,636,564
2007 6,104,380 20,884,125
2006 5,980,211 19,637,022
2005 5,858,798 18,814,091
2004 5,736,693 18,336,875
2003 5,619,398 17,889,296
2002 5,508,410 17,468,332
2001 5,403,639 17,051,338
2000 5,305,021 16,637,888
1999 5,218,038 16,228,061
1998 5,140,704 15,820,413
1997 5,064,639 15,417,542
1996 4,987,393 15,018,104
1995 4,906,843 14,616,801
1994 4,822,037 14,208,583
1993 4,733,045 13,795,686
1992 4,640,352 13,385,571
1991 4,544,400 12,980,821
1990 4,445,239 12,579,208
1989 4,342,920 12,179,060
1988 4,237,755 11,782,264
1987 4,129,739 11,388,923
1986 4,017,403 11,002,844
1985 3,898,745 10,625,672
1984 3,773,633 10,258,398
1983 3,718,961 9,904,809
1982 3,724,765 9,572,511
1981 3,621,486 9,260,189
1980 3,424,378 8,957,663
1979 3,233,846 8,661,909
1978 3,052,526 8,372,759
1977 2,881,533 8,090,501
1976 2,721,237 7,817,320
1975 2,571,556 7,554,364
1974 2,432,211 7,302,160
1973 2,314,193 7,060,321
1972 2,226,091 6,826,024
1971 2,153,534 6,598,094
1970 2,082,589 6,380,609
1969 2,014,293 6,175,166
1968 1,952,781 5,978,742
1967 1,898,199 5,790,198
1966 1,849,063 5,609,047
1965 1,804,015 5,435,267
1964 1,753,691 5,269,087
1963 1,690,457 5,110,467
1962 1,621,960 4,959,340
1961 1,555,699 4,815,466
1960 1,492,890 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Syria
2100 -0.18% -0.16%
2099 -0.21% -0.13%
2098 -0.2% -0.14%
2097 -0.17% -0.12%
2096 -0.12% -0.06%
2095 -0.12% -0.11%
2094 -0.15% -0.06%
2093 -0.15% -0.07%
2092 -0.09% -0.03%
2091 -0.16% -0.07%
2090 -0.1% 0.002%
2089 -0.11% 0.01%
2088 -0.04% -0.02%
2087 0.004% -0.04%
2086 0.06% 0.08%
2085 0.07% 0.08%
2084 0.04% 0.06%
2083 0.08% 0.14%
2082 0.12% 0.15%
2081 0.1% 0.22%
2080 0.13% 0.13%
2079 0.04% 0.08%
2078 0.06% 0.1%
2077 0.13% 0.19%
2076 0.12% 0.21%
2075 0.11% 0.22%
2074 0.16% 0.24%
2073 0.22% 0.31%
2072 0.12% 0.33%
2071 0.17% 0.33%
2070 0.19% 0.34%
2069 0.2% 0.42%
2068 0.13% 0.45%
2067 0.18% 0.49%
2066 0.2% 0.58%
2065 0.23% 0.59%
2064 0.11% 0.59%
2063 0.23% 0.59%
2062 0.22% 0.61%
2061 0.2% 0.69%
2060 0.3% 0.76%
2059 0.28% 0.69%
2058 0.32% 0.69%
2057 0.26% 0.77%
2056 0.34% 0.76%
2055 0.47% 0.84%
2054 0.48% 0.87%
2053 0.53% 0.78%
2052 0.51% 0.8%
2051 0.56% 0.84%
2050 0.56% 0.84%
2049 0.63% 0.81%
2048 0.6% 0.78%
2047 0.61% 0.84%
2046 0.72% 0.92%
2045 0.72% 0.87%
2044 0.77% 0.93%
2043 0.78% 1.01%
2042 0.76% 1.07%
2041 0.82% 1.16%
2040 0.85% 1.2%
2039 0.87% 1.3%
2038 0.9% 1.42%
2037 0.87% 1.44%
2036 0.9% 1.61%
2035 0.98% 1.7%
2034 0.99% 1.86%
2033 0.96% 1.92%
2032 1.04% 2.1%
2031 1.08% 2.21%
2030 1.07% 2.5%
2029 1.15% 2.59%
2028 1.2% 2.88%
2027 1.13% 3.09%
2026 1.05% 3.57%
2025 1.05% 4.12%
2024 1.03% 4.57%
2023 1.13% 5.04%
2022 1.24% 3.85%
2021 1.27% 2.75%
2020 1.36% 3.42%
2019 1.49% 3.96%
2018 1.64% 1.84%
2017 1.61% 0.16%
2016 1.54% -1.19%
2015 1.63% -4.19%
2014 1.94% -6.43%
2013 2.03% -4.8%
2012 -2.58% -0.52%
2011 -2.38% 1.76%
2010 2.06% 2.3%
2009 2.11% 1.57%
2008 2.15% 3.6%
2007 2.08% 6.35%
2006 2.07% 4.37%
2005 2.13% 2.6%
2004 2.09% 2.5%
2003 2.01% 2.41%
2002 1.94% 2.45%
2001 1.86% 2.48%
2000 1.67% 2.53%
1999 1.5% 2.58%
1998 1.5% 2.61%
1997 1.55% 2.66%
1996 1.64% 2.75%
1995 1.76% 2.87%
1994 1.88% 2.99%
1993 2% 3.06%
1992 2.11% 3.12%
1991 2.23% 3.19%
1990 2.36% 3.29%
1989 2.48% 3.37%
1988 2.62% 3.45%
1987 2.8% 3.51%
1986 3.04% 3.55%
1985 3.32% 3.58%
1984 1.47% 3.57%
1983 -0.16% 3.47%
1982 2.85% 3.37%
1981 5.76% 3.38%
1980 5.89% 3.41%
1979 5.94% 3.45%
1978 5.93% 3.49%
1977 5.89% 3.49%
1976 5.82% 3.48%
1975 5.73% 3.45%
1974 5.1% 3.43%
1973 3.96% 3.43%
1972 3.37% 3.45%
1971 3.41% 3.41%
1970 3.39% 3.33%
1969 3.15% 3.29%
1968 2.88% 3.26%
1967 2.66% 3.23%
1966 2.5% 3.2%
1965 2.87% 3.15%
1964 3.74% 3.1%
1963 4.22% 3.05%
1962 4.26% 2.99%
1961 4.21% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Libya Syria
Current population
7559873
26829400
Population rank 105/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.32%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
4.23 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 6/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +421,693
Net migration rank 83/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 421,693
2024 - 3,448 - 546,494
2023 75,760 -2,001 402,713 757,309
2022 91,951 -2,001 369,750 735,142
2021 88,005 -694 350,560 211,220
2020 92,950 -694 327,992 269,050
2019 97,842 -1,352 293,762 500,985
2018 101,619 5,841 242,530 514,102
2017 103,891 9,208 237,214 -287,501
2016 105,265 -5,081 236,007 -124,063
2015 108,096 -7,660 253,977 -827,496
2014 110,420 -1,716 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 110,772 25,755 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 108,855 5,211 475,520 -999,267
2011 121,016 -562,827 543,950 -256,888
2010 122,926 9,611 558,666 -54,359
2009 118,102 11,670 559,314 -52,703
2008 117,481 15,260 576,593 -402,393
2007 116,704 12,640 529,162 801,514
2006 115,645 3,351 480,616 682,911
2005 112,823 11,024 468,960 13,382
2004 107,144 13,222 461,209 10,881
2003 102,144 12,073 457,000 -33,920
2002 97,598 10,152 453,967 -35,096
2001 93,370 8,420 451,503 -36,383
2000 89,814 5,634 446,211 -34,425
1999 88,743 -10,206 439,261 -31,394
1998 87,613 -11,479 433,447 -26,025
1997 86,899 -10,907 429,887 -31,571
1996 86,945 -8,446 430,765 -30,197
1995 87,661 -5,068 430,172 -28,122
1994 88,765 -1,755 426,996 -12,630
1993 90,553 426 420,244 -8,828
1992 93,568 843 412,878 -4,063
1991 96,582 902 410,830 -10,154
1990 99,898 946 409,177 -6,620
1989 102,823 981 406,111 -8,379
1988 105,469 1,053 404,285 -8,426
1987 107,761 1,740 399,159 -8,335
1986 109,325 5,844 390,821 -9,485
1985 110,194 11,962 379,231 -6,221
1984 110,028 18,039 366,768 -5,245
1983 122,183 -140,904 355,375 -9,729
1982 133,511 -126,400 319,664 -721
1981 130,233 69,211 330,237 -24,536
1980 128,034 66,739 332,464 -33,114
1979 121,469 64,821 324,943 -32,793
1978 114,669 61,684 316,724 -30,567
1977 107,769 57,867 306,630 -28,275
1976 101,146 53,813 294,267 -26,268
1975 94,862 49,544 282,299 -24,389
1974 89,337 44,946 270,735 -24,242
1973 81,256 20,498 254,687 -17,502
1972 77,864 -3,418 249,027 -17,610
1971 74,934 -4,265 239,610 -15,167
1970 70,488 745 230,117 -19,594
1969 66,782 -1,418 219,114 -18,749
1968 63,971 -6,323 209,454 -16,968
1967 61,889 -10,384 199,223 -14,618
1966 60,394 -13,619 191,122 -13,434
1965 59,134 -15,810 182,560 -12,704
1964 55,227 2,084 174,549 -12,044
1963 50,421 18,740 166,555 -11,817
1962 46,252 21,589 159,155 -11,641
1961 42,167 22,504 151,485 -11,237
1960 38,391 22,559 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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