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Population in Libya compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 1.55 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Libya vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya UAE
2100 9,844,478 26,368,750
2099 9,862,293 26,130,374
2098 9,883,409 25,894,010
2097 9,903,494 25,660,062
2096 9,920,212 25,427,961
2095 9,931,781 25,197,670
2094 9,943,275 24,968,891
2093 9,958,570 24,741,434
2092 9,973,255 24,515,086
2091 9,982,193 24,289,496
2090 9,998,398 24,064,404
2089 10,008,842 23,839,033
2088 10,019,533 23,613,963
2087 10,023,170 23,388,786
2086 10,022,785 23,163,641
2085 10,016,359 22,938,169
2084 10,009,703 22,711,804
2083 10,006,073 22,484,154
2082 9,997,594 22,255,625
2081 9,985,386 22,026,183
2080 9,975,419 21,796,073
2079 9,962,691 21,565,118
2078 9,958,515 21,333,574
2077 9,952,827 21,101,274
2076 9,940,029 20,868,733
2075 9,927,944 20,636,203
2074 9,916,834 20,404,044
2073 9,901,120 20,171,659
2072 9,879,602 19,940,853
2071 9,867,880 19,710,934
2070 9,850,724 19,483,026
2069 9,832,072 19,256,572
2068 9,812,363 19,032,681
2067 9,799,957 18,811,331
2066 9,782,414 18,593,017
2065 9,762,806 18,377,364
2064 9,740,665 18,164,584
2063 9,729,567 17,955,352
2062 9,707,539 17,749,596
2061 9,686,619 17,547,827
2060 9,667,297 17,349,620
2059 9,638,062 17,153,273
2058 9,610,703 16,959,263
2057 9,579,595 16,767,893
2056 9,554,689 16,579,195
2055 9,522,205 16,392,558
2054 9,478,010 16,207,309
2053 9,432,683 16,024,789
2052 9,383,411 15,844,357
2051 9,335,341 15,665,362
2050 9,282,941 15,487,008
2049 9,230,811 15,309,031
2048 9,173,272 15,132,784
2047 9,118,915 14,958,209
2046 9,063,226 14,788,046
2045 8,998,841 14,620,902
2044 8,934,714 14,454,466
2043 8,866,878 14,289,021
2042 8,798,463 14,124,515
2041 8,732,168 13,961,010
2040 8,661,351 13,798,651
2039 8,588,292 13,637,499
2038 8,514,071 13,477,450
2037 8,437,766 13,319,346
2036 8,364,809 13,163,073
2035 8,289,931 13,009,160
2034 8,209,318 12,857,729
2033 8,129,142 12,709,520
2032 8,052,203 12,564,906
2031 7,969,547 12,424,286
2030 7,884,726 12,288,186
2029 7,801,482 12,148,661
2028 7,713,090 11,999,549
2027 7,621,838 11,831,082
2026 7,536,898 11,632,806
2025 7,458,392 11,367,504
2024 7,381,023 10,986,400
2023 7,305,659 10,483,751
2022 7,223,805 10,074,977
2021 7,135,175 9,575,152
2020 7,045,399 9,401,038
2019 6,951,033 9,445,785
2018 6,849,055 9,346,701
2017 6,738,770 9,223,225
2016 6,632,126 8,935,095
2015 6,531,819 8,505,237
2014 6,427,252 8,059,440
2013 6,304,628 7,693,031
2012 6,179,328 7,391,448
2011 6,343,203 7,104,538
2010 6,497,839 6,869,838
2009 6,366,686 6,707,058
2008 6,235,430 6,302,664
2007 6,104,380 5,624,635
2006 5,980,211 5,009,100
2005 5,858,798 4,664,790
2004 5,736,693 4,428,967
2003 5,619,398 4,192,457
2002 5,508,410 3,956,826
2001 5,403,639 3,723,590
2000 5,305,021 3,493,575
1999 5,218,038 3,266,009
1998 5,140,704 3,040,421
1997 5,064,639 2,817,410
1996 4,987,393 2,597,564
1995 4,906,843 2,434,662
1994 4,822,037 2,328,188
1993 4,733,045 2,222,093
1992 4,640,352 2,114,730
1991 4,544,400 2,006,626
1990 4,445,239 1,898,220
1989 4,342,920 1,789,851
1988 4,237,755 1,681,788
1987 4,129,739 1,574,244
1986 4,017,403 1,467,383
1985 3,898,745 1,377,911
1984 3,773,633 1,305,996
1983 3,718,961 1,235,305
1982 3,724,765 1,166,370
1981 3,621,486 1,099,855
1980 3,424,378 1,015,700
1979 3,233,846 912,010
1978 3,052,526 809,274
1977 2,881,533 710,209
1976 2,721,237 615,866
1975 2,571,556 542,856
1974 2,432,211 489,087
1973 2,314,193 436,399
1972 2,226,091 385,014
1971 2,153,534 335,027
1970 2,082,589 286,536
1969 2,014,293 239,660
1968 1,952,781 199,416
1967 1,898,199 179,700
1966 1,849,063 173,976
1965 1,804,015 167,103
1964 1,753,691 159,692
1963 1,690,457 152,211
1962 1,621,960 144,946
1961 1,555,699 137,989
1960 1,492,890 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya UAE
2100 -0.18% 0.91%
2099 -0.21% 0.91%
2098 -0.2% 0.91%
2097 -0.17% 0.91%
2096 -0.12% 0.91%
2095 -0.12% 0.92%
2094 -0.15% 0.92%
2093 -0.15% 0.92%
2092 -0.09% 0.93%
2091 -0.16% 0.94%
2090 -0.1% 0.95%
2089 -0.11% 0.95%
2088 -0.04% 0.96%
2087 0.004% 0.97%
2086 0.06% 0.98%
2085 0.07% 1%
2084 0.04% 1.01%
2083 0.08% 1.03%
2082 0.12% 1.04%
2081 0.1% 1.06%
2080 0.13% 1.07%
2079 0.04% 1.09%
2078 0.06% 1.1%
2077 0.13% 1.11%
2076 0.12% 1.13%
2075 0.11% 1.14%
2074 0.16% 1.15%
2073 0.22% 1.16%
2072 0.12% 1.17%
2071 0.17% 1.17%
2070 0.19% 1.18%
2069 0.2% 1.18%
2068 0.13% 1.18%
2067 0.18% 1.17%
2066 0.2% 1.17%
2065 0.23% 1.17%
2064 0.11% 1.17%
2063 0.23% 1.16%
2062 0.22% 1.15%
2061 0.2% 1.14%
2060 0.3% 1.14%
2059 0.28% 1.14%
2058 0.32% 1.14%
2057 0.26% 1.14%
2056 0.34% 1.14%
2055 0.47% 1.14%
2054 0.48% 1.14%
2053 0.53% 1.14%
2052 0.51% 1.14%
2051 0.56% 1.15%
2050 0.56% 1.16%
2049 0.63% 1.16%
2048 0.6% 1.17%
2047 0.61% 1.15%
2046 0.72% 1.14%
2045 0.72% 1.15%
2044 0.77% 1.16%
2043 0.78% 1.16%
2042 0.76% 1.17%
2041 0.82% 1.18%
2040 0.85% 1.18%
2039 0.87% 1.19%
2038 0.9% 1.19%
2037 0.87% 1.19%
2036 0.9% 1.18%
2035 0.98% 1.18%
2034 0.99% 1.17%
2033 0.96% 1.15%
2032 1.04% 1.13%
2031 1.08% 1.11%
2030 1.07% 1.15%
2029 1.15% 1.24%
2028 1.2% 1.42%
2027 1.13% 1.7%
2026 1.05% 2.33%
2025 1.05% 3.47%
2024 1.03% 4.79%
2023 1.13% 4.06%
2022 1.24% 5.22%
2021 1.27% 1.85%
2020 1.36% -0.47%
2019 1.49% 1.06%
2018 1.64% 1.34%
2017 1.61% 3.22%
2016 1.54% 5.05%
2015 1.63% 5.53%
2014 1.94% 4.76%
2013 2.03% 4.08%
2012 -2.58% 4.04%
2011 -2.38% 3.42%
2010 2.06% 2.43%
2009 2.11% 6.42%
2008 2.15% 12.1%
2007 2.08% 12.3%
2006 2.07% 7.38%
2005 2.13% 5.32%
2004 2.09% 5.64%
2003 2.01% 5.96%
2002 1.94% 6.26%
2001 1.86% 6.58%
2000 1.67% 6.97%
1999 1.5% 7.42%
1998 1.5% 7.92%
1997 1.55% 8.46%
1996 1.64% 6.69%
1995 1.76% 4.57%
1994 1.88% 4.77%
1993 2% 5.08%
1992 2.11% 5.39%
1991 2.23% 5.71%
1990 2.36% 6.05%
1989 2.48% 6.43%
1988 2.62% 6.83%
1987 2.8% 7.28%
1986 3.04% 6.49%
1985 3.32% 5.51%
1984 1.47% 5.72%
1983 -0.16% 5.91%
1982 2.85% 6.05%
1981 5.76% 8.29%
1980 5.89% 11.4%
1979 5.94% 12.7%
1978 5.93% 13.9%
1977 5.89% 15.3%
1976 5.82% 13.4%
1975 5.73% 11%
1974 5.1% 12.1%
1973 3.96% 13.3%
1972 3.37% 14.9%
1971 3.41% 16.9%
1970 3.39% 19.6%
1969 3.15% 20.2%
1968 2.88% 11%
1967 2.66% 3.29%
1966 2.5% 4.11%
1965 2.87% 4.64%
1964 3.74% 4.91%
1963 4.22% 5.01%
1962 4.26% 5.04%
1961 4.21% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Libya UAE
Current population
7559873
11686438
Population rank 105/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.14%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
4.23 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
10.8 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +206 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 3/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +158,634
Net migration rank 83/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 158,634
2024 - 3,448 - 278,439
2023 75,760 -2,001 92,698 300,004
2022 91,951 -2,001 81,758 322,773
2021 88,005 -694 76,802 421,663
2020 92,950 -694 87,871 92,541
2019 97,842 -1,352 86,296 -125,186
2018 101,619 5,841 86,840 14,611
2017 103,891 9,208 89,382 34,155
2016 105,265 -5,081 87,028 195,317
2015 108,096 -7,660 85,044 342,468
2014 110,420 -1,716 84,277 360,174
2013 110,772 25,755 82,977 279,269
2012 108,855 5,211 78,682 225,921
2011 121,016 -562,827 73,496 215,183
2010 122,926 9,611 69,907 161,842
2009 118,102 11,670 66,521 163,643
2008 117,481 15,260 55,426 523,207
2007 116,704 12,640 55,048 722,380
2006 115,645 3,351 54,338 399,306
2005 112,823 11,024 60,046 174,926
2004 107,144 13,222 60,344 176,319
2003 102,144 12,073 59,118 177,237
2002 97,598 10,152 55,922 178,988
2001 93,370 8,420 52,789 178,779
2000 89,814 5,634 49,993 178,469
1999 88,743 -10,206 46,198 180,469
1998 87,613 -11,479 41,176 183,329
1997 86,899 -10,907 38,207 183,310
1996 86,945 -8,446 37,886 180,296
1995 87,661 -5,068 38,685 68,938
1994 88,765 -1,755 42,976 62,352
1993 90,553 426 41,324 65,545
1992 93,568 843 42,119 65,739
1991 96,582 902 41,409 66,943
1990 99,898 946 41,339 67,118
1989 102,823 981 40,148 68,132
1988 105,469 1,053 38,861 68,991
1987 107,761 1,740 37,741 69,493
1986 109,325 5,844 36,829 69,655
1985 110,194 11,962 34,855 37,605
1984 110,028 18,039 33,250 38,124
1983 122,183 -140,904 31,480 38,536
1982 133,511 -126,400 29,585 38,276
1981 130,233 69,211 27,560 37,600
1980 128,034 66,739 25,005 78,148
1979 121,469 64,821 21,987 82,238
1978 114,669 61,684 18,879 82,359
1977 107,769 57,867 15,787 81,111
1976 101,146 53,813 12,876 78,903
1975 94,862 49,544 11,859 42,380
1974 89,337 44,946 10,835 42,474
1973 81,256 20,498 9,822 42,243
1972 77,864 -3,418 8,818 41,888
1971 74,934 -4,265 7,839 41,425
1970 70,488 745 6,922 40,792
1969 66,782 -1,418 6,138 39,902
1968 63,971 -6,323 5,588 28,866
1967 61,889 -10,384 5,264 -283
1966 60,394 -13,619 4,955 1,516
1965 59,134 -15,810 4,675 2,598
1964 55,227 2,084 4,410 3,126
1963 50,421 18,740 4,157 3,264
1962 46,252 21,589 3,901 3,212
1961 42,167 22,504 3,657 3,141
1960 38,391 22,559 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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

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