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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 1.57 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 +1.36% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 9,844,693 26,706,595
2099 9,862,508 26,465,166
2098 9,883,625 26,225,773
2097 9,903,710 25,988,828
2096 9,920,429 25,753,753
2095 9,931,997 25,520,511
2094 9,943,491 25,288,801
2093 9,958,787 25,058,430
2092 9,973,472 24,829,182
2091 9,982,411 24,600,702
2090 9,998,616 24,372,725
2089 10,009,061 24,144,467
2088 10,019,752 23,916,513
2087 10,023,389 23,688,452
2086 10,023,004 23,460,422
2085 10,016,577 23,232,061
2084 10,009,921 23,002,795
2083 10,006,291 22,772,229
2082 9,997,812 22,540,771
2081 9,985,604 22,308,390
2080 9,975,637 22,075,331
2079 9,962,908 21,841,417
2078 9,958,732 21,606,907
2077 9,953,044 21,371,631
2076 9,940,245 21,136,110
2075 9,928,160 20,900,601
2074 9,917,050 20,665,468
2073 9,901,336 20,430,105
2072 9,879,817 20,196,342
2071 9,868,096 19,963,477
2070 9,850,939 19,732,649
2069 9,832,286 19,503,294
2068 9,812,577 19,276,535
2067 9,800,171 19,052,348
2066 9,782,627 18,831,237
2065 9,763,018 18,612,821
2064 9,740,878 18,397,315
2063 9,729,779 18,185,402
2062 9,707,751 17,977,010
2061 9,686,831 17,772,656
2060 9,667,507 17,571,910
2059 9,638,272 17,373,047
2058 9,610,912 17,176,551
2057 9,579,804 16,982,730
2056 9,554,897 16,791,613
2055 9,522,413 16,602,585
2054 9,478,216 16,414,963
2053 9,432,889 16,230,105
2052 9,383,615 16,047,360
2051 9,335,544 15,866,073
2050 9,283,143 15,685,433
2049 9,231,012 15,505,176
2048 9,173,472 15,326,671
2047 9,119,114 15,149,859
2046 9,063,424 14,977,516
2045 8,999,038 14,808,230
2044 8,934,909 14,639,661
2043 8,867,072 14,472,097
2042 8,798,655 14,305,483
2041 8,732,358 14,139,883
2040 8,661,540 13,975,444
2039 8,588,479 13,812,227
2038 8,514,257 13,650,128
2037 8,437,950 13,489,998
2036 8,364,991 13,331,723
2035 8,290,112 13,175,838
2034 8,209,497 13,022,467
2033 8,129,319 12,872,359
2032 8,052,378 12,725,892
2031 7,969,721 12,583,470
2030 7,884,898 12,445,626
2029 7,801,652 12,304,314
2028 7,713,258 12,153,292
2027 7,622,004 11,982,666
2026 7,537,063 11,781,850
2025 7,458,555 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd 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 22.5% to 9,283,143 people and will still be ranked 105th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Libya UAE
Current population
7580693
11885001
Population rank 105/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.14%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
4.32 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 1/197
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 73,522 3,448 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/libya/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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