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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,381,023 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,559,873 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 9.28 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.94% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.44% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.56M (26.4% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Libya vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya United Kingdom
2100 9,844,478 74,700,585
2099 9,862,293 74,831,175
2098 9,883,409 74,950,267
2097 9,903,494 75,064,397
2096 9,920,212 75,176,691
2095 9,931,781 75,287,063
2094 9,943,275 75,383,856
2093 9,958,570 75,482,205
2092 9,973,255 75,575,769
2091 9,982,193 75,666,091
2090 9,998,398 75,753,129
2089 10,008,842 75,835,723
2088 10,019,533 75,907,614
2087 10,023,170 75,978,712
2086 10,022,785 76,046,742
2085 10,016,359 76,105,680
2084 10,009,703 76,156,223
2083 10,006,073 76,205,894
2082 9,997,594 76,246,844
2081 9,985,386 76,274,040
2080 9,975,419 76,306,205
2079 9,962,691 76,334,949
2078 9,958,515 76,353,484
2077 9,952,827 76,371,123
2076 9,940,029 76,373,520
2075 9,927,944 76,386,071
2074 9,916,834 76,397,426
2073 9,901,120 76,406,554
2072 9,879,602 76,398,941
2071 9,867,880 76,388,223
2070 9,850,724 76,378,505
2069 9,832,072 76,371,827
2068 9,812,363 76,370,973
2067 9,799,957 76,363,548
2066 9,782,414 76,356,638
2065 9,762,806 76,355,841
2064 9,740,665 76,352,770
2063 9,729,567 76,353,175
2062 9,707,539 76,346,535
2061 9,686,619 76,344,206
2060 9,667,297 76,344,725
2059 9,638,062 76,345,215
2058 9,610,703 76,326,961
2057 9,579,595 76,307,006
2056 9,554,689 76,274,247
2055 9,522,205 76,235,304
2054 9,478,010 76,167,710
2053 9,432,683 76,094,051
2052 9,383,411 76,001,979
2051 9,335,341 75,895,690
2050 9,282,941 75,777,445
2049 9,230,811 75,646,044
2048 9,173,272 75,499,380
2047 9,118,915 75,338,951
2046 9,063,226 75,171,300
2045 8,998,841 74,993,186
2044 8,934,714 74,807,530
2043 8,866,878 74,607,485
2042 8,798,463 74,407,783
2041 8,732,168 74,203,292
2040 8,661,351 73,994,525
2039 8,588,292 73,782,112
2038 8,514,071 73,559,085
2037 8,437,766 73,335,723
2036 8,364,809 73,101,646
2035 8,289,931 72,850,722
2034 8,209,318 72,597,177
2033 8,129,142 72,322,802
2032 8,052,203 72,046,316
2031 7,969,547 71,757,868
2030 7,884,726 71,442,811
2029 7,801,482 71,123,782
2028 7,713,090 70,783,199
2027 7,621,838 70,421,923
2026 7,536,898 70,055,911
2025 7,458,392 69,658,188
2024 7,381,023 69,226,000
2023 7,305,659 68,492,000
2022 7,223,805 67,604,000
2021 7,135,175 66,984,000
2020 7,045,399 66,744,000
2019 6,951,033 66,631,000
2018 6,849,055 66,289,000
2017 6,738,770 65,966,000
2016 6,632,126 65,607,000
2015 6,531,819 65,088,000
2014 6,427,252 64,620,000
2013 6,304,628 64,139,000
2012 6,179,328 63,711,000
2011 6,343,203 63,258,810
2010 6,497,839 62,766,365
2009 6,366,686 62,276,270
2008 6,235,430 61,806,995
2007 6,104,380 61,322,463
2006 5,980,211 60,846,820
2005 5,858,798 60,401,206
2004 5,736,693 59,987,905
2003 5,619,398 59,647,577
2002 5,508,410 59,370,479
2001 5,403,639 59,119,673
2000 5,305,021 58,892,514
1999 5,218,038 58,682,466
1998 5,140,704 58,487,141
1997 5,064,639 58,316,954
1996 4,987,393 58,166,950
1995 4,906,843 58,019,030
1994 4,822,037 57,865,745
1993 4,733,045 57,718,614
1992 4,640,352 57,580,402
1991 4,544,400 57,424,897
1990 4,445,239 57,247,586
1989 4,342,920 57,076,711
1988 4,237,755 56,928,327
1987 4,129,739 56,802,050
1986 4,017,403 56,681,396
1985 3,898,745 56,550,268
1984 3,773,633 56,422,072
1983 3,718,961 56,332,848
1982 3,724,765 56,313,641
1981 3,621,486 56,333,829
1980 3,424,378 56,314,216
1979 3,233,846 56,246,951
1978 3,052,526 56,196,504
1977 2,881,533 56,193,492
1976 2,721,237 56,211,968
1975 2,571,556 56,225,800
1974 2,432,211 56,229,974
1973 2,314,193 56,194,527
1972 2,226,091 56,086,065
1971 2,153,534 55,896,223
1970 2,082,589 55,663,250
1969 2,014,293 55,441,750
1968 1,952,781 55,211,700
1967 1,898,199 54,943,600
1966 1,849,063 54,648,500
1965 1,804,015 54,348,050
1964 1,753,691 54,000,000
1963 1,690,457 53,650,000
1962 1,621,960 53,250,000
1961 1,555,699 52,800,000
1960 1,492,890 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 927,747 people (a 14% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Libya was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya United Kingdom
2100 -0.18% -0.17%
2099 -0.21% -0.16%
2098 -0.2% -0.15%
2097 -0.17% -0.15%
2096 -0.12% -0.15%
2095 -0.12% -0.13%
2094 -0.15% -0.13%
2093 -0.15% -0.12%
2092 -0.09% -0.12%
2091 -0.16% -0.11%
2090 -0.1% -0.11%
2089 -0.11% -0.09%
2088 -0.04% -0.09%
2087 0.004% -0.09%
2086 0.06% -0.08%
2085 0.07% -0.07%
2084 0.04% -0.07%
2083 0.08% -0.05%
2082 0.12% -0.04%
2081 0.1% -0.04%
2080 0.13% -0.04%
2079 0.04% -0.02%
2078 0.06% -0.02%
2077 0.13% -0.003%
2076 0.12% -0.02%
2075 0.11% -0.01%
2074 0.16% -0.01%
2073 0.22% 0.01%
2072 0.12% 0.01%
2071 0.17% 0.01%
2070 0.19% 0.009%
2069 0.2% 0.001%
2068 0.13% 0.01%
2067 0.18% 0.009%
2066 0.2% 0.001%
2065 0.23% 0.004%
2064 0.11% -0%
2063 0.23% 0.009%
2062 0.22% 0.003%
2061 0.2% -0.001%
2060 0.3% -0.001%
2059 0.28% 0.02%
2058 0.32% 0.03%
2057 0.26% 0.04%
2056 0.34% 0.05%
2055 0.47% 0.09%
2054 0.48% 0.1%
2053 0.53% 0.12%
2052 0.51% 0.14%
2051 0.56% 0.16%
2050 0.56% 0.17%
2049 0.63% 0.19%
2048 0.6% 0.21%
2047 0.61% 0.22%
2046 0.72% 0.24%
2045 0.72% 0.25%
2044 0.77% 0.27%
2043 0.78% 0.27%
2042 0.76% 0.28%
2041 0.82% 0.28%
2040 0.85% 0.29%
2039 0.87% 0.3%
2038 0.9% 0.3%
2037 0.87% 0.32%
2036 0.9% 0.34%
2035 0.98% 0.35%
2034 0.99% 0.38%
2033 0.96% 0.38%
2032 1.04% 0.4%
2031 1.08% 0.44%
2030 1.07% 0.45%
2029 1.15% 0.48%
2028 1.2% 0.51%
2027 1.13% 0.52%
2026 1.05% 0.57%
2025 1.05% 0.62%
2024 1.03% 1.07%
2023 1.13% 1.31%
2022 1.24% 0.93%
2021 1.27% 0.36%
2020 1.36% 0.17%
2019 1.49% 0.52%
2018 1.64% 0.49%
2017 1.61% 0.55%
2016 1.54% 0.8%
2015 1.63% 0.72%
2014 1.94% 0.75%
2013 2.03% 0.67%
2012 -2.58% 0.71%
2011 -2.38% 0.78%
2010 2.06% 0.79%
2009 2.11% 0.76%
2008 2.15% 0.79%
2007 2.08% 0.78%
2006 2.07% 0.74%
2005 2.13% 0.69%
2004 2.09% 0.57%
2003 2.01% 0.47%
2002 1.94% 0.42%
2001 1.86% 0.39%
2000 1.67% 0.36%
1999 1.5% 0.33%
1998 1.5% 0.29%
1997 1.55% 0.26%
1996 1.64% 0.25%
1995 1.76% 0.26%
1994 1.88% 0.25%
1993 2% 0.24%
1992 2.11% 0.27%
1991 2.23% 0.31%
1990 2.36% 0.3%
1989 2.48% 0.26%
1988 2.62% 0.22%
1987 2.8% 0.21%
1986 3.04% 0.23%
1985 3.32% 0.23%
1984 1.47% 0.16%
1983 -0.16% 0.03%
1982 2.85% -0.04%
1981 5.76% 0.03%
1980 5.89% 0.12%
1979 5.94% 0.09%
1978 5.93% 0.005%
1977 5.89% -0.03%
1976 5.82% -0.02%
1975 5.73% -0.007%
1974 5.1% 0.06%
1973 3.96% 0.19%
1972 3.37% 0.34%
1971 3.41% 0.42%
1970 3.39% 0.4%
1969 3.15% 0.42%
1968 2.88% 0.49%
1967 2.66% 0.54%
1966 2.5% 0.55%
1965 2.87% 0.64%
1964 3.74% 0.65%
1963 4.22% 0.75%
1962 4.26% 0.85%
1961 4.21% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Libya grew by 1.03%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Libya United Kingdom
Current population
7559873
70154914
Population rank 105/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.85%
One net population change
6.97 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
4.23 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
10.8 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +206 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +75,364 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 99/197 97/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -172 +389,911
Net migration rank 83/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - 389,911
2024 - 3,448 - 417,114
2023 75,760 -2,001 34,589 445,523
2022 91,951 -2,001 39,751 487,029
2021 88,005 -694 30,612 462,967
2020 92,950 -694 -4,272 144,221
2019 97,842 -1,352 108,342 232,727
2018 101,619 5,841 119,321 259,744
2017 103,891 9,208 145,125 272,311
2016 105,265 -5,081 177,139 324,649
2015 108,096 -7,660 175,738 347,839
2014 110,420 -1,716 206,784 306,091
2013 110,772 25,755 198,830 237,272
2012 108,855 5,211 248,473 172,088
2011 121,016 -562,827 259,361 228,773
2010 122,926 9,611 251,066 274,811
2009 118,102 11,670 230,422 249,639
2008 117,481 15,260 216,325 263,390
2007 116,704 12,640 196,232 309,385
2006 115,645 3,351 176,455 288,923
2005 112,823 11,024 144,963 308,279
2004 107,144 13,222 131,974 276,077
2003 102,144 12,073 89,471 211,846
2002 97,598 10,152 65,308 203,577
2001 93,370 8,420 65,032 175,133
2000 89,814 5,634 70,671 153,917
1999 88,743 -10,206 64,551 152,653
1998 87,613 -11,479 87,730 125,541
1997 86,899 -10,907 99,138 59,723
1996 86,945 -8,446 98,884 54,964
1995 87,661 -5,068 87,028 61,385
1994 88,765 -1,755 127,304 45,339
1993 90,553 426 103,893 27,403
1992 93,568 843 149,709 17,846
1991 96,582 902 143,562 27,601
1990 99,898 946 154,569 57,132
1989 102,823 981 119,861 49,586
1988 105,469 1,053 136,628 13,952
1987 107,761 1,740 136,325 8,266
1986 109,325 5,844 90,690 41,836
1985 110,194 11,962 79,170 83,164
1984 110,028 18,039 84,633 71,107
1983 122,183 -140,904 61,966 27,063
1982 133,511 -126,400 56,314 -61,152
1981 130,233 69,211 73,234 -83,876
1980 128,034 66,739 95,734 -25,187
1979 121,469 64,821 61,872 11,255
1978 114,669 61,684 16,859 3,783
1977 107,769 57,867 0 -21,636
1976 101,146 53,813 -5,621 -19,135
1975 94,862 49,544 33,735 -40,241
1974 89,337 44,946 67,476 -65,710
1973 81,256 20,498 112,389 -33,840
1972 77,864 -3,418 162,650 -1,406
1971 74,934 -4,265 257,123 1,175
1970 70,488 745 244,918 -15,254
1969 66,782 -1,418 260,577 -60,655
1968 63,971 -6,323 292,622 -38,852
1967 61,889 -10,384 346,145 -39,659
1966 60,394 -13,619 333,356 -27,935
1965 59,134 -15,810 364,132 -24,955
1964 55,227 2,084 405,000 -23,885
1963 50,421 18,740 337,995 8,271
1962 46,252 21,589 340,800 76,443
1961 42,167 22,504 311,519 52,295
1960 38,391 22,559 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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