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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Libya was 7,458,555 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Libya's population is 7,580,693 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 2.3 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Libya is ranked the 105th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.09% for Libya vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Libya has had an average growth rate of +1.36% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Libya has increased from 5.98M people to 7.58M (26.8% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Libya vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Libya
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Libya Zimbabwe
2100 9,844,693 37,486,352
2099 9,862,508 37,415,690
2098 9,883,625 37,331,540
2097 9,903,710 37,238,819
2096 9,920,429 37,146,184
2095 9,931,997 37,035,388
2094 9,943,491 36,915,996
2093 9,958,787 36,814,133
2092 9,973,472 36,691,740
2091 9,982,411 36,570,481
2090 9,998,616 36,428,812
2089 10,009,061 36,284,166
2088 10,019,752 36,144,627
2087 10,023,389 35,980,805
2086 10,023,004 35,811,286
2085 10,016,577 35,640,228
2084 10,009,921 35,459,328
2083 10,006,291 35,271,139
2082 9,997,812 35,081,992
2081 9,985,604 34,876,198
2080 9,975,637 34,662,013
2079 9,962,908 34,442,751
2078 9,958,732 34,220,306
2077 9,953,044 33,985,899
2076 9,940,245 33,742,198
2075 9,928,160 33,498,815
2074 9,917,050 33,247,764
2073 9,901,336 32,981,390
2072 9,879,817 32,708,937
2071 9,868,096 32,448,602
2070 9,850,939 32,183,952
2069 9,832,286 31,909,601
2068 9,812,577 31,633,783
2067 9,800,171 31,348,096
2066 9,782,627 31,065,618
2065 9,763,018 30,769,538
2064 9,740,878 30,482,622
2063 9,729,779 30,178,760
2062 9,707,751 29,870,308
2061 9,686,831 29,559,670
2060 9,667,507 29,254,998
2059 9,638,272 28,947,636
2058 9,610,912 28,634,199
2057 9,579,804 28,309,796
2056 9,554,897 27,993,176
2055 9,522,413 27,661,321
2054 9,478,216 27,334,325
2053 9,432,889 26,989,310
2052 9,383,615 26,645,898
2051 9,335,544 26,289,905
2050 9,283,143 25,937,176
2049 9,231,012 25,587,491
2048 9,173,472 25,230,302
2047 9,119,114 24,876,838
2046 9,063,424 24,515,600
2045 8,999,038 24,149,762
2044 8,934,909 23,785,181
2043 8,867,072 23,404,024
2042 8,798,655 23,037,316
2041 8,732,358 22,649,943
2040 8,661,540 22,275,480
2039 8,588,479 21,904,908
2038 8,514,257 21,532,024
2037 8,437,950 21,161,527
2036 8,364,991 20,792,863
2035 8,290,112 20,415,452
2034 8,209,497 20,049,783
2033 8,129,319 19,678,070
2032 8,052,378 19,313,685
2031 7,969,721 18,960,968
2030 7,884,898 18,615,376
2029 7,801,652 18,271,657
2028 7,713,258 17,935,044
2027 7,622,004 17,602,533
2026 7,537,063 17,274,728
2025 7,458,555 16,950,795
2024 7,381,023 16,634,373
2023 7,305,659 16,340,822
2022 7,223,805 16,069,056
2021 7,135,175 15,797,210
2020 7,045,399 15,526,888
2019 6,951,033 15,271,368
2018 6,849,055 15,034,452
2017 6,738,770 14,812,482
2016 6,632,126 14,600,294
2015 6,531,819 14,399,013
2014 6,427,252 14,207,359
2013 6,304,628 14,013,808
2012 6,179,328 13,817,887
2011 6,343,203 13,595,424
2010 6,497,839 13,356,548
2009 6,366,686 13,142,790
2008 6,235,430 12,959,149
2007 6,104,380 12,804,058
2006 5,980,211 12,636,445
2005 5,858,798 12,483,432
2004 5,736,693 12,365,896
2003 5,619,398 12,232,323
2002 5,508,410 12,087,653
2001 5,403,639 11,971,901
2000 5,305,021 11,892,055
1999 5,218,038 11,783,458
1998 5,140,704 11,594,297
1997 5,064,639 11,369,827
1996 4,987,393 11,158,360
1995 4,906,843 10,974,599
1994 4,822,037 10,873,148
1993 4,733,045 10,860,288
1992 4,640,352 10,702,700
1991 4,544,400 10,404,816
1990 4,445,239 10,137,281
1989 4,342,920 9,864,798
1988 4,237,755 9,583,094
1987 4,129,739 9,284,644
1986 4,017,403 8,982,578
1985 3,898,745 8,686,813
1984 3,773,633 8,391,488
1983 3,718,961 8,098,404
1982 3,724,765 7,796,496
1981 3,621,486 7,498,635
1980 3,424,378 7,041,303
1979 3,233,846 6,647,556
1978 3,052,526 6,543,575
1977 2,881,533 6,449,512
1976 2,721,237 6,287,105
1975 2,571,556 6,098,658
1974 2,432,211 5,908,328
1973 2,314,193 5,720,404
1972 2,226,091 5,542,445
1971 2,153,534 5,374,712
1970 2,082,589 5,215,918
1969 2,014,293 5,058,181
1968 1,952,781 4,900,440
1967 1,898,199 4,748,307
1966 1,849,063 4,601,217
1965 1,804,015 4,458,462
1964 1,753,691 4,320,006
1963 1,690,457 4,185,877
1962 1,621,960 4,055,959
1961 1,555,699 3,930,401
1960 1,492,890 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Libya increased by 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Libya gained 948,567 people (a 14.3% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Libya was ranked 103rd most populous country in 2006 and is 105th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Libya
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Libya Zimbabwe
2100 -0.18% 0.19%
2099 -0.21% 0.23%
2098 -0.2% 0.25%
2097 -0.17% 0.25%
2096 -0.12% 0.3%
2095 -0.12% 0.32%
2094 -0.15% 0.28%
2093 -0.15% 0.33%
2092 -0.09% 0.33%
2091 -0.16% 0.39%
2090 -0.1% 0.4%
2089 -0.11% 0.39%
2088 -0.04% 0.46%
2087 0.004% 0.47%
2086 0.06% 0.48%
2085 0.07% 0.51%
2084 0.04% 0.53%
2083 0.08% 0.54%
2082 0.12% 0.59%
2081 0.1% 0.62%
2080 0.13% 0.64%
2079 0.04% 0.65%
2078 0.06% 0.69%
2077 0.13% 0.72%
2076 0.12% 0.73%
2075 0.11% 0.76%
2074 0.16% 0.81%
2073 0.22% 0.83%
2072 0.12% 0.8%
2071 0.17% 0.82%
2070 0.19% 0.86%
2069 0.2% 0.87%
2068 0.13% 0.91%
2067 0.18% 0.91%
2066 0.2% 0.96%
2065 0.23% 0.94%
2064 0.11% 1.01%
2063 0.23% 1.03%
2062 0.22% 1.05%
2061 0.2% 1.04%
2060 0.3% 1.06%
2059 0.28% 1.09%
2058 0.32% 1.15%
2057 0.26% 1.13%
2056 0.34% 1.2%
2055 0.47% 1.2%
2054 0.48% 1.28%
2053 0.53% 1.29%
2052 0.51% 1.35%
2051 0.56% 1.36%
2050 0.56% 1.37%
2049 0.63% 1.42%
2048 0.6% 1.42%
2047 0.61% 1.47%
2046 0.72% 1.51%
2045 0.72% 1.53%
2044 0.77% 1.63%
2043 0.78% 1.59%
2042 0.76% 1.71%
2041 0.82% 1.68%
2040 0.85% 1.69%
2039 0.87% 1.73%
2038 0.9% 1.75%
2037 0.87% 1.77%
2036 0.9% 1.85%
2035 0.98% 1.82%
2034 0.99% 1.89%
2033 0.96% 1.89%
2032 1.04% 1.86%
2031 1.08% 1.86%
2030 1.07% 1.88%
2029 1.15% 1.88%
2028 1.2% 1.89%
2027 1.13% 1.9%
2026 1.05% 1.91%
2025 1.05% 1.9%
2024 1.03% 1.8%
2023 1.13% 1.69%
2022 1.24% 1.72%
2021 1.27% 1.74%
2020 1.36% 1.67%
2019 1.49% 1.58%
2018 1.64% 1.5%
2017 1.61% 1.45%
2016 1.54% 1.4%
2015 1.63% 1.35%
2014 1.94% 1.38%
2013 2.03% 1.42%
2012 -2.58% 1.64%
2011 -2.38% 1.79%
2010 2.06% 1.63%
2009 2.11% 1.42%
2008 2.15% 1.21%
2007 2.08% 1.33%
2006 2.07% 1.23%
2005 2.13% 0.95%
2004 2.09% 1.09%
2003 2.01% 1.2%
2002 1.94% 0.97%
2001 1.86% 0.67%
2000 1.67% 0.92%
1999 1.5% 1.63%
1998 1.5% 1.97%
1997 1.55% 1.9%
1996 1.64% 1.67%
1995 1.76% 0.93%
1994 1.88% 0.12%
1993 2% 1.47%
1992 2.11% 2.86%
1991 2.23% 2.64%
1990 2.36% 2.76%
1989 2.48% 2.94%
1988 2.62% 3.21%
1987 2.8% 3.36%
1986 3.04% 3.4%
1985 3.32% 3.52%
1984 1.47% 3.62%
1983 -0.16% 3.87%
1982 2.85% 3.97%
1981 5.76% 6.49%
1980 5.89% 5.92%
1979 5.94% 1.59%
1978 5.93% 1.46%
1977 5.89% 2.58%
1976 5.82% 3.09%
1975 5.73% 3.22%
1974 5.1% 3.29%
1973 3.96% 3.21%
1972 3.37% 3.12%
1971 3.41% 3.04%
1970 3.39% 3.12%
1969 3.15% 3.22%
1968 2.88% 3.2%
1967 2.66% 3.2%
1966 2.5% 3.2%
1965 2.87% 3.2%
1964 3.74% 3.2%
1963 4.22% 3.2%
1962 4.26% 3.19%
1961 4.21% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Libya grew by 1.05%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Libya Zimbabwe
Current population
7580693
17443108
Population rank 105/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.21%
One net population change
6.8 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
4.32 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +212 +867
Annual growth/decline +77,532 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +1.05% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 96/197 53/197
One migration net change every
2.13 days
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -172 -54,555
Net migration rank 83/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 897,751 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 63/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 12.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 56/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Libya
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Libya Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -172 - -54,555
2024 73,522 3,448 372,494 -60,528
2023 75,760 -2,001 372,505 -97,380
2022 91,951 -2,001 371,243 -102,828
2021 88,005 -694 349,908 -74,623
2020 92,950 -694 354,790 -89,440
2019 97,842 -1,352 348,798 -103,107
2018 101,619 5,841 345,883 -117,758
2017 103,891 9,208 344,035 -128,241
2016 105,265 -5,081 348,772 -140,181
2015 108,096 -7,660 356,203 -162,220
2014 110,420 -1,716 366,350 -177,029
2013 110,772 25,755 374,757 -176,972
2012 108,855 5,211 371,135 -177,061
2011 121,016 -562,827 359,572 -108,714
2010 122,926 9,611 335,570 -108,671
2009 118,102 11,670 309,316 -108,689
2008 117,481 15,260 280,527 -113,858
2007 116,704 12,640 261,805 -118,299
2006 115,645 3,351 248,963 -57,257
2005 112,823 11,024 248,545 -134,212
2004 107,144 13,222 248,307 -127,550
2003 102,144 12,073 243,057 -96,667
2002 97,598 10,152 244,170 -101,212
2001 93,370 8,420 227,909 -139,361
2000 89,814 5,634 236,343 -165,181
1999 88,743 -10,206 232,393 -86,343
1998 87,613 -11,479 225,614 6,645
1997 86,899 -10,907 216,288 395
1996 86,945 -8,446 205,269 978
1995 87,661 -5,068 206,695 -45,428
1994 88,765 -1,755 216,343 -174,723
1993 90,553 426 228,045 -243,947
1992 93,568 843 255,291 75,788
1991 96,582 902 260,943 3,749
1990 99,898 946 265,444 4,948
1989 102,823 981 270,838 3,736
1988 105,469 1,053 277,498 11,327
1987 107,761 1,740 286,766 21,308
1986 109,325 5,844 289,894 6,154
1985 110,194 11,962 290,756 4,718
1984 110,028 18,039 290,052 5,124
1983 122,183 -140,904 286,545 4,456
1982 133,511 -126,400 279,934 32,899
1981 130,233 69,211 271,361 11,523
1980 128,034 66,739 241,179 390,593
1979 121,469 64,821 223,657 -67,937
1978 114,669 61,684 222,979 -170,727
1977 107,769 57,867 225,139 -89,270
1976 101,146 53,813 221,419 -32,495
1975 94,862 49,544 216,947 -28,988
1974 89,337 44,946 208,806 -16,105
1973 81,256 20,498 201,885 -18,733
1972 77,864 -3,418 193,725 -20,959
1971 74,934 -4,265 185,427 -22,719
1970 70,488 745 178,979 -24,102
1969 66,782 -1,418 172,626 -12,028
1968 63,971 -6,323 166,865 -11,997
1967 61,889 -10,384 161,205 -11,814
1966 60,394 -13,619 156,014 -11,211
1965 59,134 -15,810 151,164 -10,465
1964 55,227 2,084 145,848 -9,631
1963 50,421 18,740 140,984 -8,936
1962 46,252 21,589 136,317 -8,529
1961 42,167 22,504 131,531 -8,204
1960 38,391 22,559 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/libya/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 897,751 residents or 12.2% of the population were not native-born in Libya, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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