Population of Libya

As of May 2026, the population of Libya is 7.1 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 72 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.04%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 25.3 years in 2016 to 27.7 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 73.8 years and population density is 4.2 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Libya peaked in 1975, reaching around 5.19% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.02% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 160.43 thousand in 1983 to nearly 72.46 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Libya, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 71.7 years in 2006 to 73.8 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 2 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Libya

Libya has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Tripoli, with approximately 1.3 million inhabitants. It is followed by Benghazi, Banghazi with 757.5 thousand and Misratah with 355.7 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Libya: