As of May 2025, the population of Libya is 7 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 74 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.07%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 25.1 years in 2015 to 27.4 years in 2025. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 73.6 years and population density is 4.2 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population growth rate of Libya peaked in 1975, reaching around 5.19% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.04% in 2025. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 160.43 thousand in 1983 to nearly 73.56 thousand in 2025.
In Libya, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 71.6 years in 2005 to 73.6 years in 2025, representing an increase de 2 years over the past 2 decades.
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, Banghāzī with 757.5 thousand and Misratah, Mişrātah with 355.7 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in Libya:
# | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Tripoli | 1,302,947 |
2 | Benghazi, Banghāzī | 757,490 |
3 | Misratah, Mişrātah | 355,657 |
4 | Zliten, Mişrātah | 203,790 |
5 | Al Khums, Al Marqab | 201,943 |
6 | Az Zāwīyah, Az Zāwiyah | 200,000 |
7 | Zawiya, Az Zāwiyah | 186,123 |
8 | Janzūr, Al Jafārah | 154,389 |
9 | Sabha, Sabha District | 149,329 |
10 | Tobruk, Al Buţnān | 141,499 |
# | City | Population |
---|---|---|
11 | Ajdabiya, Al Wāḩāt | 131,773 |
12 | Al Ajaylat, An Nuqāţ al Khams | 130,546 |
13 | Al Bayḑā’, Al Jabal al Akhḑar | 129,439 |
14 | Al Jadīd, Sabha District | 126,386 |
15 | Sirte, Surt | 106,705 |
16 | Darnah | 102,581 |
17 | Al Jumayl, An Nuqāţ al Khams | 102,000 |
18 | Qaşr Bin Ghashīr, Tripoli | 100,069 |
19 | Tājūrā’, Tripoli | 100,000 |
20 | Al Marj | 85,315 |