Population of Libya

As of July 2026, the population of Libya is 7.5 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 84 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.09%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 25.6 years in 2016 to 28 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 75.2 years and population density is 4.5 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Libya peaked in 1978, reaching around 5.78% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.12% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 199.44 thousand in 1981 to nearly 84.5 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Libya, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 71.6 years in 2006 to 75.2 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 4 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: