Libya — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for Libya, 1960–2025.
Urban population for Libya was 87.91% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 88.16% in 2006. The lowest was 23.27% in 1960 (about 3.8× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.07% per year.
Libya ranks 40 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 18%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 79.48%, so Libya sits above it. It peaked in 2006 and has fallen 0% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 0%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 8 of 23 economies; West Bank and Gaza (87.38%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 14% in 1968.
Data highlights
From its 1960 level: doubled by 1971. Doubling roughly every 34 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 141st of 217 in 1960 → 92nd of 217 in 1970 → 46th of 217 in 1980 → 33rd of 217 in 1990 → 28th of 217 in 2000 → 30th of 217 in 2010 → 38th of 217 in 2020 → 40th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 87.91% | +0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 87.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 87.86% | +0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 87.85% | +0.0 pp |
| 2021 | 87.84% | +0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 87.83% | +0.0 pp |
| 2019 | 87.82% | +0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 87.82% | +0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 87.82% | +0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 87.82% | +0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 87.82% | -0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 88.01% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 88.05% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 88.07% | -0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 88.1% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 88.12% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 88.13% | -0.0 pp |
| 2008 | 88.15% | -0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 88.16% | -0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 88.16% | +0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 88.14% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 88.04% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 87.87% | +0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 87.63% | +0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 87.32% | +0.4 pp |
| 2000 | 86.95% | +0.4 pp |
| 1999 | 86.52% | +0.5 pp |
| 1998 | 86.04% | +0.5 pp |
| 1997 | 85.5% | +0.6 pp |
| 1996 | 84.92% | +0.6 pp |
| 1995 | 84.29% | +0.7 pp |
| 1994 | 83.62% | +0.7 pp |
| 1993 | 82.91% | +0.7 pp |
| 1992 | 82.16% | +0.8 pp |
| 1991 | 81.38% | +0.8 pp |
| 1990 | 80.58% | +0.8 pp |
| 1989 | 79.74% | +0.9 pp |
| 1988 | 78.89% | +0.9 pp |
| 1987 | 78.02% | +0.9 pp |
| 1986 | 77.13% | +0.9 pp |
| 1985 | 76.23% | +0.9 pp |
| 1984 | 75.32% | +1.0 pp |
| 1983 | 74.33% | +1.1 pp |
| 1982 | 73.2% | +1.3 pp |
| 1981 | 71.94% | +1.4 pp |
| 1980 | 70.54% | +1.5 pp |
| 1979 | 69.02% | +1.7 pp |
| 1978 | 67.37% | +1.8 pp |
| 1977 | 65.6% | +1.9 pp |
| 1976 | 63.71% | +2.0 pp |
| 1975 | 61.7% | +2.1 pp |
| 1974 | 59.57% | +2.3 pp |
| 1973 | 57.32% | +3.0 pp |
| 1972 | 54.35% | +3.9 pp |
| 1971 | 50.4% | +4.6 pp |
| 1970 | 45.83% | +4.8 pp |
| 1969 | 40.98% | +4.8 pp |
| 1968 | 36.2% | +4.4 pp |
| 1967 | 31.83% | +3.6 pp |
| 1966 | 28.21% | +2.5 pp |
| 1965 | 25.69% | +1.1 pp |
| 1964 | 24.58% | +0.4 pp |
| 1963 | 24.2% | +0.4 pp |
| 1962 | 23.85% | +0.3 pp |
| 1961 | 23.54% | +0.3 pp |
| 1960 | 23.27% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Libya’s Urban population in 1961?
23.54% (1961). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Libya’s Urban population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +277.8% in total — about 2.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 87.91%; 2024: 87.89%; 2023: 87.86%; 2022: 87.85%; 2021: 87.84%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.