Libya Population Pyramid (2026)
Libya has a population of 7,539,851 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 104th-largest population in the world and 0.09% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 26.2% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.4%, with 103.3 males for every 100 females.
Libya Demographics
Libya has 7.5 million people in 2026, up 262.0% from 2.1 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 81,881 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 5.4% — the 73rd-lowest of 194 countries.
Median age 28.0 — the 83rd-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 27.3% (2,056,560)
All generations in Libya →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Libya's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Libya has 103.3 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 123,095 (1.6% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:3,831,473
- Percentage:50.8%
Female Statistics
- Population:3,708,378
- Percentage:49.2%
- Ratio Format:1:0.968
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Libya indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 118,954 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 129,689 | 18.2 | 2.46 | estimate |
| 2022 | 126,684 | 17.5 | 2.40 | estimate |
| 2023 | 124,371 | 17.0 | 2.36 | estimate |
| 2024 | 121,747 | 16.5 | 2.30 | projection |
| 2025 | 120,174 | 16.1 | 2.25 | projection |
| 2026 | 118,954 | 15.8 | 2.21 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (118,954 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Libya's median age is 28.0 years
Half the population is younger than 28.0 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 609,746 | 8.1% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 664,607 | 8.8% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 702,258 | 9.3% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 695,355 | 9.2% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 639,787 | 8.5% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 565,442 | 7.5% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 524,516 | 7.0% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 523,496 | 6.9% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 539,688 | 7.2% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 551,298 | 7.3% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 480,813 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 374,903 | 5.0% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 259,711 | 3.4% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 169,549 | 2.2% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 100,364 | 1.3% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 72,311 | 1.0% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 41,219 | 0.5% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 18,421 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 5,501 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 813 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 56 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 2.21 children per woman and 15.8 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (4.9). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Libya Total Fertility Rate: 2.21 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.46 | 18.2 | |
| 2022 | 2.40 | 17.5 | ↓0.06 |
| 2023 | 2.36 | 17.0 | ↓0.04 |
| 2024 | 2.30 | 16.5 | ↓0.06 |
| 2025 | 2.25 | 16.1 | ↓0.05 |
| 2026 | 2.21 | 15.8 | ↓0.04 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.08
Libya's total fertility rate is 2.21 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. Libya ranks 84 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −68.5% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Libya's population has increased by 566.4%.
The median age has increased from 19.7 in 1950 to 28.0 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Libya's Demographics
Libya has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 26.2% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.4%.
The largest five-year age band is 10–14, at 9.3% of the population, compared with 8.1% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Libya's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 64.6% in 2016 to 68.4% in 2026 (dependency ratio 46.3).
Fertility Transition Stage
Libya is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 2.21 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Libya's median age changed by +2.4 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 7,539,851 |
| Male Population | 3,831,473(50.8%) |
| Female Population | 3,708,378(49.2%) |
| Median Age | 28.0 years |
| Sex Ratio | 103.3 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 1,976,611(26.2%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 5,155,006(68.4%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 408,234(5.4%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 46.3 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 38.3 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 7.9 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Libya
How long the average person in Libya is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Libya is projected to grow to 9.3 million people by 2050 (+22.8% from 2026).
The median age rises from 28.0 in 2026 to 36.3 by 2050.
Libya's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 64.4%, growing from 2.1 million in 1970 to 3.4 million by 1980
The median age increased by 1.4 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 3.1 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion declined by 0.9 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 2.1M to 3.4M
- • Growth rate of 64.4% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 13.6 to 15.0 years (+1.4y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.9 points; under-15 share by −3.1 points
How Does Libya Compare to Its Neighbors?
Libya has a younger population than Algeria, Morocco. Libya has an older population than Egypt, Sudan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Libya
How does Libya rank globally by population?
Libya ranks 104th in the world by population with 7.54 million people as of 2026, representing 0.09% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Libya's age structure reveal about its development?
Libya's age structure — 26.2% under 15, 68.4% working-age (15–64) and 5.4% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 28.0 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Libya?
Libya has 46.3 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Libya experiencing a demographic dividend?
Libya is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 64.6% in 2016 to 68.4% in 2026 (dependency ratio 46.3). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Libya's population?
Libya has more males than females, with 103.3 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Libya Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/libya
View UN World Population Prospects Data →