Libya population pyramid 2026
7,539,852 people in 2026 (projected). Libya’s pyramid records a very steep fertility fall, from about eight children per woman in 1970 to under three by 2000.
- 2026 population
- 7.5Mrank 105 of 237
- Median age
- 28.0 yearsoldest rank 152
- Fertility rate
- 2.21births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Transitional5.4% age 65+
Libya population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Download this population pyramid
Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Libya age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 26.2% of the population, while 5.4% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 68.4% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Libya’s age structure as transitional; the guide to population pyramid types explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 46.3: about 46 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (38.3 children and 7.9 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Libya’s population pyramid
From eight children to fewer than three
Around 1970 Libyan women had on average about eight children, and in 1975 the median age was just over 14. Then came a rapid decline: about 7.5 in 1980, 4.8 in 1990 and 2.9 by 2000. The cohorts born just before the fall, about 1977–81, are now a bulge at ages 45–49, about 8% larger than the bands around them. Those born during the steepest part of the decline, in the late 1980s and 1990s, form a slight waist at 30–39, and the pyramid widens again below, with its broadest bands at 10–19, because the large 1970s and early-1980s generations have themselves become parents. The shape is now close to that of Fiji, Indonesia and Morocco, and the demographic transition model shows the sequence Libya went through in compressed form.
Oil-era workers and their departure
Oil exports began around 1961, and the economy came to depend on foreign labour, much of it male. The UN estimates a net inflow of about 340,000 people between 1950 and 1999, and the 2000 pyramid has a pronounced male surplus at ages 35–64 that cannot be explained by births. From 2000 to 2023 the balance reversed to a net outflow of about 425,000, a period that includes the 2011 uprising and the years of conflict that followed, when many migrant workers left. By 2026 the surplus has largely gone: men and women are close to balance at most ages, and above 60 women outnumber men, as in most countries.
Mortality setbacks and the outlook
Life expectancy rose from about 33 years in 1950 to about 72 in 2010 but was estimated at about 69 in 2023, a decline that coincides with the period of conflict and instability since 2011. Even so, births outnumber deaths by more than three to one, about 119,000 against 37,000 expected in 2026. Under the medium scenario the population grows from about 7.5 million to 9.3 million in 2050 and peaks near 10 million around 2086, with the share aged 65 and over roughly tripling to about 16% by mid-century as the 1970s bulge moves into old age.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Libya’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2082. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2060.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Libya is projected to record 118,954 births (about 326 births a day) and 37,073 deaths, a natural increase of 81,881. Net migration adds +2,610 people, ranking #84 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 3,285,345 births, 775,153 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −424,954. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +92,943 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 77.8 years36.1 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 72.7 years30.7 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 16.4 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 6.8per 1,000 births · 218 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 8.4per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 31.9 yearssex ratio at birth 105.7
Women in Libya are projected to live 5.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 218 to 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #150 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 31.9 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Libya
The median age of 28.0 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 2.21 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 75.2 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,539,852 | #105 | Largest first |
| Median age | 28.0 years | #152 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 2.21 | #92 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.1% | #87 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 75.2 years | #127 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 5.4% | #162 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Libya
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10–14 | 702,257 | 9.3% | 360.4K / 341.9K |
| 2 | 15–19 | 695,356 | 9.2% | 357.6K / 337.7K |
| 3 | 5–9 | 664,606 | 8.8% | 341.2K / 323.4K |
| 4 | 20–24 | 639,786 | 8.5% | 328.9K / 310.9K |
| 5 | 0–4 | 609,748 | 8.1% | 313.3K / 296.5K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Libya has 3,831,473 males and 3,708,378 females. That is 103.3 males per 100 females, ranking #33 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.8% of the population and females for 49.2%. There are 123,095 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 85.1 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.7 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Libya has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 1,131,460 in 1950 to 7,539,852 in 2026, a change of 566%. Over the same span, median age moved from 19.7 to 28.0 years.
The under-15 share changed from 39.2% to 26.2%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 5.2% to 5.4%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Libya’s population is projected to grow by about 23%, reaching 9,260,606 in 2050. The median age changes from 28.0 to 36.3 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 10.5 percentage points to 15.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 19.6%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 9,970,720 in 2086. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,131,460 | 19.7 | 7.01 | 33.1 | 55,562 | 36,765 | −6,343 | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 1,492,890 | 17.5 | 7.51 | 40.8 | 76,538 | 38,146 | +22,559 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 2,082,589 | 13.6 | 8.05 | 56.4 | 96,560 | 26,072 | +745 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 3,424,378 | 15.0 | 7.54 | 64.8 | 151,886 | 23,852 | +66,739 | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 4,445,240 | 17.5 | 4.78 | 69.3 | 120,207 | 20,312 | +946 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 5,305,022 | 21.6 | 2.91 | 70.5 | 115,070 | 25,259 | +5,634 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 6,497,839 | 24.3 | 2.60 | 72.2 | 152,991 | 30,063 | +9,611 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 7,045,399 | 26.5 | 2.51 | 72.4 | 132,007 | 39,063 | −694 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 7,305,659 | 27.2 | 2.35 | 69.3 | 124,371 | 48,610 | −2,001 | +1.0% |
| 2024* | 7,381,023 | 27.5 | 2.30 | 71.1 | 121,747 | 48,229 | +3,448 | +1.0% |
| 2026* | 7,539,852 | 28.0 | 2.21 | 75.2 | 118,954 | 37,073 | +2,610 | +1.1% |
| 2030* | 7,885,806 | 29.3 | 2.08 | 75.9 | 117,948 | 41,162 | +7,590 | +1.1% |
| 2040* | 8,651,417 | 32.8 | 1.90 | 77.6 | 123,201 | 54,316 | +1,558 | +0.8% |
| 2050* | 9,260,606 | 36.3 | 1.82 | 79.3 | 116,478 | 71,633 | +7,282 | +0.6% |
| 2060* | 9,626,505 | 39.3 | 1.77 | 81.0 | 105,989 | 88,481 | +1,711 | +0.2% |
| 2070* | 9,807,898 | 41.2 | 1.75 | 82.5 | 104,857 | 97,167 | +9,383 | +0.2% |
| 2080* | 9,928,368 | 42.8 | 1.74 | 84.0 | 101,557 | 100,129 | +8,479 | +0.1% |
| 2090* | 9,938,209 | 44.7 | 1.72 | 85.3 | 93,819 | 107,779 | −2,171 | -0.2% |
| 2100* | 9,783,568 | 46.2 | 1.72 | 86.6 | 90,170 | 116,714 | +7,383 | -0.2% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 313,255 | 296,493 | 609,748 | 8.1% |
| 5–9 | 341,200 | 323,406 | 664,606 | 8.8% |
| 10–14 | 360,397 | 341,860 | 702,257 | 9.3% |
| 15–19 | 357,608 | 337,748 | 695,356 | 9.2% |
| 20–24 | 328,860 | 310,926 | 639,786 | 8.5% |
| 25–29 | 288,563 | 276,878 | 565,441 | 7.5% |
| 30–34 | 268,579 | 255,938 | 524,517 | 7.0% |
| 35–39 | 268,070 | 255,425 | 523,495 | 6.9% |
| 40–44 | 276,594 | 263,094 | 539,688 | 7.2% |
| 45–49 | 282,704 | 268,594 | 551,298 | 7.3% |
| 50–54 | 244,063 | 236,750 | 480,813 | 6.4% |
| 55–59 | 186,764 | 188,139 | 374,903 | 5.0% |
| 60–64 | 127,088 | 132,624 | 259,712 | 3.4% |
| 65–69 | 82,113 | 87,436 | 169,549 | 2.2% |
| 70–74 | 45,285 | 55,078 | 100,363 | 1.3% |
| 75–79 | 31,859 | 40,453 | 72,312 | 1.0% |
| 80–84 | 18,206 | 23,012 | 41,218 | 0.5% |
| 85–89 | 7,843 | 10,578 | 18,421 | 0.2% |
| 90–94 | 2,134 | 3,366 | 5,500 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 273 | 540 | 813 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 17 | 40 | 57 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Libya’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Fiji96% overlap · median age 28.3
- Indonesia95% overlap · median age 30.7
- Morocco95% overlap · median age 30.1
- Myanmar95% overlap · median age 30.4
- Dominican Republic95% overlap · median age 28.7
- Suriname94% overlap · median age 28.9
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Libya.
Use this chart in your work
Charts and tables may be reused with attribution. Please link to this page and credit the United Nations as the data source.
Embed the population pyramid
Cite this page
APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Libya Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/libya/
MLA
“Libya Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/libya/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Libya Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/libya/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Libya in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Libya's population in 2026 is projected at 7,539,852.
What is the median age in Libya?
The projected median age in Libya in 2026 is 28.0 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Libya?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 2.21 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Libya's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 23%, from 7.5M to 9.3M.
What share of Libya is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 5.4% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 15.9%.
How many babies are born in Libya each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 118,954 births and 37,073 deaths in 2026, about 326 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 81,881.
What is life expectancy in Libya for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 77.8 years for women and 72.7 years for men, a gap of 5.1 years in favour of women.
Does Libya have more immigrants or emigrants?
Libya is projected to gain about 2,610 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −424,954.
What is the sex ratio in Libya?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 103.3 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.