Which has higher surface area, Libya or North Africa?

North Africa, at 577.61 million ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya as of 2011.

What is the difference in surface area between Libya and North Africa?

401.65 million ha, with North Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and North Africa?

51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.

Where does this data come from?

Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Surface area (ha). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Libya vs North Africa: Surface area

Libya

175.95 million ha

in 2011

North Africa

577.61 million ha

in 2011

Libya rank

4th

North Africa rank

6th

Surface area over time

Libya
North Africa

How they compare

North Africa currently reports 577.61 million ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya, a difference of 401.65 million ha.

That makes North Africa's figure about 3.3 times Libya's.

Across all 51 years both countries report, North Africa has been ahead every year.

Libya ranks 4th and North Africa ranks 6th of 53 countries.

North Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Libya	North Africa	Difference	Ahead
1960s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa
1970s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa
1980s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa
1990s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa
2000s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa
2010s	175.95 million ha	577.61 million ha	401.65 million ha	North Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher surface area, Libya or North Africa?: North Africa, at 577.61 million ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya as of 2011.
What is the difference in surface area between Libya and North Africa?: 401.65 million ha, with North Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and North Africa?: 51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do Libya and North Africa rank globally for surface area?: Libya ranks 4th and North Africa ranks 6th of 53 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as Surface area (ha). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Surface area (ha)
Unit: ha
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 59 places, 2,977 data points, 1961–2011
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.