Which has higher surface area, Libya or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Sub-Saharan Africa, at 2.43 billion ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya as of 2011.

What is the difference in surface area between Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa?

2.25 billion ha, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and Sub-Saharan 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 Sub-Saharan Africa: Surface area

Libya

175.95 million ha

in 2011

Sub-Saharan Africa

2.43 billion ha

in 2011

Libya rank

4th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

2nd

Surface area over time

Libya
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa currently reports 2.43 billion ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya, a difference of 2.25 billion ha.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa's figure about 13.8 times Libya's.

Across all 51 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa has been ahead every year.

Libya ranks 4th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 53 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Libya	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1960s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa
1970s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa
1980s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa
1990s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa
2000s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa
2010s	175.95 million ha	2.43 billion ha	2.25 billion ha	Sub-Saharan Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher surface area, Libya or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Sub-Saharan Africa, at 2.43 billion ha against 175.95 million ha in Libya as of 2011.
What is the difference in surface area between Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 2.25 billion ha, with Sub-Saharan Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 51 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2011.
How do Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for surface area?: Libya ranks 4th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd 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.