Which has higher surface area, Libya or Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), at 24.34 million sq. km against 1.76 million sq. km in Libya as of 2023.

What is the difference in surface area between Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?

22.58 million sq. km, with Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?

63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.

Libya vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Surface area

Libya

1.76 million sq. km

in 2023

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

24.34 million sq. km

in 2023

Libya rank

16th

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank

16th

Surface area over time

Libya
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) currently reports 24.34 million sq. km against 1.76 million sq. km in Libya, a difference of 22.58 million sq. km.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)'s figure about 13.8 times Libya's.

Across all 63 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has been ahead every year.

Libya ranks 16th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 16th of 215 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Libya	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)	Difference	Ahead
1960s	1.76 million sq. km	24.27 million sq. km	22.51 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1970s	1.76 million sq. km	24.27 million sq. km	22.51 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1980s	1.76 million sq. km	24.27 million sq. km	22.51 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1990s	1.76 million sq. km	24.27 million sq. km	22.51 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2000s	1.76 million sq. km	24.29 million sq. km	22.54 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2010s	1.76 million sq. km	24.32 million sq. km	22.56 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2020s	1.76 million sq. km	24.34 million sq. km	22.58 million sq. km	Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher surface area, Libya or Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?: Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), at 24.34 million sq. km against 1.76 million sq. km in Libya as of 2023.
What is the difference in surface area between Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?: 22.58 million sq. km, with Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?: 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
How do Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank globally for surface area?: Libya ranks 16th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 16th of 215 countries.
Where does this data come from?: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Surface area (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Libya vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Surface area. Statizoid, drawing on FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/surface-area-sq-km/libya/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator: Surface area (sq. km)
Unit: sq. km
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 263 places, 16,395 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 20 August 2026

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