Rural population in Libya
Libya: Rural population was 12.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population in Libya, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Libya is 12.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Libya peaked at 76.7% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2006.
That places Libya 178th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population in Libya, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 76.7% | — |
| 1961 | 76.5% | -0.4% |
| 1962 | 76.1% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 75.8% | -0.5% |
| 1964 | 75.4% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 74.3% | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 71.8% | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 68.2% | -5.0% |
| 1968 | 63.8% | -6.4% |
| 1969 | 59.0% | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 54.2% | -8.2% |
| 1971 | 49.6% | -8.4% |
| 1972 | 45.7% | -8.0% |
| 1973 | 42.7% | -6.5% |
| 1974 | 40.4% | -5.3% |
| 1975 | 38.3% | -5.3% |
| 1976 | 36.3% | -5.2% |
| 1977 | 34.4% | -5.2% |
| 1978 | 32.6% | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 31.0% | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 29.5% | -4.9% |
| 1981 | 28.1% | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 26.8% | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 25.7% | -4.2% |
| 1984 | 24.7% | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 23.8% | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 22.9% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 22.0% | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 21.1% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 20.3% | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 19.4% | -4.1% |
| 1991 | 18.6% | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 17.8% | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 17.1% | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 16.4% | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 15.7% | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 15.1% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 13.5% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 12.7% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 12.4% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 11.9% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 11.8% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 11.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 11.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 11.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 12.0% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 12.0% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 12.1% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 71.8% | 59.0% | 76.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 40.5% | 31.0% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.5% | 20.3% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.2% | 13.5% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.1% | 11.8% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 12.1% | 12.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More agriculture & rural data for Libya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -37.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.015 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 96.79 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1209 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 1.5 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 1.5 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2019)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Libya?
- Rural population in Libya was 12.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 76.7% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2006.
- How does Libya rank for rural population?
- Libya ranks 178th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.