Military personnel in Libya
Libya: Military personnel was 7,000 people in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
7,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
137th
of 194 countries
All-time high
91,000 people
in 1985
All-time low
3,000 people
in 1951
Years of data
63
1951–2015
Military personnel in Libya, 1951–2015
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Libya recorded 7,000 people for military personnel in 2015.
The figure is down 90.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Libya peaked at 91,000 people in 1985 and was at its lowest, 3,000 people, in 1951.
Libya ranks 137th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military personnel in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1952 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 5,000 people | +66.7% |
| 1960 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 8,000 people | +60.0% |
| 1962 | 8,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 13,000 people | +62.5% |
| 1964 | 16,000 people | +23.1% |
| 1965 | 17,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 20,000 people | +17.6% |
| 1967 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 30,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1969 | 25,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1970 | 18,000 people | -28.0% |
| 1971 | 19,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1972 | 20,000 people | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 25,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1975 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 25,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 30,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 50,000 people | +66.7% |
| 1979 | 51,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 53,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 55,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 55,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 68,000 people | +23.6% |
| 1984 | 90,000 people | +32.4% |
| 1985 | 91,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 91,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 91,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 86,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1989 | 86,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 86,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 86,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 85,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 85,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 80,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 76,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 70,000 people | -7.9% |
| 1998 | 70,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 85,000 people | +21.4% |
| 2000 | 76,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 76,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 7,000 people | -90.8% |
| 2015 | 7,000 people | +0.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 7,000 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,000 people, 30% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 7,000 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 91,500 people, 8% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3,222 people | 3,000 people | 5,000 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 16,200 people | 5,000 people | 30,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 28,300 people | 18,000 people | 51,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 76,600 people | 53,000 people | 91,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 79,900 people | 70,000 people | 86,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 76,000 people | 76,000 people | 76,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 41,500 people | 7,000 people | 76,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More reference data data for Libya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2136 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1144 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Libya?
- Military personnel in Libya was 7,000 people in 2015, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 91,000 people in 1985.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,000 people in 1951.
- How does Libya rank for military personnel?
- Libya ranks 137th out of 194 countries with data for 2015.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.