Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya
Libya: Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure was 2.60 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya, 2015–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya stood at 2.60 million people.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya peaked at 2.80 million people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.90 million people, in 2015.
That places Libya 67th out of 126 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1.90 million people | — |
| 2016 | 2.10 million people | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 2.20 million people | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 2.40 million people | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 2.60 million people | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 2.80 million people | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 2.80 million people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.70 million people | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 2.60 million people | -3.7% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 2.60 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.60 million people, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Libya's 2.60 million people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.10 million people, 84% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.24 million people | 1.90 million people | 2.60 million people | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.73 million people | 2.60 million people | 2.80 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 64 El Salvador 2.90 million people compare
- 65 South Korea 2.80 million people compare
- 66 Laos 2.70 million people compare
- 67 Sri Lanka 2.60 million people compare
- 67 Tajikistan 2.60 million people compare
- 70 Lebanon 2.40 million people compare
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 number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya?
- Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure in Libya was 2.60 million people in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 2.80 million people in 2020.
- What is the lowest number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.90 million people in 2015.
- How does Libya rank for number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure?
- Libya ranks 67th out of 126 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people who are moderately or severely food insecure. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Food insecurity is defined by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Moderate food insecurity is associated with the inability to regularly eat healthy, nutritious diets. Severe food insecurity is related to insufficient quantity of food.