Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya
Libya: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 16.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Libya recorded 16.7% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020.
The figure is up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya peaked at 17.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Libya 87th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 16.1% | — |
| 2015 | 17.7% | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 16.7% | -5.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 16.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.8%, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 16.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.1%, 66% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.9% | 16.1% | 17.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Libya was 16.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Libya rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Libya ranks 87th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.