Libya - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Libya was 5,544,510 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,544,510 in 2020 and a minimum value of 395,751 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 395,751
1961 422,412
1962 451,117
1963 482,118
1964 515,757
1965 583,535
1966 661,918
1967 748,523
1968 843,702
1969 947,351
1970 1,059,744
1971 1,180,737
1972 1,310,189
1973 1,446,979
1974 1,553,518
1975 1,660,749
1976 1,771,546
1977 1,885,648
1978 2,003,893
1979 2,127,326
1980 2,256,650
1981 2,392,022
1982 2,532,823
1983 2,676,853
1984 2,821,274
1985 2,922,768
1986 3,016,123
1987 3,105,302
1988 3,191,252
1989 3,275,662
1990 3,359,574
1991 3,443,493
1992 3,526,867
1993 3,608,481
1994 3,686,789
1995 3,760,788
1996 3,829,909
1997 3,895,521
1998 3,959,578
1999 4,024,684
2000 4,092,734
2001 4,164,194
2002 4,238,424
2003 4,314,780
2004 4,392,200
2005 4,469,572
2006 4,547,787
2007 4,626,695
2008 4,703,521
2009 4,774,511
2010 4,837,403
2011 4,890,307
2012 4,935,069
2013 4,977,655
2014 5,026,583
2015 5,087,798
2016 5,163,864
2017 5,252,536
2018 5,349,664
2019 5,448,598
2020 5,544,510

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization