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Sheet 96 of 195 · AfricaLBY · 26.1°N 20.3°E

Libya

State of Libya · دولة ليبيا

Capital
Tripoli
Population
7.46 million 2025
Area
1,759,540 km²
Neighbours
6
Locator map of LibyaLIBYATripoliALGERIAEGYPTNIGERSUDANCHADTUNISIAMediterraneanSea0500 km
Libya hatched, Tripoli marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 26.3°N 17.2°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Libya lies in Northern Africa and shares land borders with Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. With 1,759,540 km², it is about the size of Iran and Sudan and ranks 16th of 195 by area.

About 7.46 million people lived in Libya in 2025, according to the World Bank; only 90 countries have fewer. With 4.2 people per km², only six countries are more thinly populated. The urban share of the population was 87.9% in 2025.

In 2025, GDP per capita stood at US$6,449 in current US dollars: 108th of 191 worldwide, 7th of 52 in Africa. Newborns in 2024 had a life expectancy of 71.1 years. Forest covers 0.1% of its land (2024).

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. From 19.5°N to 33.2°N, it spans about 1,522 km north to south. The point on the opposite side of the Earth from Tripoli lies in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,430 km from the nearest land, New Zealand.

How it compares Africa: 54 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAfrica
Population7,458,5552025, World Bank104th of 19435th of 54
Area1,759,540 km²world-countries16th of 1954th of 54
GDPUS$48.1 billion2025, World Bank, current US$99th of 19118th of 52
GDP per capitaUS$6,4492025, World Bank, current US$108th of 1917th of 52
Population density4.2 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries187th of 19453rd of 54
Life expectancy71.1 years2024, World Bank125th of 1948th of 54
Urban population87.9%2025, World Bank26th of 1942nd of 54
Forest area0.1% of land2024, World Bank190th of 19453rd of 54
Population growth+1.04% a year2025, World Bank95th of 19450th of 54
Internet users82.0%2024, World Bank94th of 1883rd of 53
Fertility rate2.30 births per woman2024, World Bank82nd of 19448th of 54
Land neighbours6world-countries; among the 19520th of 1957th of 54
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaIran, Sudan and Indonesia

Closest in populationKyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Laos

Neighbours 6 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • Tunisia514 km
    Tripoli to Tunis, capital to capital
  • Algeria1,019 km
    Tripoli to Algiers, capital to capital
  • Egypt1,740 km
    Tripoli to Cairo, capital to capital
  • Chad2,318 km
    Tripoli to N'Djamena, capital to capital
  • Niger2,429 km
    Tripoli to Niamey, capital to capital
  • Sudan2,738 km
    Tripoli to Khartoum, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Eastern
Capital
Tripoli
32.89°N 13.18°E
Northernmost latitude
33.18°N
Southernmost latitude
19.50°N
Westernmost longitude
9.31°E
Easternmost longitude
25.15°E
North to south
about 1,522 km
Antipode of Tripoli
32.89°S 166.82°W
in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,430 km from the nearest land (New Zealand)