Labor force, total in Libya
Libya: Labor force, total was 2.62 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Libya, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Libya recorded 2.62 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Libya peaked at 2.62 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.18 million, in 1990.
Libya ranks 121st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.18 million | — |
| 1991 | 1.23 million | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 1.28 million | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 1.33 million | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 1.38 million | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 1.43 million | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 1.48 million | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 1.54 million | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 1.59 million | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 1.64 million | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 1.68 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.72 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 1.75 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 1.79 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.84 million | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 1.88 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.94 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.01 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 2.08 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 2.15 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 2.22 million | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 2.16 million | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 2.08 million | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 2.14 million | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 2.19 million | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 2.23 million | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 2.26 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.31 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.35 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 2.40 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 2.24 million | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 2.30 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 2.52 million | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 2.55 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 2.59 million | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 2.62 million | +1.2% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 2.62 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 79% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 2.62 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.83 million, 54% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.41 million | 1.18 million | 1.64 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.88 million | 1.68 million | 2.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.23 million | 2.08 million | 2.40 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.47 million | 2.24 million | 2.62 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 118 Liberia 2.67 million compare
- 119 Tajikistan 2.65 million compare
- 120 Congo 2.64 million compare
- 122 Costa Rica 2.43 million compare
- 123 Panama 2.29 million compare
- 124 Turkmenistan 2.20 million compare
More education data for Libya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 30,673 (1983)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 69,173 (1983)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 11,554 (2006)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,692 (2006)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 732,614 (2006)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 755,338 (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.8 % change on previous year (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1263 units per person (2006)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Libya?
- Labor force, total in Libya was 2.62 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 2.62 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.18 million in 1990.
- How does Libya rank for labor force, total?
- Libya ranks 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.