School-age population (pre-primary level) in Libya
Libya: School-age population (pre-primary level) was 261,773 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
261,773
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
37th
of 72 countries
All-time high
289,304
in 2016
All-time low
158,036
in 1974
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School-age population in Libya, 1970–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, school-age population in Libya stood at 261,773.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school-age population in Libya peaked at 289,304 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 158,036, in 1974.
Libya ranks 37th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
School-age population (pre-primary level) in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 158,127 | — |
| 1971 | 160,412 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 160,152 | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 160,890 | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 158,036 | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 166,043 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 176,864 | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 187,104 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 196,366 | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 213,606 | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 232,348 | +8.8% |
| 1981 | 245,834 | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 260,217 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 258,760 | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 254,239 | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 259,251 | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 260,499 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 258,400 | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 250,586 | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 246,733 | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 249,406 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 248,604 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 246,267 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 242,807 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 238,407 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 233,374 | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 227,695 | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 221,870 | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 216,365 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 212,227 | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 210,168 | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 213,869 | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 218,324 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 223,593 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 228,752 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 234,146 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 241,505 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 247,743 | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 255,454 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 263,765 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 271,242 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 277,875 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 273,930 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 275,666 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 276,898 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 281,528 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 289,304 | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 284,098 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 278,112 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 283,591 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 284,361 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 280,233 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 275,684 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 270,841 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 265,538 | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 261,773 | -1.4% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 261,773 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 261,773, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Libya's 261,773 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 417,816, 63% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 173,760 | 158,036 | 213,606 | 10 |
| 1980s | 252,687 | 232,348 | 260,499 | 10 |
| 1990s | 233,702 | 212,227 | 249,406 | 10 |
| 2000s | 233,732 | 210,168 | 263,765 | 10 |
| 2010s | 279,224 | 271,242 | 289,304 | 10 |
| 2020s | 273,072 | 261,773 | 284,361 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More education data for Libya
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.94 (1983)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 95.46 (1983)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school-age population in Libya?
- School-age population in Libya was 261,773 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest school-age population recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 289,304 in 2016.
- What is the lowest school-age population recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 158,036 in 1974.
- How does Libya rank for school-age population?
- Libya ranks 37th out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school-age population rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of School-age population (pre-primary level). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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