Population
🇱🇾 Libya7,381,023
🇪🇭 Western SaharaNo data
Population data is unavailable for Western Sahara, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.
Country comparison
LibyavsWestern Sahara
See the biggest differences first, then scan the geographic, economic, and practical reference data.
This comparison uses the latest available atlas values for each country; reporting years can differ by metric.
What stands out
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Surface area
🇱🇾 Libya1,759,540 km²
🇪🇭 Western SaharaNo data
Surface area data is unavailable for Western Sahara, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.
Population density
🇱🇾 Libya4.2 /km²
🇪🇭 Western SaharaNo data
Population density data is unavailable for Western Sahara, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.
Nominal GDP
🇱🇾 Libya$48.49 billion · 2024
🇪🇭 Western SaharaNo data
Nominal GDP data is unavailable for Western Sahara, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.
GDP per capita
🇱🇾 Libya$6,569 · 2024
🇪🇭 Western SaharaNo data
GDP per capita data is unavailable for Western Sahara, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.
Values use the latest available observations in WorldSumma. Economic reporting years are shown when available and can differ by country.
Full side-by-side comparison
Capital
Tripolis
El-Aaiun
Population
7,381,023
—
Surface area
1,759,540 km²
—
Population density
4.2 /km²
—
Nominal GDP
$48.49 billion · 2024
—
GDP per capita
$6,569 · 2024
—
Region
Africa
Africa
Subregion
Northern Africa
Northern Africa
Currency
Libyan dinar · LYD · د.ل
Moroccan dirham · MAD · MAD
Nationality
Libyan
Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Phone code
+218
+212
Internet domain
.ly
.eh
ISO codes
LY / LBY
EH / ESH
Time zone
Africa/Tripoli
Africa/El_Aaiun
Native name
ليبيا
الصحراء الغربية
| Measure | Libya | Western Sahara |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Tripolis | El-Aaiun |
| Population | 7,381,023 | — |
| Surface area | 1,759,540 km² | — |
| Population density | 4.2 /km² | — |
| Nominal GDP | $48.49 billion · 2024 | — |
| GDP per capita | $6,569 · 2024 | — |
| Region | Africa | Africa |
| Subregion | Northern Africa | Northern Africa |
| Currency | Libyan dinar · LYD · د.ل | Moroccan dirham · MAD · MAD |
| Nationality | Libyan | Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian |
| Phone code | +218 | +212 |
| Internet domain | .ly | .eh |
| ISO codes | LY / LBY | EH / ESH |
| Time zone | Africa/Tripoli | Africa/El_Aaiun |
| Native name | ليبيا | الصحراء الغربية |
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Country overviews
AI-assisted profile prose · methodologyAbout Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, occupies the north‑east corner of the African continent and is the largest country in Africa by area. The nation is a unitary republic that governs across the western reaches of the Sahara Desert, along the Mediterranean coast, and across the high interior plateau.
Full Libya profile →About Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a sparsely populated desert territory on the Atlantic coast of North Africa, the status of which remains one of the world's long-running unresolved disputes. Most of it is administered by Morocco, while the Polisario Front seeks an independent state. Its largest city is El-Aaiun.
Full Western Sahara profile →Libya & Western Sahara: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Libya?
The capital of Libya is Tripolis.
What is the population of Libya?
Libya has a recorded population of approximately 7,381,023 people.
How big is Libya?
Libya covers an area of about 1,759,540 km².
What is the population density of Libya?
Libya has a population density of roughly 4.2 /km² (people per square kilometre).
What is the GDP of Libya?
Libya has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $48.49 billion as of 2024.
What is the GDP per capita of Libya?
Libya has a GDP per capita of approximately $6,569.
What currency is used in Libya?
Libya uses the Libyan dinar (LYD), with the symbol د.ل.
Where is Libya located?
Libya is located in Northern Africa, Africa.
What is the native name of Libya?
The native name of Libya is ليبيا.
What are people from Libya called?
People from Libya are referred to as Libyan.
What is the phone calling code for Libya?
The international dialing code for Libya is +218.
What is the internet domain for Libya?
The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Libya is .ly.
What time zone is Libya in?
Libya uses the Africa/Tripoli time zone.
What is Libya known for?
Libya, officially the State of Libya, occupies the north‑east corner of the African continent and is the largest country in Africa by area. The nation is a unitary republic that governs across the western reaches of the Sahara Desert, along the Mediterranean coast, and across the high interior plateau.
What is the capital of Western Sahara?
The capital of Western Sahara is El-Aaiun.
What currency is used in Western Sahara?
Western Sahara uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD), with the symbol MAD.
Where is Western Sahara located?
Western Sahara is located in Northern Africa, Africa.
What is the native name of Western Sahara?
The native name of Western Sahara is الصحراء الغربية.
What are people from Western Sahara called?
People from Western Sahara are referred to as Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian.
What is the phone calling code for Western Sahara?
The international dialing code for Western Sahara is +212.
What is the internet domain for Western Sahara?
The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Western Sahara is .eh.
What time zone is Western Sahara in?
Western Sahara uses the Africa/El_Aaiun time zone.
What is Western Sahara known for?
Western Sahara is a sparsely populated desert territory on the Atlantic coast of North Africa, the status of which remains one of the world's long-running unresolved disputes. Most of it is administered by Morocco, while the Polisario Front seeks an independent state. Its largest city is El-Aaiun.