Updated
Overview
Algeria has 6.4 times the population of Libya: 47.44 million people against 7.46 million (2025).
Algeria's economy is 6.0 times the size of Libya's, at $287.03B versus $48.10B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Algeria | Libya | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $287.03B | $48.10B | 2025 | $263.62B / $46.64B |
| GDP per capita | $6,051 | Higher: $6,449 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.8% | Higher: 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.4% | 1.8% | 2025 | 4.0% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 11.6% | 18.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $149 | Higher: $207 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 47.44 million | 7.46 million | 2025 | 47.74 million / 7.36 million |
| Population growth | 1.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.6 yrs | 27.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.67 | 2.25 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.5 yrs | 71.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 76% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 77% | Higher: 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,381,741 km² | 1,759,540 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 19.9/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 198 Mt | Lower: 65 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.2 t | 8.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $21.81B | $1.57B | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 8.0% | 5.3% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 326,000 | — | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Libya is growing much faster: 13.4% annual GDP growth versus 3.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.4% in Algeria and 1.8% in Libya.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 28.6 (Algeria) and 27.7 (Libya).
Life expectancy is 5.4 years longer in Algeria (76.5 vs 71.1).
Libya is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 76%.
Geography
By land area, Algeria is 35% larger than Libya: 2,381,741 km² versus 1,759,540 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Algeria is far more densely settled: 20 people per km² against 4.
Military
Algeria spends 14 times as much on defence as Libya: $21.81B versus $1.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Algeria carries the heavier military burden: 8.0% of GDP versus 5.3%.
Frequently asked
- Is Algeria bigger than Libya?
- Algeria is larger by land area. Algeria covers 2,381,741 km² while Libya covers 1,759,540 km², so Algeria is 35% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Algeria or Libya?
- Algeria has the larger population: 47.44 million versus 7.46 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Algeria richer than Libya?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Libya is richer: $6,449 against $6,051. Total GDP tells a different story: $287.03B for Algeria versus $48.10B for Libya.
- Who spends more on their military, Algeria or Libya?
- Algeria spends more: $21.81B versus $1.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).