Updated
Overview
Egypt has 16 times the population of Libya: 118.37 million people against 7.46 million (2025).
Egypt's economy is 7.6 times the size of Libya's, at $365.25B versus $48.10B.
Per person, Libya is the wealthier of the two: $6,449 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Libya | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $365.25B | $48.10B | 2025 | $389.06B / $46.64B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $6,449 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 1.8% | 2025 | 28.3% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.8% | 18.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 7.46 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 7.36 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 27.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 2.25 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 71.8 yrs | 71.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 1,759,540 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 65 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 8.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $1.57B | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 5.3% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | — | 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 4.4%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 1.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 39 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Egypt is the younger society: median age 24.5 versus 27.7 years.
Libya is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 43% smaller than Libya: 1,002,450 km² versus 1,759,540 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Egypt is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 4.
Military
Egypt spends about 50% more on defence than Libya: $2.40B versus $1.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Libya carries the heavier military burden: 5.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Libya?
- Libya is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Libya covers 1,759,540 km², so Libya is 76% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Libya?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 7.46 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Libya?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Libya is richer: $6,449 against $3,086. Total GDP tells a different story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $48.10B for Libya.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Libya?
- Egypt spends more: $2.40B versus $1.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).