Updated
Overview
Niger has 3.7 times the population of Libya: 27.92 million people against 7.46 million (2025).
Libya's economy is 2.2 times the size of Niger's, at $48.10B versus $21.65B.
Per person, Libya is the wealthier of the two: $6,449 against $775 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Niger | Libya | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $21.65B | Higher: $48.10B | 2025 | $19.54B / $46.64B |
| GDP per capita | $775 | Higher: $6,449 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 7.0% | Higher: 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -4.5% | 1.8% | 2025 | 9.1% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 0.4% | 18.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 36 | 39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $120 | — | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $69 | Higher: $207 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.92 million | 7.46 million | 2025 | 27.32 million / 7.36 million |
| Population growth | 3.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 15.6 yrs | 27.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 5.79 | 2.25 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 61.4 yrs | Higher: 71.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 18% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 16% | Higher: 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,267,000 km² | 1,759,540 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 22.0/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 3.17 Mt | 65 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.1 t | 8.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $435.88M | $1.57B | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.2% | 5.3% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 10,000 | — | 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 7.0%.
Libya runs the hotter price environment: 1.8% inflation versus -4.5%.
People and society
Niger is the far younger society: median age 15.6 versus 27.7 years.
Life expectancy is 9.7 years longer in Libya (71.1 vs 61.4).
Libya is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 18%.
Internet adoption is higher in Libya (82% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Niger is 28% smaller than Libya: 1,267,000 km² versus 1,759,540 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Niger is far more densely settled: 22 people per km² against 4.
Military
Libya spends 3.6 times as much on defence as Niger: $1.57B versus $435.88M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Libya carries the heavier military burden: 5.3% of GDP versus 2.2%.
Frequently asked
- Is Niger bigger than Libya?
- Libya is larger by land area. Niger covers 1,267,000 km² while Libya covers 1,759,540 km², so Libya is 39% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Niger or Libya?
- Niger has the larger population: 27.92 million versus 7.46 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Niger richer than Libya?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Libya is richer: $6,449 against $775. Total GDP tells the same story: $21.65B for Niger versus $48.10B for Libya.
- Who spends more on their military, Niger or Libya?
- Libya spends more: $1.57B versus $435.88M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).