Updated
Overview
Tunisia has about 65% more people than Libya: 12.35 million against 7.46 million (2025).
Tunisia's economy is 20% larger than Libya's, at $57.50B versus $48.10B.
Per person, Libya is the wealthier of the two: $6,449 against $4,657 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Tunisia | Libya | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $57.50B | $48.10B | 2025 | $53.41B / $46.64B |
| GDP per capita | $4,657 | Higher: $6,449 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.5% | Higher: 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.2% | Lower: 1.8% | 2025 | 7.2% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 15.1% | 18.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 29 | 39 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $252 | — | 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $158 | Higher: $207 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 12.35 million | 7.46 million | 2025 | 11.96 million / 7.36 million |
| Population growth | 0.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 32.9 yrs | 27.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.80 | 2.25 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.7 yrs | 71.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 71% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 77% | Higher: 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 163,610 km² | 1,759,540 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 75.5/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 33 Mt | 65 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.7 t | 8.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.31B | $1.57B | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.5% | 5.3% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 48,000 | — | 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 2.5%.
Tunisia runs the hotter price environment: 5.2% inflation versus 1.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Tunisia: a price level of 29 versus 39 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Libya is the younger society: median age 27.7 versus 32.9 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Tunisia (76.7 vs 71.1).
Libya is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 71%.
Geography
By land area, Tunisia is only about 1/11 the size of Libya: 163,610 km² versus 1,759,540 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Tunisia is far more densely settled: 75 people per km² against 4.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $1.31B (Tunisia) and $1.57B (Libya).
Relative to its economy, Libya carries the heavier military burden: 5.3% of GDP versus 2.5%.
Frequently asked
- Is Tunisia bigger than Libya?
- Libya is larger by land area. Tunisia covers 163,610 km² while Libya covers 1,759,540 km², so Libya is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Tunisia or Libya?
- Tunisia has the larger population: 12.35 million versus 7.46 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Tunisia richer than Libya?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Libya is richer: $6,449 against $4,657. Total GDP tells a different story: $57.50B for Tunisia versus $48.10B for Libya.
- Who spends more on their military, Tunisia or Libya?
- Libya spends more: $1.57B versus $1.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).