Libya: housing

How many people in Libya own their home?

88.2% of households in Libya owned their dwelling, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25 of the Bureau of Statistics and Census. 6.2% rented, and the remaining 5.6% of households neither owned nor rented their home.

17.9% of households owned agricultural land. The survey interviewed 17,549 households between August 2024 and January 2025. It records whether a household member owns the dwelling, not whether the home is mortgaged or how it was acquired.

Official sources: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25

How crowded are homes in Libya?

Households in Libya had an average of 2.16 people per room used for sleeping, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25 of the Bureau of Statistics and Census. The average household had 4.9 members.

The figure was 2.16 in urban areas and 2.19 in rural areas, so crowding differs little between town and country. The survey counted 17,549 households, with 89.1% of the population living in urban areas. Persons per sleeping room is a common measure of overcrowding: the more people share each room, the more crowded the home.

Official sources: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25

What are homes in Libya built from, and do they have power?

99.5% of households in Libya had electricity, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25 of the Bureau of Statistics and Census. 98.8% lived in homes with finished exterior walls, 99.3% had finished roofing and 98.3% had finished flooring.

99.6% of households cooked mainly with clean fuels and technologies, and 91.8% had internet access at home. Finished walls were less common in a few regions, such as Wadi Al-Shati and Murzuq, where finished walls covered about 91% of households. The survey ran from August 2024 to January 2025.

Official sources: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25

What is Libya's urbanisation rate?

The UN Population Division puts the share of people living in urban areas in Libya at 87.9% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2006, at 88.2%; its low point was 2015, at 87.8%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 78.4%; Libya is 8th highest of 22. Worldwide: 26th of 193.

How common are informal settlements in Libya?

16.6%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in Libya for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. The peak was 35.2% in 2006 and the low 16.4% in 2018. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 10.9%; Libya is 8th highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 82nd of 170.

What share of people in Libya have electricity?

According to the World Bank, the share of people with access to electricity in Libya was 77.4% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 90.1%; its low point was 2018, at 67.0%. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 100.0%, and Libya placed 21st highest of 22. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 151st highest.

What share of people in Libya have safe sanitation?

In 2024, the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Libya was 21.7%, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 16th highest of 17 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 79.8%. World rank, highest first: 116th of 134.

What share of homes in Libya cook with clean fuels?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Libya was 95.0%, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2006, at 96.0%; its low point was 2012, at 94.0%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 99.5%; Libya is 17th highest of 22. Worldwide: 86th of 192.