Libya: immigration

How many refugees are in Libya?

Libya hosted 552,523 refugees and 105,954 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR. By origin, 551,727 of the refugees came from Sudan. UNHCR also counts 32,791 internally displaced people in Libya.

UNHCR compiles these figures from government and UNHCR data. No national asylum or migration statistics were found on the Bureau of Statistics and Census site, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR · 551,727 of the refugees came from Sudan

How many migrants live in Libya?

897,751 international migrants lived in Libya in 2024, according to UN estimates published by the World Bank. The estimate was 826,537 in 2020 and 567,436 in 2000.

The UN counts people born in another country, so the figure covers labour migrants as well as refugees. In the MICS 2024-25 household survey, 1.2% of women aged 15 to 49 held only another country's citizenship. Household surveys may miss migrants who live outside private households.

Official sources: World Bank

How much do workers send home from Libya?

Workers' transfers abroad from Libya were 26,015.0 million dinars in 2024, according to the Central Bank of Libya balance of payments in the Bureau of Statistics and Census Statistical Book 2024. They were 22,704.0 million in 2023, 11,688.0 million in 2022 and 6,540.0 million in 2021.

The outflow has quadrupled since 2021. It was the main reason that current transfers showed a net outflow of 27,361.4 million dinars in 2024, which helped turn the current account into deficit. The figure covers money sent abroad by workers living in Libya.

Official sources: Statistical Book 2024

How many people apply for asylum in Libya?

1,076 new asylum applications were lodged in Libya in 2025, according to UNHCR's asylum statistics, with a further 20 appeals. All were registered by UNHCR rather than by a national procedure.

UNHCR counted 105,954 asylum seekers in Libya at the end of 2025, most of them from Sudan (87,439), Eritrea (8,197) and Syria (4,723), according to its breakdown by origin. Refugee numbers rose from 200,335 at the end of 2024 to 552,523 a year later.

Official sources: UNHCR's asylum statistics · breakdown by origin

How many Libyans are refugees abroad?

17,161 refugees and 3,802 asylum seekers from Libya lived in other countries at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR. The largest group was in the United Kingdom, with 6,196 refugees, followed by Germany (2,999), France (2,620) and Malta (1,582), according to UNHCR's breakdown by country.

People from Libya lodged 2,734 first-time asylum applications abroad in 2025, according to UNHCR's asylum statistics. The figures count only people who sought international protection, not all Libyans living abroad.

Official sources: UNHCR · UNHCR's breakdown by country · UNHCR's asylum statistics

How many Libyan households have been displaced?

10.1% of households in Libya had at least one member who had been forced to leave their home or had moved because they felt unsafe, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25 of the Bureau of Statistics and Census. In 87.6% of these households, all affected members had since returned home.

In 8.0% of affected households at least one member had not returned to their home or original region. UNHCR counts 32,791 internally displaced people in Libya at the end of 2025. The survey question covers displacement at any time, not only recent moves.

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

How many foreign-born people live in Libya?

12.2%: that is the share of people born abroad in Libya for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. In 2015 the figure was 11.8%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 11.5%; Libya is 11th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 53rd of 193.

What is net migration in Libya?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -172. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 25,755; its low point was 2011, at -562,827. It is 11th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is -376. Worldwide: 80th of 193.

How many refugees does Libya host?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees in the country in Libya at 552,523 in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 15,377, and Libya placed 3rd highest of 22. Worldwide: 15th of 169.

How many people from Libya are refugees?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Libya at 17,161 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1,556 (2005) to 19,090 (2021). Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 7,322; Libya is 8th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 50th of 189.