People not using improved drinking water sources in Libya
Libya: People not using improved drinking water sources was 11,889 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
People not using improved drinking water sources in Libya, 2008–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, people not using improved drinking water sources in Libya stood at 11,889 people. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is down 63.3% on the previous year and down 93.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people not using improved drinking water sources in Libya peaked at 230,986 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 11,889 people, in 2024.
That places Libya 120th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
People not using improved drinking water sources in Libya, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 221,658 people | — |
| 2009 | 226,324 people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 230,986 people | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 225,489 people | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 219,664 people | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 206,288 people | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 192,123 people | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 176,776 people | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 160,734 people | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 144,261 people | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 127,252 people | -11.8% |
| 2019 | 109,488 people | -14.0% |
| 2020 | 91,049 people | -16.8% |
| 2021 | 72,031 people | -20.9% |
| 2022 | 52,495 people | -27.1% |
| 2023 | 32,429 people | -38.2% |
| 2024 | 11,889 people | -63.3% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 11,889 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 61,603 people, 19% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 11,889 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 55,032 people, 22% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 223,991 people | 221,658 people | 226,324 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 179,306 people | 109,488 people | 230,986 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 51,979 people | 11,889 people | 91,049 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 117 French Guiana 15,919 people compare
- 118 Guyana 15,694 people compare
- 119 Oman 12,302 people compare
- 121 Mayotte 11,468 people compare
- 122 Micronesia (country) 11,222 people compare
- 123 Cape Verde 10,287 people compare
More environment data for Libya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -35.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.37 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.386 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2239 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.1672 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is people not using improved drinking water sources in Libya?
- People not using improved drinking water sources in Libya was 11,889 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 230,986 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest people not using improved drinking water sources recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,889 people in 2024.
- How does Libya rank for people not using improved drinking water sources?
- Libya ranks 120th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
- Is people not using improved drinking water sources rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People not using improved drinking water sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people not using improved drinking water sources. These people might use surface water sources or unprotected springs or wells, as no safe and reliable improved drinking water source is available to them.