Saudi authorities have demanded that Libya submit an official UN document confirming its population has reached 10 million as a condition to increase Libya’s annual Hajj quota from 7,800 to 10,000 pilgrims. The request follows an announcement by the Libyan General Authority for Hajj and Umrah Affairs that it had contacted Saudi officials to revise the quota, citing “local estimates” claiming Libya’s population has crossed 10 million.
According to the latest figures from Worldometer, Libya’s current population stands at 7.4 million, with an annual growth rate of 1.05%, suggesting it would take decades to reach 10 million under current demographic trends.
The Libyan authority also revealed that the country’s Hajj quota has remained unchanged at 7,800 pilgrims since 2019, up from 5,600 during the 2014–2016 period. Last year’s Hajj season saw additional challenges for Libyan pilgrims, with 9 deaths reported—8 during rituals and 1 at King Abdullah Hospital in Mecca—while 5 others required intensive care.