A new international report has placed Libya among the ten most developed African nations in 2025, highlighting gradual improvements in human development indicators after years of conflict.
The study, published by World Population Review and prepared by researcher Fathia Olasupo, assessed progress using the Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, education and per‑capita income rather than GDP alone.
Libya was ranked ninth with a score of 0.721, reflecting what the report described as a cautious recovery built on renewed investment in human capital, institutional rebuilding and economic stabilisation.
The findings noted that countries at the top of the list had successfully translated economic growth and public policy into tangible improvements in quality of life, through long‑term investment in health, education and governance.
In Libya, reforms between 2023 and 2024 included a comprehensive overhaul of education and workforce systems. The government launched a “National Workforce Modernisation Programme” to revive technical and vocational training in 19 institutes, targeting sectors vital for reconstruction and diversification such as logistics, machinery repair, energy and infrastructure.
Enrollment in vocational tracks rose by around 40% since 2022, while a UN‑backed education information system was introduced in more than 200 schools to improve transparency and resource allocation.
Health and social services also saw UN‑supported interventions, expanding maternal and child care, basic health facilities and early childhood nutrition programmes. Economically, while Libya remained heavily reliant on oil, recent reforms and external support aimed to diversify the economy and attract investment.
Seychelles topped the 2025 list, followed by Mauritius, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, Gabon, Botswana, Libya and Morocco.