How to Install NumPy on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Python and Pip

Ubuntu 24.04 ships with Python 3 already, but Pip is often missing on a fresh install. Open a terminal and run the commands below to fetch both. Your password will not show as you type it, which is normal. If the packages are already installed, APT tells you so and changes nothing.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip

If you need more help with this prerequisite step, see the guide linked here:

Install Python and Pip on Ubuntu Linux

NumPy Using APT

The APT method is the most direct way to install NumPy. The package comes from the official Ubuntu repositories, so it is tested against Ubuntu 24.04 and updates along with the rest of your system. The trade-off is that the version may be older than the newest NumPy release.

Ubuntu 24.04 blocks pip from installing packages straight into the system Python and shows an “externally-managed-environment” error if you try. APT and virtual environments are the two supported ways around that.

Run this command to install NumPy:

sudo apt install python3-numpy

APT works out all required dependencies on its own and asks you to confirm before it installs anything. Type Y and press Enter if it asks. When the terminal returns to the prompt, the install is finished. To undo it later, remove the package with APT like any other.

Install NumPy Using Python Virtual Environment

A virtual environment gives each project its own isolated copy of Python packages. You can install NumPy there without touching the system Python, and two projects can use different NumPy versions without conflict. This is the method to pick if you need a specific version or the latest release.

First, install the virtual environment tool. On Ubuntu 24.04 this is the python3.12-venv package, installed with sudo apt install python3.12-venv. Run the command below in your terminal:

sudo apt install python3.12-venv

Next, create a virtual environment named myenv for your project. This makes a folder called myenv in your current directory. Run the command from the folder where you want your project to live:

python3 -m venv myenv

Then activate the environment. Activation points your terminal session at the isolated workspace. When it works, (myenv) appears at the start of your prompt:

source myenv/bin/activate

With the environment active, pip installs packages into myenv only, and the externally-managed-environment error no longer applies. You can install the latest NumPy release or pin a specific version. A pinned version is useful when a project depends on older behaviour.

pip install numpy==VERSION

The general pattern for installing NumPy looks like this:

pip install numpy==1.26.3

Once pip finishes, test that Python can import the module. If the command prints nothing and returns to the prompt, the import worked. A ModuleNotFoundError means NumPy is not installed in the Python you are running. Check that (myenv) shows in your prompt and run the install again.

python3
import numpy as np

Now print the installed version. The terminal shows a version number, which tells you exactly which NumPy release this environment is using:

print(np.__version__)

When you finish working, deactivate the environment. The (myenv) prefix disappears from your prompt and the terminal goes back to the global system Python. To use NumPy in that project again, activate the environment again. To remove the environment completely, delete the myenv folder.

deactivate

That completes both installation methods.

Summary:

There are two ways to add NumPy to Ubuntu 24.04. Core takeaways include:

• Versatile LibraryNumPy is essential for numerical and scientific computing, offering various mathematical functions and support for multi-dimensional arrays.
• Installation MethodsUse APT for a quick system-wide install, or create a virtual environment for better project dependency management.
• Python RequirementMake sure Python and Pip are installed before you install NumPy.
• Version ControlInstalling NumPy in a virtual environment lets you manage different library versions easily, which is particularly useful across multiple projects.
• Verifying InstallationAlways verify the installation by importing the module and checking the NumPy version to confirm the library is set up correctly.

Once these steps are done, NumPy is ready for your numerical computing work on Ubuntu 24.04.