Libya - LY - LBY - LBA - Africa

Last updated: April 17, 2024
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  • In the 1950s, oil exploration in Libya revealed that the country also had huge aquifers lurking underneath its scorching sands. Libyans weighed the costs of bringing water up from the aquifers against transporting water from Europe or the desalination of salt water, and chose the aquifers as the most cost-effective option. This false-color satellite image shows part of Libya's massive water project, known as the Grand Omar Mukhtar, near the city of Suluq. Libyans plan to make the Grand Omar Mukhtar the country's largest man-made reservoir. Water residing in reservoirs appears twice in this image, in the upper right and at the bottom. In both cases, the water appears dark blue. In this image, vegetation appears red, and the brighter the red, the more robust the vegetation. In this arid place, the vegetation results from irrigated agriculture, so the areas of red appear in the crisp geometric shapes of carefully planned fields. The circular spots of red are the result of center-pivot irrigation. Image courtesy of NASA.

    In the 1950s, oil exploration in Libya revealed that the country also had huge aquifers lurking underneath its scorching sands. Libyans weighed the costs of bringing water up from the aquifers against transporting water from Europe or the desalination of salt water, and chose the aquifers as the most cost-effective option. This false-color satellite image shows part of Libya's massive water project, known as the Grand Omar Mukhtar, near the city of Suluq. Libyans plan to make the Grand Omar Mukhtar the country's largest man-made reservoir. Water residing in reservoirs appears twice in this image, in the upper right and at the bottom. In both cases, the water appears dark blue. In this image, vegetation appears red, and the brighter the red, the more robust the vegetation. In this arid place, the vegetation results from irrigated agriculture, so the areas of red appear in the crisp geometric shapes of carefully planned fields. The circular spots of red are the result of center-pivot irrigation. Image courtesy of NASA.

  • Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) includes craftsmen of several specialties, including the copper market. Copper forges line each side of the alley where craftsmen may be observed at work.

    Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) includes craftsmen of several specialties, including the copper market. Copper forges line each side of the alley where craftsmen may be observed at work.

  • Tripoli Harbor is a study in contrasts, with significant industrial shipping taking place adjacent to a broad recreational riverwalk, popular with Tripoli residents of all ages.

    Tripoli Harbor is a study in contrasts, with significant industrial shipping taking place adjacent to a broad recreational riverwalk, popular with Tripoli residents of all ages.

  • The Clock Tower in the heart of Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) is a relic of the Italian colonial period. The structure is dazzlingly lit at night.

    The Clock Tower in the heart of Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) is a relic of the Italian colonial period. The structure is dazzlingly lit at night.

  • The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is the largest remaining Roman relic in Tripoli. Here seen framing a local minaret, the monument dates to the second half of the second century A.D.

    The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is the largest remaining Roman relic in Tripoli. Here seen framing a local minaret, the monument dates to the second half of the second century A.D.

  • Leptis Magna, about 100 km (60 mi) east of Tripoli, is recognized as one of the most complete and best-preserved Roman ruins in the Mediterranean area. Founded as a Phoenician settlement in the second half of the 7th century B.C., Leptis was gradually absorbed into the Roman Empire and achieved its greatest prominence in the late 2nd-early-3rd centuries A.D., as the hometown of Emperor Septimius Severus. Septimius lavished honors on the city, including the creation of a magnificent new forum and the rebuilding of the docks, and made Leptis Magna the third-most important city in Africa, rivaling Carthage and Alexandria. The photo shows the remains of the Leptis market building (macellum). Leptis Magna became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.

    Leptis Magna, about 100 km (60 mi) east of Tripoli, is recognized as one of the most complete and best-preserved Roman ruins in the Mediterranean area. Founded as a Phoenician settlement in the second half of the 7th century B.C., Leptis was gradually absorbed into the Roman Empire and achieved its greatest prominence in the late 2nd-early-3rd centuries A.D., as the hometown of Emperor Septimius Severus. Septimius lavished honors on the city, including the creation of a magnificent new forum and the rebuilding of the docks, and made Leptis Magna the third-most important city in Africa, rivaling Carthage and Alexandria. The photo shows the remains of the Leptis market building (macellum). Leptis Magna became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.

  • The amazingly well-preserved Roman theater at Sabratha, in northwestern Libya on the Mediterranean Sea (visible in the distance). Although Libya is not often associated with ancient Rome, much of the north African Mediterranean coastal area was incorporated into the Roman Empire in the first century B.C. Sabratha was an important commercial port city during the early centuries A.D. and made its fortune as a terminus of the trans-Saharan caravan routes. The historic Sabratha site was restored by archaeologists in the 1920s and 1930s and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

    The amazingly well-preserved Roman theater at Sabratha, in northwestern Libya on the Mediterranean Sea (visible in the distance). Although Libya is not often associated with ancient Rome, much of the north African Mediterranean coastal area was incorporated into the Roman Empire in the first century B.C. Sabratha was an important commercial port city during the early centuries A.D. and made its fortune as a terminus of the trans-Saharan caravan routes. The historic Sabratha site was restored by archaeologists in the 1920s and 1930s and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

  • The sand dunes of the Sahara Desert are stunning, but are not the most common landform. Rock and gravel landscapes are much more common, though less photogenic.

    The sand dunes of the Sahara Desert are stunning, but are not the most common landform. Rock and gravel landscapes are much more common, though less photogenic.

  • Photo shows classic large and small sand masses of the central Sahara Desert, where wind is a more powerful land-shaping agent than water. "Draa" dunes (from the Arabic for "arm") are very large masses of sand, and they appear here as the broad network of yellow-orange sand masses, with smooth-floored, almost sand-free basins between them. These sand masses lie in the western part of Libya's vast Marzuq Sand Sea. Geologists think that the draa of the Marzuq were probably formed by winds different from the prevailing north-northeast winds of today. Numerous smaller dunes have developed on the backs of the draa. Three distinct dune types are visible: longitudinal dunes, which are more or less parallel with the north winds; transverse dunes, which are usually more curved and formed at right angles to the wind; and star dunes, in which several linear arms converge towards a single peak. Image courtesy of NASA.

    Photo shows classic large and small sand masses of the central Sahara Desert, where wind is a more powerful land-shaping agent than water. "Draa" dunes (from the Arabic for "arm") are very large masses of sand, and they appear here as the broad network of yellow-orange sand masses, with smooth-floored, almost sand-free basins between them. These sand masses lie in the western part of Libya's vast Marzuq Sand Sea. Geologists think that the draa of the Marzuq were probably formed by winds different from the prevailing north-northeast winds of today. Numerous smaller dunes have developed on the backs of the draa. Three distinct dune types are visible: longitudinal dunes, which are more or less parallel with the north winds; transverse dunes, which are usually more curved and formed at right angles to the wind; and star dunes, in which several linear arms converge towards a single peak. Image courtesy of NASA.

  • The mountainous outcrops of Jebel Ouenat (Auenat) rise 1,830 m (6,000 ft) above the barren, uninhabited plains of the Libyan Desert. One of the wadis on the western side is the site of a permanent oasis where prehistoric petroglyphs may be found. The frontiers of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan meet amidst the mountains, which are remnants of an ancient granitic dome. Rivers of sand meander around them, swept across the desert pavement by northeasterly winds. False-color satellite image courtesy of USGS.

    The mountainous outcrops of Jebel Ouenat (Auenat) rise 1,830 m (6,000 ft) above the barren, uninhabited plains of the Libyan Desert. One of the wadis on the western side is the site of a permanent oasis where prehistoric petroglyphs may be found. The frontiers of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan meet amidst the mountains, which are remnants of an ancient granitic dome. Rivers of sand meander around them, swept across the desert pavement by northeasterly winds. False-color satellite image courtesy of USGS.

  • Ghadames is an oasis town located some 550 km (340 mi) southwest of Tripoli. The site was an important stop along the old caravan routes across the Sahara. Shown here is part of the Old City, which formerly was organized spatially and socially into seven clans. Ghadames became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

    Ghadames is an oasis town located some 550 km (340 mi) southwest of Tripoli. The site was an important stop along the old caravan routes across the Sahara. Shown here is part of the Old City, which formerly was organized spatially and socially into seven clans. Ghadames became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

  • The traditionally decorated mud brick architecture of Ghadames' Old City is designed for natural cooling. Buildings are built directly adjacent to each other, which insulates the streets and living spaces below from the beating sun.

    The traditionally decorated mud brick architecture of Ghadames' Old City is designed for natural cooling. Buildings are built directly adjacent to each other, which insulates the streets and living spaces below from the beating sun.

  • In the 1950s, oil exploration in Libya revealed that the country also had huge aquifers lurking underneath its scorching sands. Libyans weighed the costs of bringing water up from the aquifers against transporting water from Europe or the desalination of salt water, and chose the aquifers as the most cost-effective option. This false-color satellite image shows part of Libya's massive water project, known as the Grand Omar Mukhtar, near the city of Suluq. Libyans plan to make the Grand Omar Mukhtar the country's largest man-made reservoir. Water residing in reservoirs appears twice in this image, in the upper right and at the bottom. In both cases, the water appears dark blue. In this image, vegetation appears red, and the brighter the red, the more robust the vegetation. In this arid place, the vegetation results from irrigated agriculture, so the areas of red appear in the crisp geometric shapes of carefully planned fields. The circular spots of red are the result of center-pivot irrigation. Image courtesy of NASA.

    In the 1950s, oil exploration in Libya revealed that the country also had huge aquifers lurking underneath its scorching sands. Libyans weighed the costs of bringing water up from the aquifers against transporting water from Europe or the desalination of salt water, and chose the aquifers as the most cost-effective option. This false-color satellite image shows part of Libya's massive water project, known as the Grand Omar Mukhtar, near the city of Suluq. Libyans plan to make the Grand Omar Mukhtar the country's largest man-made reservoir. Water residing in reservoirs appears twice in this image, in the upper right and at the bottom. In both cases, the water appears dark blue. In this image, vegetation appears red, and the brighter the red, the more robust the vegetation. In this arid place, the vegetation results from irrigated agriculture, so the areas of red appear in the crisp geometric shapes of carefully planned fields. The circular spots of red are the result of center-pivot irrigation. Image courtesy of NASA.

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  • The Algeria Square Mosque in Tripoli. The structure was a Catholic church during the period of Italian rule, but has now been converted into a Muslim place of worship.
  • Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) includes craftsmen of several specialties, including the copper market. Copper forges line each side of the alley where craftsmen may be observed at work.
  • Tripoli Harbor is a study in contrasts, with significant industrial shipping taking place adjacent to a broad recreational riverwalk, popular with Tripoli residents of all ages.
  • The Clock Tower in the heart of Tripoli's medina (old city quarter) is a relic of the Italian colonial period. The structure is dazzlingly lit at night.
  • The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is the largest remaining Roman relic in Tripoli. Here seen framing a local minaret, the monument dates to the second half of the second century A.D.
  • Leptis Magna, about 100 km (60 mi) east of Tripoli, is recognized as one of the most complete and best-preserved Roman ruins in the Mediterranean area. Founded as a Phoenician settlement in the second half of the 7th century B.C., Leptis was gradually absorbed into the Roman Empire and achieved its greatest prominence in the late 2nd-early-3rd centuries A.D., as the hometown of Emperor Septimius Severus. Septimius lavished honors on the city, including the creation of a magnificent new forum and the rebuilding of the docks, and made Leptis Magna the third-most important city in Africa, rivaling Carthage and Alexandria. The photo shows the remains of the Leptis market building (macellum). Leptis Magna became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.
  • The amazingly well-preserved Roman theater at Sabratha, in northwestern Libya on the Mediterranean Sea (visible in the distance). Although Libya is not often associated with ancient Rome, much of the north African Mediterranean coastal area was incorporated into the Roman Empire in the first century B.C. Sabratha was an important commercial port city during the early centuries A.D. and made its fortune as a terminus of the trans-Saharan caravan routes. The historic Sabratha site was restored by archaeologists in the 1920s and 1930s and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
  • The sand dunes of the Sahara Desert are stunning, but are not the most common landform. Rock and gravel landscapes are much more common, though less photogenic.
  • Photo shows classic large and small sand masses of the central Sahara Desert, where wind is a more powerful land-shaping agent than water. "Draa" dunes (from the Arabic for "arm") are very large masses of sand, and they appear here as the broad network of yellow-orange sand masses, with smooth-floored, almost sand-free basins between them. These sand masses lie in the western part of Libya's vast Marzuq Sand Sea. Geologists think that the draa of the Marzuq were probably formed by winds different from the prevailing north-northeast winds of today. Numerous smaller dunes have developed on the backs of the draa. Three distinct dune types are visible: longitudinal dunes, which are more or less parallel with the north winds; transverse dunes, which are usually more curved and formed at right angles to the wind; and star dunes, in which several linear arms converge towards a single peak. Image courtesy of NASA.
  • The mountainous outcrops of Jebel Ouenat (Auenat) rise 1,830 m (6,000 ft) above the barren, uninhabited plains of the Libyan Desert. One of the wadis on the western side is the site of a permanent oasis where prehistoric petroglyphs may be found. The frontiers of Libya, Egypt, and Sudan meet amidst the mountains, which are remnants of an ancient granitic dome. Rivers of sand meander around them, swept across the desert pavement by northeasterly winds. False-color satellite image courtesy of USGS.
  • Ghadames is an oasis town located some 550 km (340 mi) southwest of Tripoli. The site was an important stop along the old caravan routes across the Sahara. Shown here is part of the Old City, which formerly was organized spatially and socially into seven clans. Ghadames became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.
  • The traditionally decorated mud brick architecture of Ghadames' Old City is designed for natural cooling. Buildings are built directly adjacent to each other, which insulates the streets and living spaces below from the beating sun.
  • In the 1950s, oil exploration in Libya revealed that the country also had huge aquifers lurking underneath its scorching sands. Libyans weighed the costs of bringing water up from the aquifers against transporting water from Europe or the desalination of salt water, and chose the aquifers as the most cost-effective option. This false-color satellite image shows part of Libya's massive water project, known as the Grand Omar Mukhtar, near the city of Suluq. Libyans plan to make the Grand Omar Mukhtar the country's largest man-made reservoir. Water residing in reservoirs appears twice in this image, in the upper right and at the bottom. In both cases, the water appears dark blue. In this image, vegetation appears red, and the brighter the red, the more robust the vegetation. In this arid place, the vegetation results from irrigated agriculture, so the areas of red appear in the crisp geometric shapes of carefully planned fields. The circular spots of red are the result of center-pivot irrigation. Image courtesy of NASA.

Special Notes

Libya Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)

embassy: US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014

mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC  20521-8850

telephone: [216] 71-107-000

email address and website:
Webmaster_Libya@state.gov

https://ly.usembassy.gov/

note: the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations currently are located at US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.81% (male 1,213,850/female 1,166,039)

15-64 years: 62.8% (male 2,340,685/female 2,213,782)

65 years and over: 4.39% (2023 est.) (male 143,737/female 174,480)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Libya. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Area - comparative

about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska
Area comparison map

about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska

Military service age and obligation

not available

Background

Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but the region has been settled and ruled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the region; in the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began. The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations.

Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned an eight-month civil war that saw the emergence of a National Transitional Council (NTC), UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community, and the toppling of the QADHAFI regime. In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Voters chose a new parliament to replace the GNC in June 2014 - the House of Representatives (HoR) - which relocated to the eastern city of Tobruk after fighting broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi in July 2014.

In December 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) - establishing an interim executive body, the Government of National Accord (GNA). However, the HoR and defunct-GNC-affiliated political hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA’s implementation, leaving Libya with eastern and western-based rival governments. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan SALAME announced a new roadmap for national political reconciliation. In November 2018, the international community supported SALAME’s recalibrated Action Plan for Libya that aimed to break the political deadlock by holding a National Conference in early 2019. These plans, however, were derailed when the eastern-based self-described Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize Tripoli in April 2019. Several countries sent armed personnel and advanced military equipment into Libya. The LNA's offensive collapsed in June 2020, and a subsequent UN-sponsored cease-fire in October 2020 helped formalize the pause in fighting between rival camps, although some foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries that aided eastern and western factions during the fighting remain in Libya.

In early 2021, the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a new prime minister for an interim government, the Government of National Unity (GNU), and a new presidential council charged with preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2021 and uniting the country’s state institutions. The HoR approved the GNU and its cabinet in March 2021, providing Libya with its first unified government since 2014. On 22 December 2021, Libya's parliament postponed the first round of the planned presidential election to an undetermined date in the future. In March 2022, the HoR voted to replace GNU interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH, with another government led by Fathi BASHAGHA. GNU allegations of an illegitimate HoR vote allowed Prime Minister DUBAYBAH to remain in office and rebuff BASHAGHA's attempts to seat his government in Tripoli. On 16 May 2023, the HoR voted to replace BASHAGHA with Osma HAMAD. Special Representative of the UN Security-General for Libya, Abdoulaye BATHILY, is leading international efforts to persuade key Libyan political actors to resolve the core issues impeding elections. 

Environment - current issues

desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, brings water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities; water pollution is a significant problem; the combined impact of sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste threatens Libya's coast and the Mediterranean Sea

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea

Population below poverty line

note: about one third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, scrap iron, gold (2021)

Exports - partners

Italy 18%, China 16%, Germany 15%, Spain 15%, United Arab Emirates 6%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019)

Administrative divisions

22 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati

Agricultural products

potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, onions, dates, milk, olives, wheat, poultry, vegetables

Military and security forces

the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) has access to various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces comprised of a mix of formations and equipment from the QADHAFI regime, semi-regular and nominally integrated units, tribal armed groups/militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign private military contractors and mercenaries; the GNU has a Ministry of Defense, but has limited control over its security forces

the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), under de facto LNA commander Khalifa HAFTER, also includes various ground, air, and naval forces comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, and foreign private military contractors and mercenaries; the LNA operates independently from the GNU and exerts influence throughout eastern, central, and southern Libya (2023)

note 1: the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) is a state-funded militia established in January 2021 by the GNA; it is tasked with securing government buildings and officials, participating in combat operations, apprehending those suspected of national security crimes, and cooperating with other security bodies

note 2: the national police force under the Ministry of Interior oversees internal security (with support from military forces under the Ministry of Defense), but much of Libya's security-related police work generally falls to informal armed groups, which receive government salaries but lack formal training, supervision, or consistent accountability

Budget

revenues: $28.005 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $37.475 billion (2019 est.)

Capital

name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)

geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: originally founded by the Phoenicians as Oea in the 7th century B.C., the city changed rulers many times over the successive centuries; by the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. the region around the city was referred to as Regio Tripolitana by the Romans, meaning "region of the three cities" - namely Oea (i.e., modern Tripoli), Sabratha (to the west), and Leptis Magna (to the east); over time, the shortened name of "Tripoli" came to refer to just Oea, which derives from the Greek words tria and polis meaning "three cities"

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, cigarettes, jewelry (2019)

Climate

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Coastline

1,770 km

Constitution

history: previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law in a session with contested reports of the quorum needed to pass the vote and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constitutional referendum

Exchange rates

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
4.813 (2022 est.)
4.514 (2021 est.)
1.389 (2020 est.)
1.398 (2019 est.)
1.365 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President, Presidential Council, Mohammed Al MENFI (since 5 February 2021)

head of government: GNU Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)

elections/appointments:

Libya’s first direct presidential election, scheduled for 24 December 2021, was not held; no new date has been set for elections

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag description

three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double width), and green with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe; the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design of the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-1969) on 27 February 2011; it replaced the former all-green banner promulgated by the QADHAFI regime in 1977; the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black symbolizes Cyrenaica, and green denotes Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam, the main religion of the country

Independence

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

Industries

petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Libya's judicial system consists of a supreme court, central high courts (in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha), and a series of lower courts; the judicial system is factious given the ongoing tension between Libya's eastern and western regions; since 2011, Libyan political factions and armed groups have targeted judges and courthouses

Land boundaries

total: 4,339 km

border countries (6): Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km

Land use

agricultural land: 8.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)

other: 91.1% (2018 est.)

Legal system

Libya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities

Legislative branch

description: unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al Nuwab) or HoR (200 seats including 32 reserved for women; members directly elected by majority vote; member term NA); note - the High State Council serves as an advisory group for the HoR

elections:
last held on 25 June 2014

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - only 188 of the 200 seats were filled in the June 2014 election because of boycotts and lack of security at some polling stations; some elected members of the House of Representatives also boycotted the election

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 96.7%

female: 85.6% (2015)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

Nationality

noun: Libyan(s)

adjective: Libyan

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Geography - note

note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

note 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis - the name means "oasis of mosquitoes" - containing several small lakes surrounded by vegetation and hosting various insects and a large diversity of birds

Economic overview

upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy; 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade; reduced government spending; central bank had to devalue currency; public wages are over 60% of expenditures

Pipelines

882 km condensate, 3,743 km gas, 7,005 km oil (2013)

Political parties and leaders

NA

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli

oil terminal(s): Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf

LNG terminal(s) (export): Marsa el Brega

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecom sector; much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; rival operators fight for control; investment in fiber backbone and upgrades to international cables; limited LTE and 5G service; some satellite broadband; in 2021 Libya signed deals and projects with US firms to upgrade portions of its infrastructure, increasing the diversity of its telecommunications networks (2022)

domestic: nearly 23 per 100 fixed-line and over 43 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2021)

international: country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik;  microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019)

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Government type

in transition

Country name

conventional long form: State of Libya

conventional short form: Libya

local long form: Dawlat Libiya

local short form: Libiya

etymology: name derives from the Libu, an ancient Libyan tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria

Map references

Africa

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)

chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012

telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601

FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606

email address and website:
info@embassyoflibyadc.com

https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/

Internet country code

.ly

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,623 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,302 (Eritrea) (2023); 6,293 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

IDPs: 125,802 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$45.752 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Total renewable water resources

700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Libya, Libya, Libya"

lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: also known as "Ya Beladi" or "Oh, My Country!"; adopted 1951; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; during the QADHAFI years between 1969 and 2011, the anthem was "Allahu Akbar," (God is Great) a marching song of the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War

Major urban areas - population

1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Physicians density

2.09 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

star and crescent, hawk; national colors: red, black, green

Demographic profile

Despite continuing unrest, Libya remains a destination country for economic migrants. It is also a hub for transit migration to Europe because of its proximity to southern Europe and its lax border controls. Labor migrants have been drawn to Libya since the development of its oil sector in the 1960s. Until the latter part of the 1990s, most migrants to Libya were Arab (primarily Egyptians and Sudanese). However, international isolation stemming from Libya’s involvement in international terrorism and a perceived lack of support from Arab countries led QADHAFI in 1998 to adopt a decade-long pan-African policy that enabled large numbers of Sub-Saharan migrants to enter Libya without visas to work in the construction and agricultural industries. Although Sub-Saharan Africans provided a cheap labor source, they were poorly treated and were subjected to periodic mass expulsions.

By the mid-2000s, domestic animosity toward African migrants and a desire to reintegrate into the international community motivated QADHAFI to impose entry visas on Arab and African immigrants and to agree to joint maritime patrols and migrant repatriations with Italy, the main recipient of illegal migrants departing Libya. As his regime neared collapse in 2011, QADHAFI reversed his policy of cooperating with Italy to curb illegal migration and sent boats loaded with migrants and asylum seekers to strain European resources. Libya’s 2011 revolution decreased immigration drastically and prompted nearly 800,000 migrants to flee to third countries, mainly Tunisia and Egypt, or to their countries of origin. The inflow of migrants declined in 2012 but returned to normal levels by 2013, despite continued hostility toward Sub-Saharan Africans and a less-inviting job market.

While Libya is not an appealing destination for migrants, since 2014, transiting migrants – primarily from East and West Africa – continue to exploit its political instability and weak border controls and use it as a primary departure area to migrate across the central Mediterranean to Europe in growing numbers. In addition, approximately 135,000 people were displaced internally as of  August 2022 by fighting between armed groups in eastern and western Libya and, to a lesser extent, by inter-tribal clashes in the country’s south.

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 71.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 19.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 2.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.3% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 38.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -33.8% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.8

youth dependency ratio: 43.5

elderly dependency ratio: 7.3

potential support ratio: 13.8 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years

Population distribution

well over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and lack of surface water as shown in this population distribution map

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 70.2% (2021)

electrification - urban areas: 100% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 927,153 (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5A

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.3% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)

Religions

Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)

note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims
MENA religious affiliation

Languages

Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Arabic audio sample

Imports - partners

China 16%, Turkey 14%, Italy 9%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Egypt 5% (2019)

Disputes - international

Libya-Algeria: while dormant, Libya has long claimed about 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria south of the Libyan town of Ghat  

Libya-Chad: various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya; Libyan forces clashed with Chadian rebels in September 2021

Libya-Egypt: none identified

Libya-Niger: the boundary is poorly defined but has never been disputed by either country

Libya-Sudan: none identified

Libya-Tunisia: none identified

Elevation

highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m

mean elevation: 423 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

27.7% (2014)

Current health expenditure

NA

Military - note

Turkey has provided military advisers to train and assist western/GNU Libyan forces and sent thousands of Syrian mercenaries to Libya, as well as ammunition, weapons, and aerial drones; Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have been the main supporters of the LNA; Russia has provided as many as 2,000 private military contractors; the LNA has also used fighters from other countries, including Chad, Sudan, and Syria; GNU and LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control running roughly from the coastal city of Sirte south to the vicinity of Al Jufra and Brak (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimates not available

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

both the forces aligned with the GNU and the LNA are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; in recent years, Turkey has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2023)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia groups; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Libya (ISIS-L); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity, economic and political instability, and high food prices - an estimated 800,000 people, 10% of the population, need humanitarian assistance, of which 500,000 require food assistance; the country relies heavily on imports (up to 90%) to cover its cereal consumption requirements (mostly wheat for human consumption and barley for feed); between 2016 and 2020, the country sourced over 30% of its wheat imports from Ukraine, and 20% from the Russian Federation; almost 65% of total maize imports of 650,000 mt, and 50% of total barley imports of 1 million mt originated from Ukraine, making the Libya vulnerable to disruptions in shipments from the Black Sea region (2022)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,147,596 tons (2011 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 29.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 50.56 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 45.76 megatons (2020 est.)

Major aquifers

Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene; Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha; Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus; Old Town of Ghadamès

Coal

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 12,414,736,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 7,669,690,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 4,441,150,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 1,504,868,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 1,252,800 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 219,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,067,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.48 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.2% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
0% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Labor force

2.327 million (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 50.5% (2021 est.)

male: 41.4%

female: 73.8%

Net migration rate

-2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 26.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 26.1 years

female: 26.1 years

Debt - external

$3.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.116 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$86.683 billion (2022 est.)
$82.262 billion (2021 est.)
$79.656 billion (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Refined petroleum products - imports

168,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Public debt

4.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

not available

Unemployment rate

19.3% (2022 est.)
19.71% (2021 est.)
19.71% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

7,252,573 (2023 est.)

note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-25.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 3,095,400 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 46.2% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

38.297 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 30.018 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 8.279 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 1,759,540 sq km

land: 1,759,540 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

51.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$134.861 billion (2022 est.)
$136.55 billion (2021 est.)
$103.941 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 34,000 km (2021)

Airports

66 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 2.9 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.51% (2022 est.)
2.87% (2021 est.)
1.45% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

16,880 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Current account balance

$5.675 billion (2021 est.)
-$4.78 billion (2020 est.)
$4.817 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$19,800 (2022 est.)
$20,300 (2021 est.)
$15,600 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 332,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.5% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

107.118 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

20.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 10.516 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 25,360,340,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 465 million kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 6.801 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 96 (2023)

by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.7% (2014)

Imports

$25.406 billion (2021 est.)
$14.334 billion (2020 est.)
$25.368 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$32.38 billion (2021 est.)
$9.537 billion (2020 est.)
$29.326 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,218,180 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

89,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.4 years (2023 est.)

male: 75.2 years

female: 79.8 years

Real GDP growth rate

-1.24% (2022 est.)
31.37% (2021 est.)
-29.79% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-9.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.)

industry: 52.3% (2017 est.)

services: 46.4% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.06% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Population growth rate

1.54% (2023 est.)
Sources: