Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
5 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
326,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.ly
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
81.95% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
17 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.218 million (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
205 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
13.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$37.475 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$28.005 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$9.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$19.033 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$9.346 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$4.705 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$4.426 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$11.276 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$4.817 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$4.780 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$5.675 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$9.607 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$1.865 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
4.8322 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.2717 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.2724 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1.3812 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1.3904 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1.3938 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1.3650 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1.3983 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.3887 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
4.5144 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
4.8132 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
4.8129 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
4.8322 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$18.375 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$18.496 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$10.829 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$7.276 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$18.265 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$30.378 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$29.333 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$9.541 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$32.38 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$39.831 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$37.753 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$34.897 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
74.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
36.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
32.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-59.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
14.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
68.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
34.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$14,304 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$46.636 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$105.577 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$23.975 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$16.894 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$13.243 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$13.668 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$18.533 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$25.374 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$14.343 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$25.406 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$27.872 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$33.284 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$27.563 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-5.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
10.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
25.85% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
25.80% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
13.17% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-2.16% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.45% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.87% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
4.51% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.37% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.13% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.585 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$112.538 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$116.941 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$112.488 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$121.473 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$112.566 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$77.181 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$90.199 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$82.756 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$91.161 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$90.609 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-0.84% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-1.49% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
32.49% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
7.94% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-11.20% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-29.46% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
28.30% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-8.30% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
10.20% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$17,510 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$17,903 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$16,961 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$18,026 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$16,194 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$10,955 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$12,642 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$12,266 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$13,847 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$77.650 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$70.191 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$79.418 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$85.336 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$84.664 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$79.656 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$82.262 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$86.683 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$92.427 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$92.894 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
19.09% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
19.65% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
19.78% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
19.24% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
18.71% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
19.09% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
68.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
41.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
49.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
70% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
800 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
10.519 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Environment: Environmental issues
desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution; threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
8.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
91.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
63.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
1,357.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
3.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
77.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
29.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
4.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
280 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
87.89% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.148 million tons (2024 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska
Geography: Area: land
1,759,540 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,770 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
423 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Geography: 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 that host many species of insects and birds
Geography: Irrigated land
4,700 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,339 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
8.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
91.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
62 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Geography: Population distribution
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 its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the name derives from the Greek words tri and polis , meaning "three cities;" the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
32 53 N, 13 10 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
varies from 3 to 5 years
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Libya
Government: Country name: etymology
the name probably derives from the Libu, a North African tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.; the ancient Greeks and Romans used the name for the entire North African coast west of Egypt
Government: Country name: local long form
Dawlat Libiya
Government: Country name: local short form
Libiya
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
Webmaster_Libya@state.gov https://ly.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[216] 71-107-000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 944-9606
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 944-9601
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
first direct presidential election was not held as planned
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
no new date has been set for elections
Government: Executive branch: head of government
GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
scheduled for 24 December 2021 but not held
Government: Flag
description: three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double-width), and green, with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe meaning: the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black for Cyrenaica, and green for Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam history: the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design from the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-69) in 2011 to replace the all-green banner of the QADHAFI regime
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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, UNOOSA, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Government: 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
Government: Legal system
Libya's post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities
Government: Legislative branch: chamber name
House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
other systems
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
December 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
6/25/2014
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
200 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
16.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1951, but replaced in 1969 when QADHAFI came to power; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; also known as "Ya Beladi" (O My Country)
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
Government: National color(s)
red, black, green
Government: National heritage: 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
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
Government: National symbol(s)
star and crescent, hawk
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Introduction: Background
Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals have all settled and ruled the region. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the area. In the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began; the Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and held it until 1943, when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then came under UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership with a military coup in 1969 and began to espouse a political system that combined 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 and another in Northern Africa -- and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically; the sanctions were lifted in 2003 when Libya accepted responsibility for the bombings and agreed 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 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in 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), which was replaced two years later with the House of Representatives (HoR). In 2015, the UN brokered the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) among a broad array of political parties and social groups, establishing an interim executive body. However, hardliners continued to oppose and hamper the LPA implementation, leaving Libya with eastern and western-based rival governments. In 2018, the international community supported a recalibrated plan that aimed to break the political deadlock with a National Conference in 2019. These plans, however, were derailed when the eastern-based, self-described Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize Tripoli. The LNA offensive collapsed in 2020, and a subsequent UN-sponsored cease-fire helped formalize the pause in fighting between rival camps. In 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 elections and uniting the country’s state institutions. The HoR approved the GNU and its cabinet the same year, providing Libya with its first unified government since 2014, but the parliament then postponed the planned presidential election to an undetermined date in the future. In 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 DUBAYBAH to remain in office and rebuff BASHAGHA's attempts to seat his government in Tripoli. In 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the western-based forces aligned with the GNU and the eastern-based LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control just west of the coastal city of Sirte; Turkey has provided support to the GNU forces, including military trainers, ammunition, weapons, and aerial drones; Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have been the main supporters of the LNA (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
the Libyan Armed Forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) have various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces, which include a mix of nominally integrated and semi-regular units, tribal armed groups and militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign military contractors; the GNU's armed forces are nominally under the control of the Ministry of Defense; the GNU also has various internal security forces under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimates not available
Military and Security: 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, Türkiye has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
4.35% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
5.29% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
not available
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
32.3% (male 1,211,087/female 1,165,648)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63.2% (male 2,385,152/female 2,263,780)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.6% (2024 est.) (male 151,125/female 184,471)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
19.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
4.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.81% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
13.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
58.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
51.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.44 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure
5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.5 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
72.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
69.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
26.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
26.3 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Libyan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
32.5% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
People and Society: Population
7,381,023 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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 its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.03% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
3,613,899
People and Society: Population: male
3,747,364
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.82 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.30 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
87.89% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: 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)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
139,305 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
277,010 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/libya/
Transportation: Airports
75 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5A
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
96 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Al Burayqah, Az Zawiya, Banghazi, Mersa Tobruq, Mina Tarabulus (Tripoli)
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
10
Transportation: Ports: small
3
Transportation: Ports: total ports
14 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
9
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.