World Atlas: Libya

Information about Libya

Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Libya. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Libya. But let's start with the flag of Libya here:

Libya - Overview:

What you should know about Libya? Let's start with this: 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 a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the Qadhafi regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government known as the National Transitional Council (NTC). 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. In October 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue, including representatives of the HoR and ex-GNC, signed the LPA in December 2015. The LPA called for the formation of an interim Government of National Accord or GNA, with a nine-member Presidency Council, the HoR, and an advisory High Council of State that most ex-GNC members joined. The LPA’s roadmap for a two-year transition to a new constitution and elected government was subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which also called upon member states to cease official contact with parallel institutions. In January 2016, the HoR voted to approve the LPA, including the Presidency Council, while voting against a controversial provision on security leadership positions. In March 2016, the GNA Presidency Council seated itself in Tripoli. In 2016, the GNA twice announced a slate of ministers who operate de facto, but the HoR did not endorse the ministerial list. HoR and ex-GNC-affiliated hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA’s implementation. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan Salame announced a new roadmap for political reconciliation. Salame’s plan called for amendments to the LPA, a national conference of Libyan leaders, and a constitutional referendum and general elections within a year

Geography of Libya

Where on the globe is Libya? The location of this country is Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. Total area of Libya is 1,759,540 sq km, of which 1,759,540 sq km is land. So this is very large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions. The lowest point of Libya is Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m, the highest point Bikku Bitti 2,267 m. And the climate is Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interio.

Inhabitants of Libya

Let's take a look how many people live in Libya. The number is: 6,653,210 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians). What are the languages in Libya? Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq). And the religions: Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist 0.3%, Hindu . How old are the people in average? 28.9 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 76.7 years. Where the people live in Libya? Here: 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 wate. The major urban areas of Libya are: Tripoli (capital) 1.126 million (2015).

Government and Economy of Libya

The capital of Libya is Tripoli (Tarabulus) and the government type in transition. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 22 districts (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); 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, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati. Regarding the economy of Libya, important industrial products are petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement. Important agricultural products are wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle. The most important export commodities are crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals and the most important export partners are Italy 24.2%, Egypt 21.1%, Spain 9.5%, France 7.8%, Croatia 5%, Netherlands 5%, China 4.3% (2016). The most important import commodities are machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products and the most important import partners are China 14.4%, South Korea 13.3%, Turkey 10.4%, Italy 5.9% (2016). How rich is Libya and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $9,800 (2017 est.). This is quite a low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: NA%.

Map of Libya