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| Geography |
| More than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert. |
| Location: | Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 25 00 N, 17 00 E |
| Area: | total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: slightly larger than Alaska |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km |
| Coastline: | 1,770 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm |
| Climate: | Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior |
| Terrain: | mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, gypsum |
| Land use: | arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 4,700 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms |
| Current Environment Issues: | desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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| People |
| Population: | 6,036,914
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 33.4% (male 1,029,096/female 985,606)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 1,940,287/female 1,827,429)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 124,892/female 129,604) (2007 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 23.3 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 23.2 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.262% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 26.09 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 3.47 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.044 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.062 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.964 male(s)/female
total population: 1.052 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 76.88 years
male: 74.64 years
female: 79.23 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.21 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 10,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan |
| Ethnic groups: | Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians) |
| Religions: | Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3% |
| Languages: | Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.) |
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| Government |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
local short form: none |
| Government type: | Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state |
| Capital: | name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions |
| Independence: | 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship) |
| National holiday: | Revolution Day, 1 September (1969) |
| Constitution: | none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority |
| Legal system: | based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held March 2006 (next to be held NA)
election results: NA |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists, primarily based in London, but has little influence |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad Interim William B. MILAM
embassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone: [218] 21-335-1848 |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held March 2006 (next to be held NA)
election results: NA |
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| Economy |
| The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan officials in the past four years have made progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were removed in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign direct investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 billion bbl/day by 2010. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $72.34 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $34.1 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5.8% (2006 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $12,300 (2006 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 79.5%
services: 18.3% (2006 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.748 million (2006 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 30% (2004 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 7.4% (2005 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.7% (2006 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | 8% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $35.85 billion
expenditures: $16.27 billion (2006 est.) |
| Public debt: | 5.4% of GDP (2006 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle |
| Industries: | petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 21.15 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 18.18 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 1.72 million bbl/day (2006 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 237,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 1.326 million bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - imports: | 1,233 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 41.46 billion bbl (1 January 2006) |
| Natural gas - production: | 10.84 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 5.591 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 5.246 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 1.43 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $12.95 billion (2006 est.) |
| Exports: | $33.66 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals |
| Exports - partners: | Italy 37.1%, Germany 14.6%, Spain 7.7%, US 6.1%, France 5.6%, Turkey 5.4% (2006) |
| Imports: | $12.28 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products |
| Imports - partners: | Italy 18.9%, Germany 7.8%, China 7.6%, Tunisia 6.3%, France 5.8%, Turkey 5.3%, US 4.7%, South Korea 4.3%, UK 4% (2006) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $59.48 billion (2006 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $4.492 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $4.305 billion (2006 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $2.163 billion (2006 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Currency (code): | Libyan dinar (LYD) |
| Exchange rates: | Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 483,000 (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 3.928 million (2006) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999) |
| Internet country code: | .ly |
| Internet hosts: | 24 (2007) |
| Internet users: | 232,000 (2005) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 141 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
| Heliports: | 2 (2007) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 882 km; gas 3,481 km; oil 6,916 km (2006) |
| Railways: | 0 km
note: Libya is working on seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2006) |
| Roadways: | total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,200 GRT/85,931 DWT
by type: cargo 11, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Malta 3, Tunisia 1) (2007) |
| Ports and terminals: | As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah |
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| Military |
|
| Military branches: | Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya, LAAF) (2007) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 17 years of age (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 17-49: 1,505,675
females age 17-49: 1,429,152 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3.9% (2005 est.) |
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