2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. Libya has responded in good faith to legal cases brought against it in US courts for terrorist acts that predate its renunciation of violence. Claims for compensation in the Lockerbie bombing, LaBelle disco bombing, and UTA 772 bombing cases are ongoing. The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In late 2007, Libya was elected by the General Assembly to a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term.
Geography
Area
total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Alaska
Climate
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Coastline
1,770 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Environment - current issues
desertification; 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
Environment - international 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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%) per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Geography - note
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
Irrigated land
4,700 sq km (2003)
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
Land use
arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2005)
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Terrain
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Total renewable water resources
0.6 cu km (1997)
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 33.2% (male 1,046,400/female 1,002,148) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,988,038/female 1,875,034) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 128,386/female 133,573) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
25.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
3.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
2.7% of GDP (1999)
Ethnic groups
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
10,000 (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 21.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.07 years male: 74.81 years female: 79.44 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 92.4% female: 72% (2003 est.)
Median age
total: 23.6 years male: 23.7 years female: 23.5 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan
Net migration rate
NA (2008 est.)
Population
6,173,579 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
2.216% (2008 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.15 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
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
Capital
name: Tripoli geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Christopher STEVENS embassy: Serraj Area, Tripoli mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 telephone: [218] 91-220-0125
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
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
FAX
[1] (202) 944-9060
Flag description
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
Government type
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Independence
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
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
Legislative branch
unicameral General People's Congress (approximately 2,700 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
National holiday
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
other: Arab nationalist movements; anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile Movement; Islamic elements
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Economy
Agriculture - products
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Budget
revenues: $39.88 billion expenditures: $19.48 billion (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate
4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
6% (31 December 2007)
Currency (code)
Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code
LYD
Current account balance
$26.38 billion (2007 est.)
Debt - external
$4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
ODA, $24.44 million (2005 est.)
Economy - overview
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 five 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 million bbl/day by 2015. 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.
Electricity - consumption
20.71 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003)
Exports
$42.97 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners
Italy 40.5%, Germany 12.2%, US 7.4%, Spain 7.4%, France 6.3% (2007)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 2% industry: 83.1% services: 14.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$12,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5.8% (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$57.06 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$74.72 billion (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$14.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners
Italy 18.9%, Germany 7.7%, China 7.3%, Tunisia 6.8%, France 5.7%, Turkey 5.4%, US 4.3% (2007)
Industrial production growth rate
5.6% (2007 est.)
Industries
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.3% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
8.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Labor force
1.83 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Natural gas - consumption
6.39 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports
9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
14.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
1.419 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Oil - consumption
278,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
1.455 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
575.3 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
1.845 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
41.46 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Population below poverty line
7.4% (2005 est.)
Public debt
4.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$79.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$3.333 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$6.286 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of money
$18.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money
$3.192 billion (31 December 2007)
Unemployment rate
30% (2004 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.ly
Internet hosts
31 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2002)
Internet users
260,000 (2006)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios
1.35 million (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approached 90 telephones per 100 persons in 2007 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 (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use
852,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4.5 million (2007)
Television broadcast stations
12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)
Televisions
730,000 (1997)
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: 81 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 18 (2007)
Heliports
2 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 17 by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2) registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)
Pipelines
condensate 882 km; gas 3,425 km; oil 6,956 km (2007)
Ports and terminals
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah
Railways
0 km note: Libya has announced plans to build seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track (2006)
Roadways
total: 100,024 km paved: 57,214 km unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 1,682,183 females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 1,439,941 females age 16-49: 1,381,914 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 61,305 female: 58,788 (2008 est.)
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) (2008)
Military expenditures
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Military service age and obligation
17 years of age (2004)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses; Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008