2014 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2014 Archive (HTML)
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 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. Libya in 2012 formed a new parliament and elected a new prime minister.
Geography
Area
- 1,759,540 sq km 1,759,540 sq km 0 sq km
- total
- 1,759,540 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
Area comparison map:
Climate
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Coastline
1,770 km
Elevation extremes
- Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
- highest point
- Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
- lowest point
- Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
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
Environment - international agreements
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Law of the Sea
- 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)
- 4.33 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%) 796.1 cu m/yr (2000)
- per capita
- 796.1 cu m/yr (2000)
- total
- 4.33 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
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
- 4,348 km Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
- border countries
- Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
- total
- 4,348 km
Land use
- 0.99% 0.19% 98.82% (2011)
- arable land
- 0.99%
- other
- 98.82% (2011)
- permanent crops
- 0.19%
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
- 12 nm Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north 62 nm
- exclusive fishing zone
- 62 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 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
0.7 cu km (2011)
People and Society
Age structure
- 26.9% (male 859,016/female 820,643) 18.2% (male 586,749/female 546,602) 46.1% (male 1,509,108/female 1,370,709) 4.8% (male 154,847/female 145,330) 3.9% (male 126,691/female 124,479) (2014 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 26.9% (male 859,016/female 820,643)
- 15-24 years
- 18.2% (male 586,749/female 546,602)
- 25-54 years
- 46.1% (male 1,509,108/female 1,370,709)
- 55-64 years
- 4.8% (male 154,847/female 145,330)
- 65 years and over
- 3.9% (male 126,691/female 124,479) (2014 est.)
Birth rate
18.4 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5.6% (2007)
Death rate
3.57 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
- 52.2 % 44.8 % 7.4 % 13.5 (2014 est.)
- elderly dependency ratio
- 7.4 %
- potential support ratio
- 13.5 (2014 est.)
- total dependency ratio
- 52.2 %
- youth dependency ratio
- 44.8 %
Drinking water source
- urban: 54.2% of population rural: 54.9% of population total: 54.4% of population urban: 45.8% of population rural: 45.1% of population total: 45.6% of population (2001 est.)
- rural
- 45.1% of population
- total
- 45.6% of population (2001 est.)
- urban
- 45.8% of population
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Health expenditures
4.4% of GDP (2011)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
10,000 (2001 est.)
Hospital bed density
3.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Infant mortality rate
- 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births 12.83 deaths/1,000 live births 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
- female
- 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
- total
- 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
Life expectancy at birth
- 76.04 years 74.36 years 77.82 years (2014 est.)
- female
- 77.82 years (2014 est.)
- total population
- 76.04 years
Literacy
- age 15 and over can read and write 89.5% 95.8% 83.3% (2011 est.)
- definition
- age 15 and over can read and write
- female
- 83.3% (2011 est.)
- male
- 95.8%
- total population
- 89.5%
Major urban areas - population
TRIPOLI (capital) 1.127 million (2011)
Maternal mortality rate
58 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Median age
- 27.5 years 27.7 years 27.4 years (2014 est.)
- female
- 27.4 years (2014 est.)
- male
- 27.7 years
- total
- 27.5 years
Nationality
- Libyan(s) Libyan
- adjective
- Libyan
- noun
- Libyan(s)
Net migration rate
16.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.8% (2008)
Physicians density
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population
6,244,174 immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2013) (July 2014 est.)
Population growth rate
3.08% (2014 est.)
Religions
Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist 0.3%, Hindu non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (
Sanitation facility access
- urban: 96.8% of population rural: 95.7% of population total: 96.6% of population urban: 3.2% of population rural: 4.3% of population total: 3.4% of population (2012 est.)
- rural
- 4.3% of population
- total
- 3.4% of population (2012 est.)
- urban
- 3.2% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- 16 years 16 years 16 years (2003)
- female
- 16 years (2003)
- male
- 16 years
- total
- 16 years
Sex ratio
- 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years
- 1.1 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- at birth
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- total population
- 1.08 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.07 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Urbanization
- 77.7% of total population (2011) 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- rate of urbanization
- 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- urban population
- 77.7% of total population (2011)
Government
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
Capital
- Tripoli (Tarabulus) 32 53 N, 13 10 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October on 10 November 2012, Libya changed its standard time from UTC+2 to UTC+1
- daylight saving time
- +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October
- geographic coordinates
- 32 53 N, 13 10 E
- name
- Tripoli (Tarabulus)
- time difference
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution
previous 1951, 1977; latest 2011 (interim); note - in mid-July 2013, Libya's legislative body agreed on steps for drafting a new constitution (2013)
Country name
- none Libya none Libiya
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Libya
- local long form
- none
- local short form
- Libiya
Diplomatic representation from the US
- Ambassador Deborah K. JONES (since 11 June 2013) on 11 September 2012, US Ambassador Christopher STEVENS and three other American diplomats were killed in an attack by heavily armed militants on a US diplomatic post in the eastern city of Benghazi Sidi Slim Area/Walie Al-Ahed Road, Tripoli US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 [218] (0) 91-220-3239
- chief of mission
- Ambassador Deborah K. JONES (since 11 June 2013)
- embassy
- Sidi Slim Area/Walie Al-Ahed Road, Tripoli
- mailing address
- US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
- telephone
- [218] (0) 91-220-3239
Diplomatic representation in the US
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Suleiman ABULHI 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037 [1] (202) 944-9601 [1] (202) 944-9606
- chancery
- 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
- chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Suleiman ABULHI
- FAX
- [1] (202) 944-9606
- telephone
- [1] (202) 944-9601
Executive branch
- President, General National Congress, Nuri Abu SAHMAYN Abdullah al-THANI remains Prime Minister after the 4 May 2014 election is declared unconstitutional; Deputy Prime Ministers Awad Ibrik Ibrahim al-BARASI, Sadiq Abd al-Karim Abd al-Rahman KARIM, Abd-al-Salam Muhammad al-Mahdi al-QADI new cabinet approved by the General National Congress on 31 October 2012 prime minister and General National Congress president elected by the National Congress NA
- cabinet
- new cabinet approved by the General National Congress on 31 October 2012
- chief of state
- President, General National Congress, Nuri Abu SAHMAYN
- election results
- NA
- elections
- prime minister and General National Congress president elected by the National Congress
- head of government
- Abdullah al-THANI remains Prime Minister after the 4 May 2014 election is declared unconstitutional; Deputy Prime Ministers Awad Ibrik Ibrahim al-BARASI, Sadiq Abd al-Karim Abd al-Rahman KARIM, Abd-al-Salam Muhammad al-Mahdi al-QADI
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
- 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 201
- red stands for Fezzan, black symbolizes Cyrenaica, and green denotes Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam, the main religion of the country
Government type
operates under a transitional government
Independence
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
- NA; note - government in transition
- highest court(s)
- NA; note - government in transition
Legal system
Libya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities
Legislative branch
- unicameral General National Congress (200 seats; 120 individual seats elected from 69 constituencies and 80 party list seats elected from 20 constituencies; member term NA) first General National Congress election held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held NA) percent of vote for party list seats only - NFA 48.7%, JCP 21.3%, other parties 30%; list and constituent seats - NFA 39, JCP 17, other 24, independents 120
- election results
- percent of vote for party list seats only - NFA 48.7%, JCP 21.3%, other parties 30%; list and constituent seats - NFA 39, JCP 17, other 24, independents 120
- elections
- first General National Congress election held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held NA)
National anthem
- "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest) Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
- lyrics/music
- Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
- name
- "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
National symbol(s)
star and crescent; hawk
Political parties and leaders
Al-Watan (Homeland) Party Justice and Construction Party or JCP [Muhammad SAWAN] National Front (initially the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, formed in 1981 as a diaspora opposition group) National Forces Alliance or NFA [Mahmoud JIBRIL, founder] (includes many political organizations, NGOs, and independents) Union for the Homeland [Abd al-Rahman al-SUWAYHILI] list includes some of the larger political parties and leaders
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Budget
- $41.54 billion $41.87 billion (2013 est.)
- expenditures
- $41.87 billion (2013 est.)
- revenues
- $41.54 billion
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-0.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Central bank discount rate
9.52% (31 December 2010 est.) 3% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
6% (31 December 2013 est.) 6% (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance
$2.727 billion (2013 est.) $27.17 billion (2012 est.)
Debt - external
$6.319 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $5.278 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Economy - overview
Libya's economy is structured primarily around the nation's energy sector, which generates about 95% of export earnings, 80% of GDP, and 99% of government income. Substantial revenue from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but Tripoli largely has not used its significant financial resources to develop national infrastructure or the economy, leaving many citizens poor. In the final five years of QADHAFI's rule, Libya made some progress on economic reform 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 after Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment, especially in the energy and banking sectors. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds drew high international interest, but new rounds are unlikely to be successful until Libya establishes a more permanent government and is able to offer more attractive financial terms on contracts and increase security. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing its primarily socialist economy, but the revolution has unleashed previously restrained entrepreneurial activity and increased the potential for the evolution of a more market-based economy. The service and construction sectors expanded over the past five years and could become a larger share of GDP if Tripoli prioritizes capital spending on development projects once political and security uncertainty subside. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 80% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source is the Great Manmade River Project.
Exchange rates
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.277 (2013 est.) 1.2617 (2012 est.) 1.2668 (2010 est.) 1.2535 (2009) 1.2112 (2008)
Exports
$38.45 billion (2013 est.) $52.02 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners
Italy 23.3%, Germany 12.4%, China 11.2%, France 9.7%, Spain 7.6%, UK 4.7%, US 4.5% (2012)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP - composition, by end use
- 58% 20.2% 8.6% 0.5% 54.5% -41.9% (2013 est.)
- exports of goods and services
- 54.5%
- government consumption
- 20.2%
- household consumption
- 58%
- imports of goods and services
- -41.9%
- investment in fixed capital
- 8.6%
- investment in inventories
- 0.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- 2% 58.3% 39.7% (2013 est.)
- agriculture
- 2%
- industry
- 58.3%
- services
- 39.7% (2013 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,300 (2013 est.) $12,100 (2012 est.) $6,000 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - real growth rate
-5.1% (2013 est.) 104.5% (2012 est.) -62.1% (2011 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$70.92 billion (2013 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$73.6 billion (2013 est.) $77.57 billion (2012 est.) $37.94 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving
14% of GDP (2013 est.) 44.4% of GDP (2012 est.) -3.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
- NA% NA%
- highest 10%
- NA%
- lowest 10%
- NA%
Imports
$27.15 billion (2013 est.) $18.1 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners
China 13%, Turkey 11.6%, Italy 8.2%, Egypt 7.7%, Tunisia 6.6%, South Korea 5.8%, Greece 5.4%, Germany 4.6% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate
9.6% (2013 est.)
Industries
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2013 est.) 6.1% (2012 est.)
Labor force
1.644 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
- 17% 23% 59% (2004 est.)
- agriculture
- 17%
- industry
- 23%
- services
- 59% (2004 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
NA% about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line
Public debt
4.8% of GDP (2013 est.) 4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$120.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $118.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$51.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $49.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$17.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $17.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$17.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $16.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$-54.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $-47.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$47.25 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $45.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
58.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate
30% (2004 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
49.67 million Mt (2011 est.)
Crude oil - exports
1.378 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
1.483 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
48.01 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Electricity - consumption
25.24 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports
129 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports
76 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
6.766 million kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - production
29.72 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
6.844 billion cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports
3.666 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - production
7.855 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
1.547 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
314,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
119,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
575 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
388,300 bbl/day (2010 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 (2012)
Internet country code
.ly
Internet hosts
17,926 (2012)
Internet users
353,900 (2009)
Telephone system
- telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephone system became operational in 1996 multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has soared country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2010)
- domestic
- multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has soared
- general assessment
- telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
- international
- country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2010)
Telephones - main lines in use
814,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
9.59 million (2012)
Transportation
Airports
146 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 30
- 2,438 to 3,047 m
- 7
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 7
- over 3,047 m
- 23
- total
- 68
- under 914 m
- 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- 20 (2013)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 14
- 2,438 to 3,047 m
- 5
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 37
- over 3,047 m
- 2
- total
- 78
Heliports
2 (2013)
Merchant marine
- cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 1 2 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1) 6 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 5) (2010)
- foreign-owned
- 2 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1)
- registered in other countries
- 6 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 5) (2010)
- total
- 23
Pipelines
condensate 882 km; gas 3,743 km; oil 7,005 km (2013)
Ports and terminals
- Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf
- major seaport(s)
- Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli
- oil terminal(s)
- Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf
Roadways
- 100,024 km 57,214 km 42,810 km (2003)
- total
- 100,024 km
- unpaved
- 42,810 km (2003)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
- 1,775,078 1,714,194 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 1,714,194 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 1,775,078
Manpower fit for military service
- 1,511,144 1,458,934 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 1,458,934 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 1,511,144
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
- 59,547 57,070 (2010 est.)
- female
- 57,070 (2010 est.)
- male
- 59,547
Military branches
note - in transition; government attempting to staff a new national army with anti-QADAFI militia fighters and former members of QADAFI's military (2008)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for mandatory or voluntary service (2012)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- 16,796 (Syria) (2013) at least 80,400 (59,400 still displaced at the end of 2013 from the conflict between pro-Qadhafi and anti-Qadhafi forces in 2011; 21,000 displaced by clashes in and around Sebha in 2014) (2014)
- IDPs
- at least 80,400 (59,400 still displaced at the end of 2013 from the conflict between pro-Qadhafi and anti-Qadhafi forces in 2011; 21,000 displaced by clashes in and around Sebha in 2014) (2014)
- refugees (country of origin)
- 16,796 (Syria) (2013)
Trafficking in persons
- Libya is a destination and transit country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; migrants who seek employment in Libya as laborers and domestic workers or transit Libya en route to Europe may be subject to forced labor; private employers also recruit migrants from detention centers as forced laborers on farms and construction sites; some sub-Saharan women are reportedly forced to work in Libyan brothels Tier 3 - the Libyan Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government has failed to demonstrate significant efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenders or to protect trafficking victims; policies and practices with respect to undocumented migrant workers has resulted in Libyan authorities detaining and punishing trafficking victims for unlawful acts that were committed as a result of being trafficked; no public anti-trafficking awareness campaigns are conducted; officials receive no training on trafficking issues (2013)
- current situation
- Libya is a destination and transit country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; migrants who seek employment in Libya as laborers and domestic workers or transit Libya en route to Europe may be subject to forced labor; private employers also recruit migrants from detention centers as forced laborers on farms and construction sites; some sub-Saharan women are reportedly forced to work in Libyan brothels
- tier rating
- Tier 3 - the Libyan Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government has failed to demonstrate significant efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenders or to protect trafficking victims; policies and practices with respect to undocumented migrant workers has resulted in Libyan authorities detaining and punishing trafficking victims for unlawful acts that were committed as a result of being trafficked; no public anti-trafficking awareness campaigns are conducted; officials receive no training on trafficking issues (2013)