2020 Edition

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. 

Area

land

1,759,540 sq km

total

1,759,540 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska

Climate

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Coastline

1,770 km

Elevation

highest point

Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

lowest point

Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m

mean elevation

423 m

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 17 00 E

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

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km

total

4,339 km

Land use

agricultural land

8.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)

forest

0.1% (2023 est.)

other

91.2% (2023 est.)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria

Major aquifers

Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage

Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

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

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Age structure

0-14 years

32.3% (male 1,211,087/female 1,165,648)

15-64 years

63.2% (male 2,385,152/female 2,263,780)

65 years and over

4.6% (2024 est.) (male 151,125/female 184,471)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

19.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.3% (2022 est.)

Death rate

3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.2 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

13.9 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

51.1 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)

Gross reproduction rate

1.44 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80 years

male

75.5 years

total population

77.7 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

26.2 years

male

26.3 years

total

26.4 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Libyan

noun

Libyan(s)

Net migration rate

-2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.5% (2016)

Physician density

2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

female

3,613,899

male

3,747,364

total

7,361,263 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.35% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.96 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

81.6% of total population (2023)

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

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

geographic coordinates

32 53 N, 13 10 E

name

Tripoli (Tarabulus)

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

varies from 3 to 5 years

Constitution

history

previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim)

Country name

conventional long form

State of Libya

conventional short form

Libya

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

local long form

Dawlat Libiya

local short form

Libiya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)

email address and website

Webmaster_Libya@state.gov https://ly.usembassy.gov/

embassy

US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014

mailing address

8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850

telephone

[216] 71-107-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)

email address and website

info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 944-9606

telephone

[1] (202) 944-9601

Executive branch

chief of state

President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021)

election/appointment process

first direct presidential election was not held as planned

expected date of next election

no new date has been set for elections

head of government

GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)

most recent election date

scheduled for 24 December 2021 but not held

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 type

in transition

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, 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)

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

Legal system

Libya's post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities

Legislative branch

chamber name

House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)

electoral system

other systems

expected date of next election

December 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

most recent election date

6/25/2014

number of seats

200 (all directly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

16.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

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)

lyrics/music

Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

title

"Libya, Libya, Libya"

National color(s)

red, black, green

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

total World Heritage Sites

5 (all cultural)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

National symbol(s)

star and crescent, hawk

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Agricultural products

potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$37.475 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$28.005 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

$5.675 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$9.607 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.865 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy; 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade; reduced government spending; central bank had to devalue currency; public wages are over 60% of expenditures

Exchange rates

Currency

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.389 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

4.514 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4.813 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4.813 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

4.832 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$32.38 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$39.831 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$37.753 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023)

Exports - partners

Italy 23%, Germany 15%, Spain 9%, France 7%, China 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

74.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

36.7% (2024 est.)

household consumption

32.7% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-59.1% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

14.8% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.7% (2024 est.)

industry

68.3% (2024 est.)

services

34.3% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$46.636 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$25.406 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$27.872 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$33.284 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023)

Imports - partners

China 17%, Turkey 15%, Italy 8%, UAE 8%, Egypt 8% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.8% (2024 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.585 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$82.756 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$91.161 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$90.609 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-8.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

10.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-0.6% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$11,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$12,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$12,300 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$86.683 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$92.427 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$92.894 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

19.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

18.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

18.7% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

68.8% (2024 est.)

male

41.5% (2024 est.)

total

49.5% (2024 est.)

Coal

imports

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

800 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

10.519 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

70% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

100%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2022 est.)

total

326,000 (2022 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.ly

Internet users

percent of population

89% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

1.218 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

205 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

13.9 million (2022 est.)

Airports

75 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5A

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81

total

96 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Al Burayqah, Az Zawiya, Banghazi, Mersa Tobruq, Mina Tarabulus (Tripoli)

large

0

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

10

small

3

total ports

14 (2024)

very small

9

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 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 service personnel strengths

estimates not available

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 expenditures

not available

Military service age and obligation

not available

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

139,305 (2024 est.)

refugees

277,010 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/libya/

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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution; threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste

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

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea

Methane emissions

agriculture

63.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

1,357.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

3.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

77.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

29.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

4.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

280 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.148 million tons (2024 est.)