Libya - LY - LBY - LBA - Africa

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)

embassy: US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014

mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC  20521-8850

telephone: [216] 71-107-000

email address and website:
Webmaster_Libya@state.gov

https://ly.usembassy.gov/

note: the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations currently are located at US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia

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)

25 00 N, 17 00 E

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

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

not available

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. 

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; water pollution is a significant problem; the combined impact of sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste threatens Libya's coast and the Mediterranean Sea

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

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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 formations and equipment from the QADHAFI regime, semi-regular and nominally integrated units, tribal armed groups/militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign private military contractors; the GNU has a Ministry of Defense, but has limited control over its security forces

the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA; aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF), under de facto LNA commander Khalifa HAFTER, also includes various ground, air, and naval forces comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, and foreign private military contractors; the LNA operates independently from the GNU and exerts influence throughout eastern, central, and southern Libya; some of the armed groups nominally under the LNA operate under their own command structures and engage in their own operations (2024)

note: the national police force under the GNU's Ministry of Interior oversees internal security (with support from military forces under the Ministry of Defense), but much of Libya's security-related police work generally falls to informal armed groups, which receive government salaries but lack formal training, supervision, or consistent accountability

revenues: $28.005 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $37.475 billion (2019 est.)

name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)

geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E

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

etymology: originally founded by the Phoenicians as Oea in the 7th century B.C., the city changed rulers many times over the successive centuries; by the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. the region around the city was referred to as Regio Tripolitana by the Romans, meaning "region of the three cities" - namely Oea (i.e., modern Tripoli), Sabratha (to the west), and Leptis Magna (to the east); over time, the shortened name of "Tripoli" came to refer to just Oea, which derives from the Greek words tria and polis meaning "three cities"

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

1,770 km

history: previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim)

note: a draft constitution was approved in 2017, but it is not yet ratified

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
4.813 (2023 est.)
4.813 (2022 est.)
4.514 (2021 est.)
1.389 (2020 est.)
1.398 (2019 est.)

chief of state: President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021)

head of government: GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)

elections/appointments:

Libya’s first direct presidential election, scheduled for 24 December 2021, was not held; no new date has been set for elections

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

total: 34,000 km (2021)

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

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

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

total: 4,339 km

border countries (6): Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km

agricultural land: 8.7% (2022 est.)

arable land: 1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2022 est.)

forest: 0.1% (2022 est.)

other: 91.2% (2022 est.)

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

legislative structure: unicameral

chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)

number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)

electoral system: other systems

scope of elections: full renewal

most recent election date: 6/25/2014

percentage of women in chamber: 16.5%

expected date of next election: December 2025

note: 32 seats are reserved for women

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 96.7%

female: 85.6% (2015)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

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, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

noun: Libyan(s)

adjective: Libyan

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

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 surrounded by vegetation and hosting various insects and a large diversity of birds

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

882 km condensate, 3,743 km gas, 7,005 km oil (2013)

NA

18 years of age, universal

general assessment: political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecom sector; much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; rival operators fight for control; investment in fiber backbone and upgrades to international cables; limited LTE and 5G service; some satellite broadband; in 2021 Libya signed deals and projects with US firms to upgrade portions of its infrastructure, increasing the diversity of its telecommunications networks (2022)

domestic: nearly 23 per 100 fixed-line and over 43 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2021)

international: country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik;  microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019)

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

in transition

conventional long form: State of Libya

conventional short form: Libya

local long form: Dawlat Libiya

local short form: Libiya

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

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

Africa

4,700 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)

chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012

telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601

FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606

email address and website:
info@embassyoflibyadc.com

https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/

percent of population: 88% (2022 est.)

.ly

refugees (country of origin): 11,623 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,302 (Eritrea) (2023); 6,293 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

IDPs: 125,802 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2023)

$45.096 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)

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

state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019)

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Libya, Libya, Libya"

lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

note: also known as "Ya Beladi" or "Oh, My Country!"; adopted 1951; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; during the QADHAFI years between 1969 and 2011, the anthem was "Allahu Akbar," (God is Great) a marching song of the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

star and crescent, hawk; national colors: red, black, green

household consumption: 32.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 35.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 85.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -70.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 50.8

youth dependency ratio: 43.5

elderly dependency ratio: 7.3

potential support ratio: 13.8 (2021 est.)

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

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 water as shown in this population distribution map

electrification - total population: 70% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 100%

number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 927,153 (2018)

5A

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.3% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)

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

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.)

note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims

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.

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m

mean elevation: 423 m

27.7% (2014)

not available

the western-based GNU and the eastern-based LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control running roughly from the coastal city of Sirte south to the vicinity of Al Jufra and Brak; 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; both the LNA and the GNU forces have incorporated foreign fighters into their ranks (2024)

estimates not available

both the forces aligned with the GNU and the LNA are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; in recent years, Turkey has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2024)

note: Libya is under a UN-imposed arms embargo

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)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity, economic and political instability, and high food prices - an estimated 800,000 people, 10% of the population, need humanitarian assistance, of which 500,000 require food assistance; the country relies heavily on imports (up to 90%) to cover its cereal consumption requirements (mostly wheat for human consumption and barley for feed); between 2016 and 2020, the country sourced over 30% of its wheat imports from Ukraine, and 20% from the Russian Federation; almost 65% of total maize imports of 650,000 mt, and 50% of total barley imports of 1 million mt originated from Ukraine, making the Libya vulnerable to disruptions in shipments from the Black Sea region (2022)

municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,147,596 tons (2011 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 29.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 50.56 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 45.76 megatons (2020 est.)

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

Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)

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

imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

production: 11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)

1.46 (2024 est.)

59.2% (2023 est.)

0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 14 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 2

small: 3

very small: 9

ports with oil terminals: 10

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

2.534 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 49.4% (2023 est.)

male: 41.2% (2023 est.)

female: 68% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 26.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 26.3 years

female: 26.2 years

72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

$92.427 billion (2023 est.)
$86.683 billion (2022 est.)
$82.262 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

4.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

3 children born/woman (2024 est.)

18.74% (2023 est.)
19.32% (2022 est.)
19.6% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 7,361,263 (2024 est.)

male: 3,747,364

female: 3,613,899

note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)

46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 1,759,540 sq km

land: 1,759,540 sq km

water: 0 sq km

51.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$91.161 billion (2023 est.)
$82.756 billion (2022 est.)
$90.199 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

75 (2025)

total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 13.9 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (2022 est.)

2.37% (2023 est.)
4.51% (2022 est.)
2.87% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$5.675 billion (2021 est.)
-$4.78 billion (2020 est.)
$4.817 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$12,500 (2023 est.)
$11,500 (2022 est.)
$12,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 326,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

32.5% (2016)

100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

20.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 10.519 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 800 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)

total: 96 (2023)

by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81

11.7% (2014)

$25.406 billion (2021 est.)
$14.334 billion (2020 est.)
$25.368 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$32.38 billion (2021 est.)
$9.537 billion (2020 est.)
$29.326 billion (2019 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

total subscriptions: 1.218 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)

total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.5 years

female: 80 years

10.16% (2023 est.)
-8.25% (2022 est.)
153.49% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

17.77% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 1.8% (2023 est.)

industry: 77.3% (2023 est.)

services: 25.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0.06% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

NA

1.44% (2024 est.)