Libya
State of LibyaDawlat Libiya
in transitionIndependence 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
Libya as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 134 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
19 fieldsLand useshare of 1,759,540 sq km
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
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
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
People and Society
29 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups
Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)
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.
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.) note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims
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
Sex ratio
- 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.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
Environment
11 fieldsLand use(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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 81.6% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
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.)
Methane emissions
- energy:
- 1,357.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- agriculture:
- 63.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- waste:
- 77.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- other:
- 3.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 280 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 4.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
In transition; President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021); GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)
22 fieldsCountry name
- 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
Capital
- 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:
- 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
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
Constitution
history: previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim) note: a draft constitution was approved in 2017, but it is not yet ratified
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Executive branch
- 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)
- election/appointment process:
- first direct presidential election was not held as planned
- most recent election date:
- scheduled for 24 December 2021 but not held
- expected date of next election:
- no new date has been set for elections
Legislative branch
- 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 2026
note: 32 seats are reserved for women
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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:
- [email protected]; https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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:
- [email protected]; 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
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)
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
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Libya, Libya, Libya"
- lyrics/music:
- Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
- 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)
National heritage
- 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
Economy
26 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2024 est.)
Budget(2019 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
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 1.7% (2024 est.)
- industry:
- 68.3% (2024 est.)
- services:
- 34.3% (2024 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Labor force
2.585 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
18.7% (2024 est.) · 18.8% (2023 est.) · 19.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 49.5% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 41.5% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 68.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Remittances
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
Current account balance
$1.865 billion (2023 est.) · $9.607 billion (2022 est.) · $5.675 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$37.753 billion (2023 est.) · $39.831 billion (2022 est.) · $32.38 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$33.284 billion (2023 est.) · $27.872 billion (2022 est.) · $25.406 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$92.894 billion (2024 est.) · $92.427 billion (2023 est.) · $86.683 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 4.832 (2024 est.) · 4.813 (2023 est.) · 4.813 (2022 est.) · 4.514 (2021 est.) · 1.389 (2020 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 10.519 million kW(2023 est.)
Petroleum
- 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.)
Natural gas
- 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.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2022–23 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)
Transportation
4 fieldsMerchant marine, 96 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2023)
Ports
- 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)
Military and Security
6 fieldsMilitary 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)
note: the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA; aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) under Khalifa HAFTER also includes various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, other armed groups, and foreign military contractors;
some of the armed units nominally under the LNA operate under their own command structures and engage in their own operations
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)
note: Libya is under a UN-imposed arms embargo
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)
Terrorism
1 fieldTerrorist 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
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsTrafficking in persons
tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/libya/
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Libya.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/libya.