Libya

Socialist People's Libyan Arab JamahiriyaAl Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by theIndependence 24 December 1951 (from Italy)

Libya as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTripoli

Area1,759,540 sq km

LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

5.25 million July 1995 est. · 4.22m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.7% 1995 est. · 3.73% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 22.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

64.29 years 1995 est. · 63.47 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.32 children per woman 1995 est. · 5.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

61.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 64 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,510 1994 est. · $5,800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-0.9% 1994 est. · 0.2% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 1,759,540 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 8%forest and woodland 0%other 90%irrigated 2,420 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

1,759,540sq km

land area: 1,759,540 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Coastline

1,770km

territorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

4,383km

total · Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Location

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

Gulf of Sidra closing line

32 degrees 30 minutes north

International disputes

the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad, and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994;
Libya has withdrawn some its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but still maintains an airfield in the disputed area;
maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;
claims part of northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria

Climate

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Environment

current issues:: desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources;
the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
natural hazards:: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; duststorms, sandstorms
international agreements:: party to - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

5,248,401

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.7% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

44.89Death

7.91Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years64.29

62.12 · 66.57

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy60%

77% · 42%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1984)

Labor force

1million

(includes about 280,000 resident foreigners)by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 48% (female 1,226,851; male 1,269,813)
15-64 years:: 49% (female 1,261,424; male 1,331,093)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 76,017; male 83,203) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

61.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Libyan(s)
adjective:: Libyan

Ethnic divisions

Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Languages

Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities

Government

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the; Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abd al Majid al-Qa'ud (since 29 January 1994)

19 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form:: Libya
local long form:: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishirakiyah
local short form:: none

Digraph

Type

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital

Tripoli

Administrative divisions

25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat);
Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan

Independence

24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution

11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Legal system

based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
separate religious courts;
no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state:: Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969)
head of government:: Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abd al Majid al-Qa'ud (since 29 January 1994)
cabinet:: General People's Committee; established by the General People's Congress

note: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees

Legislative branch

unicameral; General People's Congress: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

none

Other political or pressure groups

various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements

Member of

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

none

US diplomatic representation

none

Flag

plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$6,510

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

-0.9%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 10.5% (1990)

Inflation, consumer prices

25%

(1993 est.)

External debt

$3.5billion excluding military debt

(1991 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$8.1 billionExpenditures

$9.8 billion (1989 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion

Installed generating capacity, 4,600,000 kW

Electricity production

16.1 billionElectricity consumption per capita

3,078 (1993)

Overview

The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market.

Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. Windfall revenues from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990 improved the foreign payments position and resulted in a current account surplus through 1992. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum.

Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange which sustains imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $32.9 billion (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
partners:: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt

Imports

$6.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
partners:: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Industries

petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Agriculture

5% of GDP;
cash crops - wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits, peanuts;
75% of food is imported

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $242 million note: no longer a recipient

Currency

1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Exchange rates

Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3555 (January 1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684 (1991), 0.2699 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 146 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Railroads

note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress;

other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported

Highways

total:: 19,300 km
paved:: bituminous 10,800 km
unpaved:: gravel, earth 8,500 km

Inland waterways

none

Pipelines

crude oil 4,383 km;
petroleum products 443 km (includes liquified petroleum gas 256 km);
natural gas 1,947 km

Ports

Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine

total:: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 686,136 GRT/1,208,194 DWT
ships by type:: cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

370,000 telephones; modern telecommunications system

local:: NA
intercity:: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and 14 domestic satellites
international:: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) satellite earth stations;
submarine cables to France and Italy;
microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece;
planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite earth stations