The World Factbook CIA Home CIA Home About CIA Careers Offices of CIA News & Information Library Kid’s Page Contact CIA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

         
  Libya  
Flag of Libya
Click to enlarge
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Map of Libya




Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order

   Introduction    Libya Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In January 2008, Libya assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing. In October 2008, the US Government received $1.5 billion pursuant to the agreement to distribute to US national claimants, and as a result effectively normalized its bilateral relationship with Libya. The two countries then exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973 in January 2009.
   Geography    Libya Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Africa
Area:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
4,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0.6 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
desertification; 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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
   People    Libya Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,310,434
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0-14 years: 33% (male 1,064,866/female 1,019,790)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 2,033,478/female 1,920,755)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 133,092/female 138,453) (2009 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 23.9 years
male: 24 years
female: 23.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
2.17% (2009 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
25.15 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
3.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
total: 21.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
total population: 77.26 years
male: 74.98 years
female: 79.65 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
3.08 children born/woman (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Religions:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
2.7% of GDP (1999)
   Government    Libya Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jamahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uthma
local short form: none
Government type:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Capital:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); 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; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority
Legal system:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory
Executive branch:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held March 2006 (next to be held March 2009)
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
unicameral General People's Congress (760 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
other: Arab nationalist movements; anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile Movement; Islamic elements
International organization participation:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben Ashour
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-3239
Flag description:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
   Economy    Libya Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. The expected weakness in world hydrocarbon prices throughout 2009 will reduce Libyan government tax income and constrain Libyan economic growth in 2009. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made progress on economic reforms 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 as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. UN Sanctions against Libya were lifted in September 2003. 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 sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million bbl/day by 2012. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$88.86 billion (2008 est.)
$83.59 billion (2007)
$78.27 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
$108.5 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
6.3% (2008 est.)
6.8% (2007 est.)
5.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$14,400 (2008 est.)
$13,800 (2007 est.)
$13,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 61.7%
services: 36.8% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1.916 million (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
30% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
8.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
revenues: $56.35 billion
expenditures: $29.12 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
3.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
10.5% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
4% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
6% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$18.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$3.192 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$NA
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Industries:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
5.8% (2008 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
20.71 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1.845 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
278,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1.455 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
575.3 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
41.46 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
14.8 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
6.39 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
9.9 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1.419 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$43.33 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$66.13 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Italy 40.5%, Germany 12.2%, US 7.4%, Spain 7.4%, France 6.3% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$20.64 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Italy 18.9%, Germany 7.7%, China 7.3%, Tunisia 6.8%, France 5.7%, Turkey 5.4%, US 4.3% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$99.45 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$5.521 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$8.736 billion (2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$4.783 billion (2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2112 (2008 est.), 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004)
   Communications    Libya Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
852,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
4.5 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
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; multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approached 90 telephones per 100 persons in 2007
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)
Internet country code:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
.ly
Internet hosts:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
31 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
260,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Libya Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 19 (2008)
Heliports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
condensate 776 km; gas 2,860 km; oil 6,987 km (2008)
Railways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
0 km
note: Libya plans to build seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
total: 100,024 km
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
total: 17
by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2)
registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah
   Military    Libya Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya, LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
males age 16-49: 1,682,183
females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
males age 16-49: 1,466,578
females age 16-49: 1,409,684 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
male: 60,710
female: 58,219 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Libya Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses; Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Bottom Banner