Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of 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, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement 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 late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government. Libya in 2012 formed a new parliament and elected a new prime minister.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,759,540 sq km
country comparison to the world: 17
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.82% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.7 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4.33 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita: 796.1 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Sunni Muslim (official) 97%, other 3%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,002,347 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 837,984/female 800,423)
15-24 years: 18.6% (male 578,780/female 535,828)
25-54 years: 45.6% (male 1,432,265/female 1,302,187)
55-64 years: 4.6% (male 143,862/female 134,414)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 120,043/female 116,561) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 52.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 44.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 7.3 %
potential support ratio: 13.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 27.1 years
male: 27.2 years
female: 26.9 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.85% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18.74 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.56 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
33.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 77.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
TRIPOLI (capital) 1.095 million (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 103
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 13.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 75.83 years
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 74.17 years
female: 77.57 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.09 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.2% (1995)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 153
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.3% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 84
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.5%
male: 95.8%
female: 83.3% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2003)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: none
local short form: Libiya
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
operates under a transitional government
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October
note: on 10 November 2012, Libya changed its standard time from UTC+2 to UTC+1
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22 districts (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); 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, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
previous 1951, 1977; latest 2011 (interim); note - in mid-July 2013, Libya's legislative body agreed on steps for drafting a new constitution (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Libya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President, General National Congress Nuri Abu SAHMAYN
head of government: Prime Minister Ali ZAYDAN (since 14 October 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Awad Ibrik Ibrahim al-BARASI, Sadiq Abd al-Karim Abd al-Rahman KARIM, Abd-al-Salam Muhammad al-Mahdi al-QADI
cabinet: new cabinet approved by the National Congress on 31 October 2012
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: prime minister and National Congress president elected by the National Congress
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral General National Congress (200 seats; 120 individual seats elected from 69 constituencies and 80 party list seats elected from 20 constituencies; member term NA)
elections: first General National Congress election held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote for party list seats only - NFA 48.7%, JCP 21.3%, other parties 30%; list and constituent seats - NFA 39, JCP 17, other 24, independents 120
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): NA; note - government in transition
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Al-Watan (Homeland) Party
note: list includes some of the larger political parties and leaders
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Suleiman ABULHI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES (since 11 June 2013)
note: on 11 September 2012, US Ambassador Christopher STEVENS and three other American diplomats were killed in an attack by heavily armed militants on a US diplomatic post in the eastern city of Benghazi
embassy: Sidi Slim Area/Walie Al-Ahed Road, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone: [218] (0) 91-220-3239
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
star and crescent; hawk
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest)
lyrics/music: Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
note: adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Libya's economy is structured primarily around the nation's energy sector, which generates about 95% of export earnings, 80% of GDP, and 99% of government income. Substantial revenue from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but Tripoli largely has not used its significant financial resources to develop national infrastructure or the economy, leaving many citizens poor. In the final five years of QADHAFI''s rule, Libya made some progress on economic reform 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 after Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. 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 and banking sectors. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds drew high international interest, but new rounds are unlikely to be successful until Libya establishes a more permanent government and is able to offer more attractive financial terms on contracts and increase security. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing its primarily socialist economy, but the revolution has unleashed previously restrained entrepreneurial activity and increased the potential for the evolution of a more market-based economy. The service and construction sectors, which account for roughly 60% of GDP, expanded over the past five years and could become a larger share of GDP if Tripoli prioritizes capital spending on development projects once political and security uncertainty subside. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 80% of its food. Libya''s primary agricultural water source is the Great Manmade River Project.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$76.52 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$80.81 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
104.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$11,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 42.9%
government consumption: 14.2%
investment in fixed capital: 4.9%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 60.5%
imports of goods and services: -22.9%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 43.6%
services: 54.8% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
117% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.353 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
note: about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $57.48 billion
expenditures: $35.08 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
71.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.52% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$45.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$42.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-47.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$27.17 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$52.02 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Italy 23.3%, Germany 12.4%, China 11.2%, France 9.7%, Spain 7.6%, UK 4.7%, US 4.5% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$18.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 13%, Turkey 11.6%, Italy 8.2%, Egypt 7.7%, Tunisia 6.6%, South Korea 5.8%, Greece 5.4%, Germany 4.6% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$118.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.278 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$16.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$17.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.72 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.24 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
129 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
76 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.766 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.483 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.378 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
48.01 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 9
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
388,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
314,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
119,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
575.3 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.855 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.844 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.666 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.547 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 22
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49.67 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
814,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 85
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.59 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 81
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical 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
domestic: multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has soared
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2010)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2012)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.ly
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17,926 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 121
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
353,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
146 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 41
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 68
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
condensate 882 km; gas 3,743 km; oil 7,005 km (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 100,024 km
country comparison to the world: 45
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 23
country comparison to the world: 91
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 6 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 5) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli
oil terminal(s): Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
note - in transition; government attempting to staff a new national army with anti-QADAFI militia fighters and former members of QADAFI's military (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for mandatory or voluntary service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,775,078
females age 16-49: 1,714,194 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,511,144
females age 16-49: 1,458,934 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 59,547
female: 57,070 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
IDPs: 74,000 (conflict between pro-Qadhafi and anti-Qadhafi forces; figure does not include displaced third-country nationals) (2012)