2018 Edition

Background

The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when they were 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 known as the National Transitional Council (NTC). In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Voters chose a new parliament to replace the GNC in June 2014 - the House of Representatives (HoR), which relocated to the eastern city of Tobruk after fighting broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi.In October 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue, including representatives of the HoR and defunct-GNC, signed the LPA in December 2015. The LPA called for the formation of an interim Government of National Accord or GNA, with a nine-member Presidency Council, the HoR, and an advisory High Council of State that most ex-GNC members joined. The LPA’s roadmap for a transition to a new constitution and elected government was subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which also called upon member states to cease official contact with parallel institutions. In January 2016, the HoR voted to approve the LPA, including the Presidency Council, while voting against a controversial provision on security leadership positions and the Presidency Council’s proposed cabinet of ministers. In March 2016, the GNA Presidency Council seated itself in Tripoli. In 2016, the GNA twice announced a slate of ministers who operate in an acting capacity, but the HoR did not endorse the ministerial list. HoR and defunct-GNC-affiliated political hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA’s implementation. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan SALAME announced a new roadmap for national political reconciliation. SALAME’s plan called for amendments to the LPA, a national conference of Libyan leaders, and a constitutional referendum and general elections.

Area

land

1,759,540 sq km

total

1,759,540 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

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

Climate

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Coastline

1,770 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

-47 m lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil

mean elevation

423 m

note

2267 highest point: Bikku Bitti

Environment Current Issues

desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, brings water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities; water pollution is a significant problem; the combined impact of sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste threatens Libya's coast and the Mediterranean Sea

Environment International Agreements

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

Geographic Coordinates

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Geography Note

note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesertnote 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis - the name means "oasis of mosquitoes" - containing several small lakes surrounded by vegetation and hosting various insects and a large diversity of birds

Irrigated Land

4,700 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (6)

Algeria 989 km, Chad 1050 km, Egypt 1115 km, Niger 342 km, Sudan 382 km, Tunisia 461 km

total

4,339 km

Land Use

arable land: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 7.6% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

8.8% (2011 est.)

forest

0.1% (2011 est.)

other

91.1% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Africa

Maritime Claims

exclusive fishing zone

62 nm

note

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

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

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

Natural Resources

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Population Distribution

well over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and lack of surface water

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Age Structure

0-14 years

25.53% (male 882,099 /female 842,320)

15-24 years

16.81% (male 582,247 /female 553,004)

25-54 years

47.47% (male 1,684,019 /female 1,522,027)

55-64 years

5.77% (male 197,196 /female 192,320)

65 years and over

4.43% (male 147,168 /female 152,107) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

17.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Demographic Profile

Despite continuing unrest, Libya remains a destination country for economic migrants. It is also a hub for transit migration to Europe because of its proximity to southern Europe and its lax border controls. Labor migrants have been drawn to Libya since the development of its oil sector in the 1960s. Until the latter part of the 1990s, most migrants to Libya were Arab (primarily Egyptians and Sudanese). However, international isolation stemming from Libya’s involvement in international terrorism and a perceived lack of support from Arab countries led QADHAFI in 1998 to adopt a decade-long pan-African policy that enabled large numbers of sub-Saharan migrants to enter Libya without visas to work in the construction and agricultural industries. Although sub-Saharan Africans provided a cheap labor source, they were poorly treated and were subjected to periodic mass expulsions.By the mid-2000s, domestic animosity toward African migrants and a desire to reintegrate into the international community motivated QADHAFI to impose entry visas on Arab and African immigrants and to agree to joint maritime patrols and migrant repatriations with Italy, the main recipient of illegal migrants departing Libya. As his regime neared collapse in 2011, QADHAFI reversed his policy of cooperating with Italy to curb illegal migration and sent boats loaded with migrants and asylum seekers to strain European resources. Libya’s 2011 revolution decreased immigration drastically and prompted nearly 800,000 migrants to flee to third countries, mainly Tunisia and Egypt, or to their countries of origin. The inflow of migrants declined in 2012 but returned to normal levels by 2013, despite continued hostility toward sub-Saharan Africans and a less-inviting job market.While Libya is not an appealing destination for migrants, since 2014, transiting migrants – primarily from East and West Africa – continue to exploit its political instability and weak border controls and use it as a primary departure area to migrate across the central Mediterranean to Europe in growing numbers. In addition, more than 200,000 people were displaced internally as of August 2017 by fighting between armed groups in eastern and western Libya and, to a lesser extent, by inter-tribal clashes in the country’s south.

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.4 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

15.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.1 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

42.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 54.2% of population

rural: 54.9% of population

total: 54.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 45.8% of population

rural: 45.1% of population

total: 45.6% of population (2001 est.)

Education Expenditures

NA

Ethnic Groups

Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)

Health Expenditures

5% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

3.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

78.7 years (2018 est.)

male

75.1 years (2018 est.)

total population

76.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

85.6% (2015 est.)

male

96.7% (2015 est.)

total population

91% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.158 million TRIPOLI (capital), 799,000 Benghazi, 801,000 Misratah (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

29.2 years (2018 est.)

male

29.5 years

total

29.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Libyan

noun

Libyan(s)

Net Migration Rate

1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

32.5% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.09 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

6,754,507 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

note

immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2017)

Population Growth Rate

1.45% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist 0.3%, Hindu <0.1, Jewish <0.1, folk religion <0.1, unafilliated 0.2%, other <0.1 (2010 est.)

note

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

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 96.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 95.7% of population (2015 est.)

total: 96.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 3.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.03 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

67.8% (2012 est.)

male

40.8% (2012 est.)

total

48.7% (2012 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.68% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

80.1% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

22 districts (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

Capital

geographic coordinates

32 53 N, 13 10 E

name

Tripoli (Tarabulus)

time difference

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

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

Constitution

previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constituional referendum (2019)

Country Name

conventional long form

State of Libya

conventional short form

Libya

etymology

name derives from the Libu, an ancient Libyan tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.

local long form

Dawiat Libiya

local short form

Libiya

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter W. BODDE (since 15 November 2018)

embassy

Sidi Slim Area/Walie Al-Ahed Road, Tripoli (temporarily closed)

mailing address

US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850

note

the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to fighting near the embassy related to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations temporarily first relocated to Valetta, Malta and currently are temporarily relocated to Tunis, Tunisia

telephone

[218] (0) 91-220-3239

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Wafa M.T. BUGHAIGHIS (since 29 November 2017)

FAX

[1] (202) 944-9606

telephone

[1] (202) 944-9601

Executive Branch

cabinet

GNA Presidency Council (pending approval by the House of Representatives - as of December 2018)

chief of state

Chairman, Presidential Council, Fayiz al-SARAJ (since December 2015)

election results

NA

elections/appointments

presidential election to be held pending election-related legislation

head of government

Prime Minister Fayiz al-SARAJ (since December 2015)

Flag Description

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

Government Type

in transition

Independence

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

International Law Organization Participation

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

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, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial Branch

NA; note - government is in transition

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al Nuwab) or HoR (200 seats including 32 reserved for women; members directly elected by majority vote; member term NA); note - the High Council of State serves as an advisory group for the HoR

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 158, women 30, percent of women 16%; note - only 188 of the 200 seats were filled in the June 2014 election because of boycotts and lack of security at some polling stations; some elected members of the HoR also boycotted the election

elections

last held on 25 June 2014 ( parliamentary election to be held pending election-related legislation); note - the Libyan Supreme Court in November 2014 declared the HoR election unconstitutional, but the HoR and the international community rejected the ruling

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB

name

Libya, Libya, Libya

note

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

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

Agriculture Products

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle

Budget

expenditures

23.46 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

15.78 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-25.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

9.52% (31 December 2010)

3% (31 December 2009)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

7.3% (31 December 2017 est.)

6% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$2.574 billion (2017 est.)

-$4.575 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$3.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.116 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Economy Overview

Libya's economy, almost entirely dependent on oil and gas exports, has struggled since 2014 given security and political instability, disruptions in oil production, and decline in global oil prices. The Libyan dinar has lost much of its value since 2014 and the resulting gap between official and black market exchange rates has spurred the growth of a shadow economy and contributed to inflation. The country suffers from widespread power outages, caused by shortages of fuel for power generation. Living conditions, including access to clean drinking water, medical services, and safe housing have all declined since 2011. Oil production in 2017 reached a five-year high, driving GDP growth, with daily average production rising to 879,000 barrels per day. However, oil production levels remain below the average pre-Revolution highs of 1.6 million barrels per day.The Central Bank of Libya continued to pay government salaries to a majority of the Libyan workforce and to fund subsidies for fuel and food, resulting in an estimated budget deficit of about 17% of GDP in 2017. Low consumer confidence in the banking sector and the economy as a whole has driven a severe liquidity shortage.

Exchange Rates

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -

1.413 (2017 est.)

1.3904 (2016 est.)

1.3904 (2015 est.)

1.379 (2014 est.)

1.2724 (2013 est.)

Exports

$18.38 billion (2017 est.)

$11.99 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Exports Partners

Italy 19%, Spain 12.5%, France 11%, Egypt 8.6%, Germany 8.6%, China 8.3%, US 4.9%, UK 4.6%, Netherlands 4.5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

38.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption

19.4% (2017 est.)

household consumption

71.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-33.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

2.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.3% (2016 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

1.3% (2017 est.)

industry

52.3% (2017 est.)

services

46.4% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$30.57 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$9,600 (2017 est.)

$5,900 (2016 est.)

$6,500 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$61.97 billion (2017 est.)

$37.78 billion (2016 est.)

$40.8 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

64% (2017 est.)

-7.4% (2016 est.)

-13% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

5% of GDP (2017 est.)

-9% of GDP (2016 est.)

-25.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$11.36 billion (2017 est.)

$8.667 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products

Imports Partners

China 13.5%, Turkey 11.3%, Italy 6.9%, South Korea 5.9%, Spain 4.8% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

60.3% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

28.5% (2017 est.)

25.9% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

1.114 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

17%

industry

23%

services

59% (2004 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

note

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

note

about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line

Public Debt

4.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$74.71 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$66.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$76.21 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$62.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$20.97 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$22.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$20.21 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$18.96 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$21 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$76.21 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$62.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

51.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

30% (2004 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

46.48 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

337,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

note

Libyan crude oil export values are highly volatile because of continuing protests and other disruptions across the country

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

897,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

48.36 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

99.1% (2013)

electrification - total population

99.8% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

100% (2013)

population without electricity

13,083 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

27.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

376 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

9.46 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

34.24 billion kWh (2016 est.)

note

persistent electricity shortages have contributed to the ongoing instability throughout the country

Natural Gas Consumption

4.446 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

4.644 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

9.089 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

1.505 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

260,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

16,880 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

168,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

89,620 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2017 est.)

total

168,920 (2017 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 (2012)

Internet Country Code

.ly

Internet Users

percent of population

20.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,326,194 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

21 per 100 fixed-line and 115 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate, but pressure to rebuild damaged infrastructure growing (2018)

general assessment

political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecommunications sector, but much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; registering a SIM card now requires proof of ID; govt. established new indepentent regulatory autority; LTE-based fixed broadband network launched (2018)

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 (2018)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

1,374,408 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

7,660,068 (July 2016 est.)

Airports

146 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

30 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

7 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2017)

over 3,047 m

23 (2017)

total

68 (2017)

under 914 m

1 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

14 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

37 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2 (2013)

total

78 (2013)

under 914 m

20 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

5A (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 2, oil tanker 16, other 80 (2017)

total

98 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

3,833,542 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,566,465 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

23 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

8 (2015)

Pipelines

882 km condensate, 3743 km gas, 7005 km oil (2013)

Ports And Terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Marsa el Brega

major seaport(s)

Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli

oil terminal(s)

Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf

Roadways

paved

57,214 km (2003)

total

100,024 km (2003)

unpaved

42,810 km (2003)

Military Branches

note - in transition; Libyan Government of National Accord has affiliated ground, air, naval, and coast guard forces (2018)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for mandatory or voluntary service (2012)

Disputes International

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 Moroccovarious Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

IDPs

187,423 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2018)

refugees (country of origin)

23,687 (Syria), 10,300 (Sudan), 7,277 (Palestinian), 6,858 (Eritrea) (2018)

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Libya is a destination and transit country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; migrants who seek employment in Libya as laborers and domestic workers or who transit Libya en route to Europe are vulnerable to forced labor; private employers also exploit migrants from detention centers as forced laborers on farms and construction sites, returning them to detention when they are no longer needed; some sub-Saharan women are reportedly forced to work in Libyan brothels, particularly in the country’s south; since 2013, militia groups and other informal armed groups, including some affiliated with the government, are reported to conscript Libyan children under the age of 18; large-scale violence driven by militias, civil unrest, and increased lawlessness increased in 2014, making it more difficult to obtain information on human trafficking

tier rating

Tier 3 - the Libyan Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government’s capacity to address human trafficking was hampered by the ongoing power struggle and violence; the judicial system was not functioning, preventing any efforts to investigate, prosecute, or convict traffickers, complicit detention camp guards or government officials, or militias or armed groups that used child soldiers; the government failed to identify or provide protection to trafficking victims, including child conscripts, and continued to punish victims for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no public anti-trafficking awareness campaigns were conducted (2015)

Terrorist Groups Foreign Based

al-Mulathamun Battalion

aim(s): replace several African governments, including Libya's transitional government, with an Islamic statearea(s) of operation: maintains an operational presence; engages in kidnappings for ransom (November 2018)

Terrorist Groups Home Based

al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

aim(s): overthrow various African regimes and replace them with one ruled by sharia; establish a regional Islamic caliphate across all of North and West Africaarea(s) of operation: leadership headquartered in Algeria; operates in Tunisia and Libyanote: al-Qa'ida's affiliate in North Africa; Tunisia-based branch known as the Uqbah bin Nafi Battalion; Mali-based cadre merged with allies to form JNIM in March 2017, which pledged allegiance to AQIM and al-Qa'ida (April 2018)

Ansar al-Sharia groups

aim(s): implement sharia in Libyaarea(s) of operation: in the east, mostly in Benghazi and Darnahnote: officially disbanded in June 2017, but fighters and local elements remain; operated as a member of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council and Darnah Mujahidin Shura Council, a coalition of jihadist groups combating the Libyan House of Representatives-aligned forces (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Libya

aim(s): prevent the formation of a reunified Libyan state, secure control over the country's critical resources and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate in Libyaarea(s) of operation: based in Libya since circa 2015, with its original headquarters in Sirte; no longer controls territory in Libya but does maintain a low-profile presence throughout much of the country (April 2018)