Libya
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Tripoli (Tarabulus)
- Population
- 7,361,263 (2024 est.)
- Area
- 1,759,540 sq km
- Government
- in transition
- Religions
- Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)
- Currency
- Libyan dinars (LYD)
- Life Expectancy
- 77.7 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .ly
- Climate
- Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
- Terrain
- mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
- Major Exports
- crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals have all settled and ruled the region. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the area.