Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

1 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern telecommunications system domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

370,000

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

500,000 (1993 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; meat, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $13 billion expenditures: $14.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Debt - external [time series]

$2.6 billion excluding military debt (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but subsequently GDP growth has slowed on average and has fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange to sustain imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

4.6 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

3,012 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

16.73 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3764 (January 1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $34.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5% industry : 55% services: 40% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $6,570 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.2% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value : $7.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

25% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners) by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18% note : 7.1% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water : 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Alaska

Climate [time series]

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Coastline [time series]

1,770 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

4,700 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,383 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees 30 minutes north

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Terrain [time series]

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Administrative divisions [time series]

25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes in 1992

Constitution [time series]

11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

LY

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Libya does not have an embassy in the US

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : Revolutionary Leader Gen. 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 (Premier) Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD (since 29 January 1994) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections : national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

24 December 1951 (from Italy)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Tripoli

National holiday [time series]

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1.4 billion (1994 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

6.1% (1994 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 1,211,700 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 721,592 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 59,216 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years : 48% (male 1,369,984; female 1,323,254) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,422,043; female 1,358,013) 65 years and over: 3% (male 91,953; female 83,112) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.94 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.49 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.05 years male : 62.84 years female: 67.37 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.2% male: 87.9% female: 63% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

5,648,359 (July 1997 est.) note: includes 305,959 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.64% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim 97%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria LIECHTENSTEIN

Airports [time series]

131 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 71 over 3,047 m : 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 14 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 60 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m : 39 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 19,189 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved : 8,451 km (1987)

Merchant marine [time series]

total : 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 689,086 GRT/1,209,083 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 note: Libya owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,050 DWT operating under the registries of Algeria and Turkey (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

note : Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported

Waterways [time series]

none