Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 17, FM 4, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios [time series]

1.35 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996 domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: 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 (1999)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

318,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

730,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.6 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Debt - external [time series]

$4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$8.4 million (1995)

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-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and 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. In this statist society, 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. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. Higher oil prices in 1999 led to an increase in export revenues and helped to stimulate the economy. Following the suspension of UN sanctions in 1999, Libya has been trying to increase its attractiveness to foreign investors, and several foreign companies have visited in search of contracts.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

15.736 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

16.92 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.4687 (January 2000), 0.4616 (1999), 0.3785 (1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995); official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)

Exports [time series]

$6.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 40%, Germany 17%, Spain 12%, France 4%, Sudan 4%, UK 3% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $39.3 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 7% industry: 47% services: 46% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $7,900 (1999 est.)

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

2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$7 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 23%, Germany 12%, UK 9%, France 7%, Tunisia 5%, Belgium 4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

18% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.2 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services and government 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1998 est.)

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: Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, 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 (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

Capital [time series]

Tripoli

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 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 (Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since 2 March 2000) 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 NA (next to be held NA) election results: Mubarak al-SHAMEKH 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, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

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 people's committees)

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

Background [time series]

Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system - a combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military adventures failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops into the Aozou Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed in 1987. Libyan support for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992. Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999.

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

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

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

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,415,305 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 841,039 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 62,200 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36% (male 938,476; female 899,139) 15-64 years: 60% (male 1,595,306; female 1,485,069) 65 years and over: 4% (male 97,770; female 99,690) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

30.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.45 years male: 73.34 years female: 77.66 years (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

5,115,450 note: includes 162,669 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.42% (2000 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: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.71 children born/woman (2000 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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

142 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 59 over 3,047 m: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 83 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,303 GRT/656,632 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1999 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 little progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion originally set for mid-1994; Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork

Waterways [time series]

none