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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ly

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

67 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

160,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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: country code - 218; 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]

750,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

100,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $13.52 billion expenditures: $12.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.6 billion (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Libyan dinar (LYD)

Current account balance [time series]

$9.895 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.069 billion (2004 est.)

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

$4.4 million ODA (2002)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute 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. Libyan officials in the past four years have made progress on economic reforms 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 as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were removed in April 2004. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil 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 agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

19.43 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

20.89 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051 (2001), 0.5122 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$18.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 37%, Germany 16.6%, Spain 11.9%, Turkey 7.1%, France 6.2% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$37.48 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 8.7% industry: 45.7% services: 45.6% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2004 est.)

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

4.9% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$7.224 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumer products (1999)

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 25.5%, Germany 11%, South Korea 6.1%, UK 5.4%, Tunisia 4.7%, Turkey 4.6% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

9.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.59 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

770 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.321 trillion cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption [time series]

216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

1.518 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

38 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

8.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$24.18 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (2004)

Geography

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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

Irrigated land [time series]

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2001)

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

Government

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli in May 1980, resumed embassy activities in February 2004 under the protective power of the US interests section of the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, then opened a Liaison Office in Tripoli in June 2004

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Libya does not have an embassy in the US but maintains an interest section under the protective power of the United Arab Emirates 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 (Prime Minister) Shukri Muhammad GHANIM (since 14 June 2003) 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 2 March 2000 (next to be held NA) election results: 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, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), 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; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists, primarily based in London, but has little influence

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

From the earliest days of his rule following his 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appeared to have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the 1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004 several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist activities in the 1980s by paying compensation to the families of victims of the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 1,505,675 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 17-49: 1,291,624 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 62,034 (2005 est.)

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

Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1.3 billion (FY99)

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

3.9% (FY99)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17 years of age (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 997,364/female 955,272) 15-64 years: 62% (male 1,842,775/female 1,729,235) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 117,967/female 122,950) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

10,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.5 years male: 74.29 years female: 78.82 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 92.4% female: 72% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through October) (2004)

Median age [time series]

total: 22.68 years male: 22.8 years female: 22.56 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

5,765,563 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.33% (2005 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: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.34 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Transportation

Airports [time series]

139 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 59 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 41 under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 129,627 GRT/105,110 DWT by type: cargo 7, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 1 (Algeria 1) (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah

Railways [time series]

0 km note: Libya is working on 7 lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2004)