Libya

Libya

Introduction

Background

The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system was a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and was supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of “direct democracy.” QADHAFI 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. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI subsequently made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. The US rescinded Libya’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing. In October 2008, the US Government received $1.5 billion pursuant to the agreement to distribute to US national claimants, and as a result effectively normalized its bilateral relationship with Libya. The two countries then exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973 in January 2009. Libya in May 2010 was elected to its first three-year seat on the UN Human Rights Council, prompting protests from international non-governmental organizations and human rights campaigners. Unrest that began in several Near Eastern and North African countries in late December 2010 spread to several Libyan cities in early 2011. In March 2011, a Transitional National Council (TNC) was formed in Benghazi with the stated aim of overthrowing the QADHAFI regime and guiding the country to democracy. In response to QADHAFI’s harsh military crackdown on protesters, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, which demanded an immediate ceasefire and authorized the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Libya. After several months of see-saw fighting, anti-Qadhafi forces in August 2011 captured the capital, Tripoli. In mid-September, the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the TNC as the legitimate interim governing body of Libya. The TNC on 23 October officially declared the country liberated following the defeat of the last remaining pro-QADHAFI stronghold and QADHAFI’s death, and plans to begin a transition toward elections, the formation of a constitution, and a new government.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 1,759,540 sq km
country comparison to the world: 17 land:1,759,540 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

1,770 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
note:Gulf of Sidra closing line – 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone:62 nm

Climate

Mediterranean along coast

dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use

arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops:0.19%
other:98.78% (2005)

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.6 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.27cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita:730cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

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

dust storms, sandstorms

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

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

Geography – note

more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Libyan(s)
adjective:Libyan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Arabic (official), Italian, English
note:all are widely understood in the major cities

Religions

Sunni Muslim (official) 97%, other 3%

Population

6,597,960 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102 note:includes 166,510 non-nationals

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.8% (male 1,104,590/female 1,057,359)
15-64 years:62.7% (male 2,124,053/female 2,011,226)
65 years and over:4.6% (male 146,956/female 153,776) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 24.5 years
male:24.5 years
female:24.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.064% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Birth rate

24.04 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Death rate

3.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Urbanization

urban population: 78% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

TRIPOLI (capital) 1.095 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.96 male(s)/female
total population:1.05 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

64 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.09 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 98 male:22.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female:18.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.65 years
country comparison to the world: 58 male:75.34 years
female:80.08 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.96 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Health expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89

Physicians density

1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 70

Hospital bed density

3.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 56

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 54% of population
rural: 55% of population
total: 54% of population
unimproved:
urban: 46% of population
rural: 45% of population
total: 46% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 3% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 80

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years
male:16 years
female:17 years (2003)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Libya
local long form:none
local short form:Libiya

Government type

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

in practice, an authoritarian state

Capital

name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
geographic coordinates:32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

22 districts (shabiyat, singular – shabiyat)

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, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati

Independence

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution

none

note – following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969

in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People’s Authority

Legal system

mixed system of civil and Islamic law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal and technically compulsory

Executive branch

note: the United States on 17 July 2011 recognized the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate governing authority for Libya until an interim government is in place

the TNC on 8 August 2011 dimissed the members of its Executive Committee, which serves as its executive branch, and only reappointed its chairman

however, the previous members of the Executive Committee continue to be responsible for their assigned portfolios in an acting capacity
chief of state:Transitional National Council Chairman Mustafa Abd al-JALIL (since March 2011)
head of government:Transitional National Council Executive Committee Chairman Abd al-Rahim al-KEEB (since 23 October 2011)
cabinet:cabinet dissolved by Transitional National Council (TNC) Chairman Mustafa Abd al-JALIL on 8 August 2011

he then requested that TNC Executive Committee Chairman Mahmoud JIBRIL form a new one
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:TNC Chairman al-JALIL in August 2011 announced presidential elections to be held in April1 2012
election results:NA

Legislative branch

the United States on 17 July 2011 recognized the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate governing authority for Libya

announcement of a new interim government expected in November 2011
elections:TNC Chairman al-JALIL in August 2011 announced legislative elections to be held in April1 2012
election results:NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement

Islamic elements

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery:2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:[1] (202) 944-9601
FAX:[1] (202) 944-9060

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy:off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben Ashour
mailing address:US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone:[218] 91-220-3239

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

National symbol(s)

star and crescent

hawk

National anthem

name: “Allahu Akbar” (God Is Greatest)
lyrics/music:Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
note:adopted 1969

the anthem was originally a battle song for the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War

Economy

Economy – overview

The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, 25% of GDP, and 80% of government revenue. The weakness in world hydrocarbon prices in 2009 reduced Libyan government tax income and constrained economic growth. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with 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 five 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. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004

all sanctions were removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment, especially in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest

the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million bbl/day by 2012. In November 2009, the NOC announced that that target may slip to as late as 2017. 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 more than 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. Libya’s primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$90.57 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 $86.95 billion (2009 est.)
$89.01 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$74.23 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 -2.3% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$14,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 $13,700 (2009 est.)
$14,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.7%
industry:66.7%
services:30.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.728 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 17%
industry:23%
services:59% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Population below poverty line

NA
note:About one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

13.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Budget

revenues: $42.04 billion
expenditures:$38.75 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

56.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Public debt

3.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133 3.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 2.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

9.52% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 6% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$31.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 $30.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$35.96 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 $36.82 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$45.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 $41.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

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

cattle

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity – production

26.95 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity – consumption

22.89 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Electricity – exports

117 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

48 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

1.789 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Oil – consumption

289,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Oil – exports

1.385 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Oil – imports

575 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Oil – proved reserves

46.42 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Natural gas – production

15.9 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Natural gas – consumption

6.01 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas – exports

9.89 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.548 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Current account balance

$16.16 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17 $9.381 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$41.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58 $37.06 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Exports – partners

Italy 31.6%, France 13%, China 9.2%, Spain 9.1%, Germany 8.4%, US 4.5% (2010)

Imports

$24.73 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $22 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Italy 16.3%, China 10.3%, Turkey 9.7%, France 6.8%, Germany 6.4%, South Korea 6.2%, Egypt 5.7%, Tunisia 4.8% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$99.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 $98.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$6.396 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 $5.884 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$19.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69 $15.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$15.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48 $13.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -
1.2648 (2010)
1.2535 (2009)
1.2112 (2008)
1.2604 (2007)
1.3108 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

137 (2010)
country comparison to the world:41

Airports – with paved runways

total: 59
over 3,047 m:24
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:23
914 to 1,523 m:6
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 78
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:14
914 to 1,523 m:42
under 914 m:17 (2010)

Heliports

2 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 776 km

gas 3,216 km

oil 6,960 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 100,024 km
country comparison to the world: 42 paved:57,214 km
unpaved:42,810 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 27
country comparison to the world: 89 by type:cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:5 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2, UK 1)
registered in other countries:5 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 4) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Az Zawiyah, Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Ra’s Lanuf, Tripoli

Military

Military branches

Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya, LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,775,078
females age 16-49:1,714,194 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,511,144
females age 16-49:1,458,934 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 59,547
female:57,070 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Transnational Issues

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 Morocco

various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation

Libya has experienced internal unrest, stranding many foreign workers in the country under harsh and unsafe conditions
tier rating:Tier 3 – the Libyan Government failed to demonstrate significant efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses or to protect trafficking victims

the government’s policies and practices with respect to undocumented migrant workers resulted in Libyan authorities also punishing trafficking victims for unlawful acts that were committed as a result of their being trafficked

following the outbreak of civil unrest in February 2011, accurate information regarding the situation in Libya has become very limited (2011)