Statistical information Libya 1999

Libya in the World
Libya - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1,759,540 km²
Land: 1,759,540 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundariesTotal: 4,383 km
Border countries: (6) Algeria 982 km;
, Chad 1,055 km;
, Egypt 1,150 km;
, Niger 354 km;
, Sudan 383 km;
, Tunisia 459 kmCoastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm
Note: Gulf of Sidra closing line_32 degrees 30 minutes north
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
Extremes highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land useArable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 8%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 4,992,838 (July 1999 est.)
Note: includes 161,251 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Libyan(s)
Adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 36% (male 930,661; female 891,046)
15-64 years: 60% (male 1,545,958; female 1,437,120)
65 years and over: 4% (male 93,726; female 94,327) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.33 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.35 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: 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 agreements party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 28.15 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.73 years
Male: 73.81 years
Female: 77.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 76.2%
Male: 87.9%
Female: 63% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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
Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital: Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branchChief 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) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998)
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: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote_NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: 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, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Libya does not have an embassy in the US
From the us: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description
: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third 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. Low oil prices in 1998 cut back revenue sharply, and GDP growth fell by 1%. 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. 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 do not have a major impact on the economy although they have increased transaction and transportation costs.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $6,700 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 5%
Industry: 55%
Services: 40% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 1 million
By occupation industry: 31%
By occupation services: 27%
By occupation government: 24%
By occupation agriculture: 18%
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $3.6 billion
Expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1998 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
Partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
Imports: $6.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
Partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $4 billion (1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1_0.3799 (November 1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994; official rate:0.45 (December 1998)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 17 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 17 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaLibya - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 411,000 (1999 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system is being modernized; 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
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsLibya - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 143 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 60
With paved runways over 3047 m: 24
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 22
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 83
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 5
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 15
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 42
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km; natural gas 1,947 km
Railways: 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
RoadwaysWaterways: none
Merchant marineTotal: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 588,928 GRT/989,662 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsLibya - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 km² in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs