Libya

Quick Facts

🇱🇾
Capital:
Tripoli
Official Language(s):
Arabic
Currency:
Libyan dinar (ل.د)
Population:
6,871,287

Overview

Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad to the south, Niger to the southwest, Algeria to the west, and Tunisia to the northwest, as well as maritime borders with Greece, Italy and Malta to the north. Libya comprises three historical regions: Tripolitania, Fezzan, and Cyrenaica. With an area of almost 1.8 million km2 (700,000 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest country in Africa and the Arab world, and the 16th-largest in the world. Libya claims 32,000 square kilometres of southeastern Algeria, south of the Libyan town of Ghat. The country's official religion is Islam, with 96.6% of the Libyan population being Sunni Muslims. The official language of Libya is Arabic, with vernacular Libyan Arabic being spoken most widely. The majority of Libya's population is Arab. The largest city and capital, Tripoli, is located in northwestern Libya and contains over a million of Libya's seven million people.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $35,217,995,647.286B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 28.3%(2021). Emerging economy with development potential.

GDP Growth
28.3%(2021)
GDP PPP
$90,199,384,483.202

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 32.2%(2021) in services, 74.9%(2021) in industry, and 1.9%(2021) in agriculture. Industry-driven economy.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show 19.6%(2021) unemployment and 2.9%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 92.1%(2021) exports and 72.2%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
19.6%(2021)
Inflation
2.9%(2021)
Exports/GDP
92.1%(2021)
Imports/GDP
72.2%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

N/A

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

N/A

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

84.3

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

206.7

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

N/A

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 164.28%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of 19.83%(2021).

FDI Inflows
1.71%(2021)
FDI Outflows
0.64%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$82.26B(2021)(36.8 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
N/A
High-Tech Exports
N/A

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
N/A
Services
32.23%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    25.3/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    27.2/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    35.4/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 7,135,175(2021) with 1.3%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 2.462 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    71.911 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    17.828 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (66.3%(2021)) with youth at 29.0%(2021) and elderly at 4.7%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 50.8%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    43.7%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    7.0%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 49.1%(2021) female and 50.9%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.057 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: -694(2021).

    Male Mortality
    190.653/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    128.348/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 1.6%(2021) annually, with 19.0%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

    Urbanization
    81.0%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    9.2 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 1.0%(2021) of territory, with 8.7%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 669.4 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    105.3(2021)
    Cereal Production
    209,777.18 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 70.2%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 56 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 0.123 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    N/A

    Environmental Vulnerability

    98.1%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at N/A providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    0.123 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    3,141 USD(2021)
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Recorded 160,000(2021) battle-related deaths.Refugee population: 342,896(2021)Internally displaced: 361,563(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features

    • Borders 6 countries