Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals have all settled and ruled the region. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the area. In the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began; the Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and held it until 1943, when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then came under UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership with a military coup in 1969 and began to espouse a political system that combined socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners — one over Scotland and another in Northern Africa — and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically; the sanctions were lifted in 2003 when Libya accepted responsibility for the bombings and agreed to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya’s program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations.
Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in 2011. QADHAFI’s brutal crackdown on protesters spawned an eight-month civil war that saw the emergence of a National Transitional Council (NTC), UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community, and the toppling of the QADHAFI regime. In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC), which was replaced two years later with the House of Representatives (HoR). In 2015, the UN brokered the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) among a broad array of political parties and social groups, establishing an interim executive body. However, hardliners continued to oppose and hamper the LPA implementation, leaving Libya with eastern and western-based rival governments. In 2018, the international community supported a recalibrated plan that aimed to break the political deadlock with a National Conference in 2019. These plans, however, were derailed when the eastern-based, self-described Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize Tripoli. The LNA offensive collapsed in 2020, and a subsequent UN-sponsored cease-fire helped formalize the pause in fighting between rival camps.
In 2021, the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a new prime minister for an interim government — the Government of National Unity (GNU) — and a new presidential council charged with preparing for elections and uniting the country’s state institutions. The HoR approved the GNU and its cabinet the same year, providing Libya with its first unified government since 2014, but the parliament then postponed the planned presidential election to an undetermined date in the future. In 2022, the HoR voted to replace GNU interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH, with another government led by Fathi BASHAGHA. GNU allegations of an illegitimate HoR vote allowed DUBAYBAH to remain in office and rebuff BASHAGHA’s attempts to seat his government in Tripoli. In 2023, the HoR voted to replace BASHAGHA with Osma HAMAD. Special Representative of the UN Security-General for Libya, Abdoulaye BATHILY, is leading international efforts to persuade key Libyan political actors to resolve the core issues impeding elections.
Geography
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
Geographic coordinates
25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 18
Area – comparative
about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 4,339 km
border countries (6): Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km
Coastline
1,770 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 62 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
Elevation
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
mean elevation: 423 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use
agricultural land: 8.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 0.1% (2022 est.)
other: 91.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
4,700 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Population distribution
over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Geography – note
note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
note 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis — the name means “oasis of mosquitoes” — containing several small lakes that host many species of insects and birds
People and Society
Population
total: 7,361,263 (2024 est.)
male: 3,747,364
female: 3,613,899
note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
comparison rankings: total 105; female 105; male 105
Nationality
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups
Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)
Languages
Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
major-language sample(s):
كتاب Øقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Arabic audio sample:
Religions
Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims
Age structure
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 1,211,087/female 1,165,648)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 2,385,152/female 2,263,780)
65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 151,125/female 184,471)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 51.1 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.9 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 26.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 26.3 years
female: 26.2 years
comparison ranking: total 165
Population growth rate
1.44% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 68
Birth rate
20.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 65
Death rate
3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 221
Net migration rate
-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 172
Population distribution
over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
72 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 84
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 128
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.5 years
female: 80 years
comparison ranking: total population 87
Total fertility rate
3 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 48
Gross reproduction rate
1.46 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
27.7% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
32.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 16
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 184
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.7% (2014)
comparison ranking: 44
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59.2% (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: 91%
male: 96.7%
female: 85.6% (2015)
Environment
Environment – current issues
desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution; threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea
Climate
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Land use
agricultural land: 8.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 1% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 0.1% (2022 est.)
other: 91.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 29.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 50.56 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 45.76 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,147,596 tons (2011 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers
Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: State of Libya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Dawlat Libiya
local short form: Libiya
etymology: the name probably derives from the Libu, a North African tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.; the ancient Greeks and Romans used the name for the entire North African coast west of Egypt
Government type
in transition
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)
etymology: the name derives from the Greek words tri and polis, meaning “three cities;” the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia
Administrative divisions
22 governorates (muhafazah, singular – muhafazat); 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 (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Legal system
Libya’s post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities
Constitution
history: previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim)
note: a draft constitution was approved in 2017, but it is not yet ratified
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021)
head of government: GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)
elections/appointments:
Libya’s first direct presidential election, scheduled for 24 December 2021, was not held; no new date has been set for elections
Legislative branch
legislative structure: unicameral
chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)
number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
electoral system: other systems
scope of elections: full renewal
most recent election date: 6/25/2014
percentage of women in chamber: 16.5%
expected date of next election: December 2025
note: 32 seats are reserved for women
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Libya’s judicial system consists of a supreme court, central high courts (in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha), and a series of lower courts
Political parties
NA
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)
chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)
embassy: US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014
mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone: [216] 71-107-000
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://ly.usembassy.gov/
note: the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations currently are located at US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia
International organization participation
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
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 from the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-1969) in 2011 to replace the all-green banner of the QADHAFI regime; the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black for Cyrenaica, and green for Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam
National symbol(s)
star and crescent, hawk
National colors
red, black, green
National anthem
name: “Libya, Libya, Libya”
lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
note: also known as “Ya Beladi” or “Oh, My Country!”; adopted 1951; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; during the QADHAFI years between 1969 and 2011, the anthem was “Allahu Akbar,” (God is Great) a marching song of the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene; Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha; Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus; Old Town of Ghadamès
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy; 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade; reduced government spending; central bank had to devalue currency; public wages are over 60% of expenditures
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$91.161 billion (2023 est.)
$82.756 billion (2022 est.)
$90.199 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 100
Real GDP growth rate
10.16% (2023 est.)
-8.25% (2022 est.)
153.49% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 6
Real GDP per capita
$12,500 (2023 est.)
$11,500 (2022 est.)
$12,600 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 137
GDP (official exchange rate)
$45.096 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2024 est.)
2.4% (2023 est.)
4.5% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 62
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 77.3% (2023 est.)
services: 25.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 214; industry 1; agriculture 166
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 32.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 35.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 85.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -70.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate
17.77% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 2
Labor force
2.585 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 121
Unemployment rate
18.6% (2024 est.)
18.8% (2023 est.)
19.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 190
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 49.5% (2024 est.)
male: 41.5% (2024 est.)
female: 68.8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 4
Remittances
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $28.005 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $37.475 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
4.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 200
Taxes and other revenues
51.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 4
Current account balance
$5.675 billion (2021 est.)
-$4.78 billion (2020 est.)
$4.817 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 34
Exports
$32.38 billion (2021 est.)
$9.537 billion (2020 est.)
$29.326 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 81
Exports – partners
Italy 23%, Germany 15%, Spain 9%, France 7%, China 6% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$25.406 billion (2021 est.)
$14.334 billion (2020 est.)
$25.368 billion (2019 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 86
Imports – partners
China 17%, Turkey 15%, Italy 8%, UAE 8%, Egypt 8% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$80.592 billion (2024 est.)
$92.427 billion (2023 est.)
$86.683 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 33
Exchange rates
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
4.832 (2024 est.)
4.813 (2023 est.)
4.813 (2022 est.)
4.514 (2021 est.)
1.389 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 70% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 100%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 10.519 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 800 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 171; imports 84; consumption 69; installed generating capacity 66
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 59
Energy consumption per capita
100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 49
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.218 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 62
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 13.9 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 76
Broadcast media
state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019)
Internet country code
.ly
Internet users
percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 326,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 115
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5A
Airports
75 (2025)
comparison ranking: 68
Merchant marine
total: 96 (2023)
by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81
comparison ranking: total 91
Ports
total ports: 14 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 3
very small: 9
ports with oil terminals: 10
key ports: Al Burayqah, Az Zawiya, Banghazi, Mersa Tobruq, Mina Tarabulus (Tripoli)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Libyan Armed Forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) have various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces, which include a mix of formations and equipment from the QADHAFI regime, semi-regular and nominally integrated units, tribal armed groups/militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign private military contractors; the GNU has a Ministry of Defense, but has limited control over its security forces
the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA; aka Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF), under de facto LNA commander Khalifa HAFTER, also includes various ground, air, and naval forces comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, and foreign private military contractors; the LNA operates independently from the GNU and exerts influence throughout eastern, central, and southern Libya; some of the armed groups nominally under the LNA operate under their own command structures and engage in their own operations (2024)
note: the national police force under the GNU’s Ministry of Interior oversees internal security (with support from military forces under the Ministry of Defense), but much of Libya’s security-related police work generally falls to informal armed groups, which receive government salaries but lack formal training, supervision, or consistent accountability
Military expenditures
not available
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimates not available
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
both the forces aligned with the GNU and the LNA are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; in recent years, Turkey has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2024)
note: Libya is under a UN-imposed arms embargo
Military service age and obligation
not available
Military – note
the western-based GNU and the eastern-based LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control running roughly from the coastal city of Sirte south to the vicinity of Al Jufra and Brak; Turkey has provided support to the GNU forces, including military trainers, ammunition, weapons, and aerial drones; Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have been the main supporters of the LNA; both the LNA and the GNU forces have incorporated foreign fighters into their ranks (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia groups; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Libya (ISIS-L); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 11,623 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,302 (Eritrea) (2023); 6,293 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)
IDPs: 125,802 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2023)
