Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
National name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Government: Military dictatorship
Geography: Libya stretches along the northeast coast of Africa between Tunisia and Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east; to the south are the Sudan, Chad, and Niger. It is one-sixth larger than Alaska. A greater part of the country lies within the Sahara. Along the Mediterranean coast and farther inland is arable plateau land.
Area: 679,358 sq mi (1,759,540 sq km)
Population (2003 est.): 5,499,074 (growth rate: 2.4%); birth rate: 27.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 26.8/1000; density per sq mi: 8
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Tripoli, 2,357,800 (metro. area), 1,269,700 (city proper)
Other large city: Benghazi, 734,900
Monetary unit: Libyan dinar
Languages: Arabic, Italian and English widely understood in major cities
Ethnicity/race: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religion: Islam
Agriculture: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle.
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement.
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum.
LINKS >>
The South Movement LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA (Libya)
Libyan News from Africa News Service
Permanent Mission of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the U. N. N. Y.
Libyan Movement for Change and Reform MCR)
Libya Resources on the Internet