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{{featured article}}
{{otheruses1|the country of Libya}}
Then kyle defeated alex and became king. then made alex his servant.
{{redirect|Lehabim|the Biblical figure|List of minor Biblical figures}}
{{Infobox Country
| native_name = الجمهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الاشتراكية العظمى<br>al-''jamāhīriyyatu l-`arabiyyatu l-lībiyyatu š-ša`biyyatu l-ištirākiyyatu l-`uZmà''
| conventional_long_name = Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
| common_name = Libya
| image_flag = Flag of Libya.svg
| image_coat = Coat_of_arms_of_Libya.svg
| image_map = LocationLibya.svg
| national_motto =
| national_anthem = ]<br>''God is the Greatest''
| official_languages = ]
| demonym = Libyan
| capital = ]
| latd = 32
| latm = 54
| latNS = N
| longd = 13
| longm = 11
| longEW = E
| largest_city = capital
| government_type = ] ] ]
| leader_title1 = ]
| leader_name1 = ]
| leader_title2 = ]
| leader_name2 = ]
| leader_title3 = ]
| leader_name3 = ]
| area_rank = 17{{th}}
| area_magnitude = 1 E12
| area_km2 = 1,759,540
| area_sq_mi = 679,359<!--Do not remove per ]-->
| percent_water = Negligible
| population_census = 5,670,688<sup>1</sup>
| population_estimate = 6,036,914
| population_estimate_rank = 105{{th}}
| population_census_year = 2006
| population_density_km2 = 3.2
| population_density_sq_mi = 8.4<!--Do not remove per ]-->
| population_density_rank = 218{{th}}
| GDP_PPP_year = 2007
| GDP_PPP = $78.79 billion
| GDP_PPP_rank = 67{{th}}
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $13,100
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 58{{th}}
| HDI_year = 2005
| HDI = {{increase}}0.818
| HDI_rank = 56{{th}}
| HDI_category = <font color="#090">High</font>
| sovereignty_type = ]
| established_event1 = Relinquished by ]
| established_date1 = ] ]
| established_event2 = From ]/] under ]
| established_date2 = <br>] ]
| currency = ]
| currency_code = LYD
| country_code = ly
| time_zone = ]
| utc_offset = +2
| time_zone_DST = Not observed
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| cctld = ]
| calling_code = 218
| footnote1 = Includes 350,000 foreigners; , accessed ] ];
}}
'''Libya''' ({{lang-ar|'''<big> ليبيا </big>'''}} {{lang|ar-Latn|Lībiyā}}; ]: Lībya; ]: ]), officially the '''Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab ]''' (&nbsp;{{rtl-lang|ar|<big>الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظمى </big>}} {{lang|ar-Latn|Al-Jamāhīriyyah al-`Arabiyyah al-Lībiyyah aš-Ša`biyyah al-Ištirākiyyah al-`Udhmā}}), is a country in ]. Bordering the ] to the north, Libya lies between ] to the east, ] to the southeast, ] and ] to the south, and ] and ] to the west. With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometres (700,000&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi), 90% of which is desert, Libya is the fourth largest country in ] by area, and the 17th ].<ref>U.N. Demographic Yearbook, (2003), , ''United Nations Statistics Division'', Accessed July 15 2006</ref> The ], ], is home to 1.7 million of Libya's 5.7 million people. The three traditional parts of the country are ], the ] and ].

The name "Libya" is an indigenous (i.e. ]) one, which is attested in ] texts as ], '']'' (= ''Libu''), which refers to one of the tribes of ]s living west of the ]. In ] the tribesmen were called ''Libyes'' and their country became "Libya", although in ] the term had a broader meaning, encompassing all of North Africa west of Egypt. Later on, at the time of ], the same big tribe was known as ''Lawata''.<ref>See ''e. g.'', the chapter "Les Loouatah" in ], ''Le dialecte de Syouah'', Paris, Leroux, 1890 (p. 1-14). P. 3: "On voit que les Lebou figurent au premier rang des barbares qui menaçaient l'Egypte du côté de l'ouest ; c'est aussi dans les régions qu'ils occupaient que les auteurs arabes placent les ''Loouata'' dont le nom correspond aux ''Lebou'' des Egyptiens, aux ''Loubim'' de la Bible, aux ''Levathae'' (Λευαθαι) de Procope et aux ''Ilaguaten'' de Corripus" ("We see that the ''Lebu'' are recorded in the first line among the ]s who threatened Egypt on the western side; in the very regions where they dwelled, the Arab authors place the ''Lawata'', whose name corresponds to the Egyptian ''Lebu'', to the ''Lubim'' of the Bible, to the ''Levathae'' of ] and to the ''Ilaguaten'' of ]")</ref>

Libya has the ninth highest ] (]) per capita of Africa, behind ] and ]. This is largely due to its large ] reserves and low population.<ref>Annual Statistical Bulletin, (2004), , ''O.P.E.C.'', Accessed July 20 2006</ref><ref>World Economic Outlook Database, (April, 2006), , ''International Monetary Fund'', Accessed July 15 2006</ref>

The ] is the only national flag in the world with just one color and with no design, insignia, or other details.

==History==
{{main|History of Libya}}
Archaeological evidence indicates that from as early as the 8th millennium BC, Libya's coastal plain was inhabited by a ] people who were skilled in the domestication of cattle and the cultivation of crops.<ref name="locberber">Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 11 2006</ref>
The area known in modern times as Libya was later occupied by a series of peoples, with the ]ns, ], ], ], ] and ] ruling all or part of the area. Although the Greeks and Romans left ruins at ], ] and ], little other evidence remains of these ancient cultures.
] in the Roman city of ], west of Tripoli]]
] ] (AD 146-211) in ]]]

===Phoenicians===

The ] were the first to establish trading posts in Libya, when the merchants of ] (in present-day ]) developed commercial relations with the ] and made treaties with them to ensure their cooperation in the exploitation of raw materials.<ref>Herodotus, (c.430 BC), ''Fordham University, New York'', Accessed July 18 2006</ref><ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 11 2006</ref> By the 5th century BC, ], the greatest of the Phoenician colonies, had extended its ] across much of N.Africa, where a distinctive civilization, known as ], came into being. Punic settlements on the Libyan coast included ] (Tripoli), Libdah (]) and ]. All these were in an area that was later called ], or "Three Cities". Libya's current-day capital Tripoli takes its name from this.

===Greeks===

The ] conquered Eastern Libya when, according to tradition, emigrants from the crowded island of ] were commanded by the oracle at ] to seek a new home in North Africa. In 630 BC, they founded the city of ].<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 11 2006</ref> Within 200 years, four more important Greek cities were established in the area: ] (]); Euhesperides (later Berenice, present-day ]); ] (later Arsinoe, present-day Tukrah); and ] (Susah), the port of Cyrene. Together with Cyrene, they were known as the Pentapolis (Five Cities).

===Romans===

The ] unified all three regions of Libya, and for more than 600 years ] and ] became prosperous Roman provinces.<ref>Heuser, Stephen, (] ]), , ''The Boston Globe'' Accessed July 18 2006</ref> Roman ruins, such as those of Leptis Magna, attest to the vitality of the region, where populous cities and even small towns enjoyed the amenities of urban life. Merchants and artisans from many parts of the Roman world established themselves in North Africa, but the character of the cities of Tripolitania remained decidedly Punic and, in Cyrenaica, Greek.

===Arabs===

]s under General ''']''' conquered Libya in the 7th century AD during the reign of Caliph ]. In the following centuries, many of the indigenous peoples adopted ], and also the ] and culture.

===Ottoman Turks===

The ] Turks conquered the country in the mid-16th century, and the three States or "]" of ], ] and ] (which make up Libya) remained part of their empire with the exception of the virtual autonomy of the ]. The Karamanlis ruled from 1711 until 1835 mainly in Tripolitania, but had influence in Cyrenaica and Fezzan as well by the mid 18th century. This constituted a first glimpse in recent history of the united and independent Libya that was to re-emerge two centuries later. Ironically, reunification came about through the unlikely route of an invasion (], 1911-1912) and occupation starting from 1911 when ] simultaneously turned the three regions into colonies.<ref>Country Profiles, (] ]), ''BBC News'', Accessed July 18 2006</ref>

===Italian Colony===
From 1912 to 1927, the territory of Libya was known as Italian North Africa. From 1927 to 1934, the territory was split into two colonies, ] and ] run by Italian governors.

In 1934, Italy adopted the name "Libya" (used by the Greeks for all of ], except Egypt) as the official name of the colony (made up of the three Provinces of ], ] and ]). ], Emir of Cyrenaica, led Libyan resistance to Italian occupation between the two World Wars. From 1943 to 1951, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were under British administration, while the French controlled Fezzan. In 1944, Idris returned from exile in ] but declined to resume permanent residence in Cyrenaica until the removal of some aspects of foreign control in 1947. Under the terms of the 1947 peace treaty with the Allies, ] relinquished all claims to Libya.<ref>Hagos, Tecola W., (] ]), , ''Ethiopia Tecola Hagos'', Accessed July 18 2006</ref>
] (1858–1931) was the leader of the Libyan uprising against Italian occupation.]]

===United Kingdom of Libya===

On ] ], the ] passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before ] ]. Idris represented Libya in the subsequent UN negotiations. On ], ], Libya declared its independence as the ], a constitutional and hereditary ] under King Idris.
{{History of Libya}}

The discovery of significant ] in 1959 and the subsequent income from ] sales enabled one of the world's poorest nations to establish an extremely wealthy state. Although oil drastically improved the Libyan government's finances, popular resentment began to build over the increased concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of King Idris and the national elite. This discontent continued to mount with the rise of ] and ] throughout North Africa and the ].

===Coup of Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi===

On ] ], a small group of military officers led by then 27-year-old army officer ] staged a '']'' against King Idris. At the time, Idris was in Turkey for medical treatment. His nephew, Crown Prince ], became King. It was clear that the revolutionary officers who had announced the deposition of King Idris did not want to appoint him over the instruments of state as King. Sayyid quickly found that he had substantially less power as the new King than he had earlier had as a mere Prince. Before the end of ], Sayyid Hasan ar-Rida had been formally deposed by the revolutionary army officers and put under house arrest. Meanwhile, revolutionary officers abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed the new Libyan Arab Republic. Gaddafi was, and is to this day, referred to as the "Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution" in government statements and the official press.<ref>US Department of State's Background Notes, (November 2005) , ''U.S. Dept. of State'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref>

==Politics==
{{main|Politics of Libya}}
]
There are two branches of government in Libya. The "revolutionary sector" comprises Revolutionary Leader Gaddafi, the Revolutionary Committees and the remaining members of the 12-person Revolutionary Command Council, which was established in 1969.<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> The historical revolutionary leadership is not elected and cannot be voted out of office; they are in power by virtue of their involvement in the revolution.

Constituting the ] branch of government, this sector<!--Does it mean the Jamahiriya sector? Unclear.--> comprises Local People's Congresses in each of the 1,500 urban wards, 32 Sha'biyat People's Congresses for the regions, and the National ]. These legislative bodies are represented by corresponding ] (Local People's Committees, Sha'biyat People's Committees and the National General People's Committee/Cabinet).

Every four years, the membership of the Local People's Congresses elects their own leaders and the ] for the People's Committees, sometimes after many debates and a critical vote. The leadership of the Local People's Congress represents the local congress at the People's Congress of the next level. The members of the National General People's Congress elect the members of the National General People's Committee (the ]) at their annual meeting.

The government controls both state-run and semi-autonomous media. In cases involving a violation of "certain taboos", the private press, like The Tripoli Post, has been censored,<ref name="mediacont">Special Report 2006, (] ]), , ''Committee to Protect Journalists'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> although articles that are critical of policies have been requested and intentionally published by the revolutionary leadership itself as a means of initiating reforms.

] were banned by the 1972 Prohibition of Party Politics Act Number 71.<ref>Case Study: Libya, (2001), , ''Educational Module on Chemical & Biological Weapons Nonproliferation'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> According to the Association Act of 1971, the establishment of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is allowed. However, because they are required to conform to the goals of the revolution, their numbers are small in comparison with those in neighbouring countries. ]s do not exist,<ref>Hodder, Kathryn, (2000), , ''Social Watch Africa'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> but numerous professional associations are integrated into the state structure as a third pillar, along with the People's Congresses and Committees. These associations do not have the right to strike. Professional associations send delegates to the General People's Congress, where they have a representative mandate.

===Foreign relations===
{{main|Foreign relations of Libya}}
]. Libya is keen to shake off its pariah status and rejoin the international community.]]
Libya's foreign policies have undergone much fluctuation and change since the state was proclaimed on December 24, 1951. As a Kingdom, Libya maintained a definitively pro-Western stance, yet was recognized as belonging to the conservative traditionalist bloc in the ] (Arab League), of which it became a member in 1953.<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> The government was in close alliance with ] and the ]; both countries maintained military base rights in Libya. Libya also forged close ties with ], ], ], and established full diplomatic relations with the ] in 1955.

Although the government supported Arab causes, including the Moroccan and Algerian independence movements, it took little active part in the ] or the tumultuous inter-Arab politics of the 1950s and early 1960s. The Kingdom was noted for its close association with the West, while it steered an essentially conservative course at home.<ref>Abadi, Jacob (2000), , ''The Journal of Conflict Studies: Volume XX Number 1 Fall 2000, University of New Brunswick'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref>

After the 1969 ], Gaddafi closed American and British bases and partially ] foreign oil and commercial interests in Libya. He also played a key role in promoting oil ]es as a political weapon for challenging the West, hoping that an oil price rise and embargo in 1973 would persuade the West, especially the United States, to end support for Israel. Gaddafi rejected both Eastern (Soviet) ] and Western (United States) ] and claimed he was charting a middle course for his government.<ref>The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, (2001–2005), , ''Bartleby Books'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref>

In the 1980s, Libya increasingly distanced itself from the West, and was accused of committing mass acts of state sponsored terrorism. When evidence of Libyan complicity was discovered in the ] that killed two American servicemen, the United States responded by launching an ] against targets near Tripoli and ] in April 1986.<ref>Boyne, Walter J., (March, 1999), , ''Air Force Association Journal, Vol. 82, No. 3'', Accessed ] ]</ref>

In 1991, two Libyan ]s were indicted by federal prosecutors in the U.S. and Scotland for their involvement in the December 1988 bombing of ]. Six other Libyans were put on trial in absentia for the 1989 bombing of ]. The ] demanded that Libya surrender the suspects, cooperate with the Pan Am 103 and UTA 772 investigations, pay compensation to the victims' families, and cease all support for terrorism. Libya's refusal to comply led to the approval of UNSC Resolution 748 on ], ], imposing sanctions on the state designed to bring about Libyan compliance. Continued Libyan defiance led to further sanctions by the UN against Libya in November 1993.<ref>(2003), , Global Policy Forum, Accessed July 19 2006</ref>

In 2003, more than a decade after the sanctions were put in place, Libya began to make dramatic policy changes in regard to the ] with the open intention of pursuing a Western-Libyan ]. The Libyan government announced its decision to abandon its ] programs and pay almost 3 billion US dollars in compensation to the families of Pan Am flight 103 as well as UTA Flight 772.<ref>Marcus, Jonathan, (], ]), , ''BBC News'', Accessed July 15 2006</ref> The decision was welcomed by many western nations and was seen as an important step for Libya toward rejoining the international community.<ref>U.K. Politics, (], ]), , ''BBC news'', Accessed July 15 2006</ref> Since 2003 the country has made efforts to normalize its ties with the ] and the United States and has even coined the catchphrase, 'The Libya Model', an example intended to show the world what can be achieved through negotiation rather than force when there is goodwill on both sides.

An event considered pivotal by many in the Libyan-Western relations is the ] (1999–2007) of Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor. Their release is seen as marking new stage in the Libyan-Western relations.

On ], ] the United States Department announced it would fully restore diplomatic relations with Libya if it dismantled its weapons programs. Also the State Department removed Libya from their state sponsored terrorism list which it had been on for 27 years.

On October 16, 2007 Libya was voted to serve on the United Nations Security Council for two years starting January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7047627.stm |title=Libya secures UN council posting |accessdate=2007-10-17 |format= |work=BBC News }}</ref>

===Human rights===
{{main|Human rights in Libya}}
According to the U.S. Department of State’s annual ] report for 2004, Libya’s ] regime continued to have a poor record in the area of human rights. Some of the numerous and serious abuses on the part of the government include poor prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention, prisoners held incommunicado, and ]s held for many years without charge or trial. The judiciary is controlled by the state, and there is no right to a fair public trial. Libyans do not have the right to change their government. ], ], ], ], and ] are restricted. Independent human rights organizations are prohibited. Ethnic and tribal minorities suffer discrimination, and the state continues to restrict the ] of foreign workers.

In 2005, the ] rated ] in Libya as "7" (1 representing the most free and 7 the least free rating), ] as "7" and gave it the freedom rating of "Not Free,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/pdf/Charts2006.pdf|title=Freedom in the World 2006|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2006-07-27|format=PDF}}<br/>See also ], ]</ref> although the organization itself has been criticized as politically slanted. ''See ]''

== Municipalities ==
{{main|Municipalities of Libya}}

Libya was divided into several governorates ('']'') before being split into 25 municipalities ('']''), see ].<ref>Lahmeyer, Jan, (] ]), , ''Universiteit Utrecht'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> Recently, Libya was divided into thirty two '']''.<ref>Jamahiriya News Agency, (] ]), ''Mathaba News'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> These were then further rearranged into twenty two. The following list and map show the previous arrangement which is slightly different than the current one.<ref> ''شعبيات الجماهيرية العظمى'' - Sha'biyat of Great Jamahiriya, Accessed ], ]
</ref>

{| border="0" width="100%"
| colspan="2" | The 32 municipalities are:|| rowspan="17" width="322" style="vertical-align: middle;" |
]
|-
| width="25%" | <small>1</small> ] || width="35%" | <small>17</small> ] ||
|-
| <small>2</small> ] || <small>18</small> ]
|-
| <small>3</small> ] || <small>19</small> ]
|-
| <small>4</small> ] || <small>20</small> ]
|-
| <small>5</small> ] || <small>21</small> ]
|-
| <small>6</small> ] || <small>22</small> ]
|-
| <small>7</small> ] || <small>23</small> ]
|-
| <small>8</small> ] || <small>24</small> ]
|-
| <small>9</small> ] || <small>25</small> ]
|-
| <small>10</small> ] || <small>26</small> ] (])
|-
| <small>11</small> ] || <small>27</small> ]
|-
| <small>12</small> ] || <small>28</small> ]
|-
| <small>13</small> ] || <small>29</small> ]
|-
| <small>14</small> ] || <small>30</small> ]
|-
| <small>15</small> ] || <small>31</small> ]
|-
| <small>16</small> ] || <small>32</small> ]
|}

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Libya}}
]
] near Benghazi is Libya's wettest region. Annual rainfall averages at between 400 and 600 millimetres (15-24 inches).<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 15 2006</ref>]]
Libya extends over 1,759,540&nbsp;square kilometres (679,182&nbsp;]), making it the ]. Libya is somewhat smaller than ], and roughly the size of the US state of ]. It is bound to the north by the ], the west by ] and Algeria, the southwest by ], the south by ] and ] and to the east by ]. At 1770&nbsp;kilometres (1100&nbsp;miles), Libya's coastline is the longest of any African country bordering the Mediterranean.<ref>(2005), , ''Education Libya'', Accessed ] ]</ref><ref>(] ]), , ''CIA World Factbook'', Accessed July 23 2006</ref> The portion of the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya is often called the ]. The climate is mostly dry and desert-like in nature. However, the northern regions enjoy a milder ].

Natural hazards come in the form of hot, dry, dust-laden ] (known in Libya as the ''gibli''). This is a southern wind blowing from one to four days in spring and autumn. There are also ]s and ]s. ] can also be found scattered throughout Libya, the most important of which are ] and ] as well as others.

=== Libyan Desert ===
] in ]]]
{{MapLibrary|Libya_sat.jpg|Libya}}
]
The ], which covers much of eastern Libya, is one of the most arid places on earth. In places, decades may pass without ], and even in the ] rainfall happens erratically, once every 5–10 years. At Uweinat, the last recorded ] was in September 1998.<ref name="Libdesert">Zboray, András, , ''Fliegel Jezerniczky Expeditions'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> There is a large ], the ], just to the south of the northernmost scarp, with Siwa oasis at its western extremity. The depression continues in a shallower form west, to the oases of Jaghbub and Jalo.

Likewise, the temperature in the Libyan desert can be extreme; in 1922, the town of ], which is located west of ], recorded an air temperature of 57.8 °] (136.0 °]), generally accepted as the highest recorded naturally occurring air temperature reached on Earth.<ref>Hottest Place, , ''Extreme Science'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref>

There are a few scattered uninhabited small oases, usually linked to the major depressions, where water can be found by digging to a few feet in depth. In the west there is a widely dispersed group of oases in unconnected shallow depressions, the Kufra group, consisting of Tazerbo, Rebianae and Kufra.<ref name="Libdesert" /> Aside from the scarps, the general flatness is only interrupted by a series of ]s and massifs near the centre of the Libyan Desert, around the convergence of the Egyptian-Sudanese-Libyan Borders.

Slightly further to the south are the massifs of Arkenu, Uweinat and Kissu. These ] mountains are very ancient, having formed much before the sandstones surrounding them. Arkenu and Western Uweinat are ring complexes very similar to those in the ]. Eastern Uweinat (the highest point in the Libyan Desert) is a raised sandstone plateau adjacent to the granite part further west.<ref name="Libdesert" /> The plain to the north of Uweinat is dotted with eroded volcanic features.

With the discovery of oil in the 1950s also came the discovery of a massive aquifer underneath much of the country. The water in this aquifer pre-dates the last ice ages and
the Sahara desert itself.<ref>, ''NASA'', Accessed March 24, 2007</ref> The country is also home to the ], double impact craters found in the desert.

== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Libya}}
]
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which constitute practically all ] earnings and about one-quarter of ] (]). These oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest GDPs per person in Africa and have allowed the Libyan state to provide an extensive and impressive level of social security, particularly in the fields of housing and education.<ref>United Nations Economic & Social Council, (] ]), , ''Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref>]
Compared to its neighbours, Libya enjoys an extremely low level of both ] ]. Libyan officials in the past three years have carried out economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the global capitalist economy.<ref name="spooks">The World Factbook, (2006), , ''CIA World Factbook'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> This effort picked up steam after ] were lifted in September 2003, and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction.<ref>W.M.D., (2003), , ''Global Security Report'', Accessed ] ]</ref>

Libya has begun some market-oriented reforms. Initial steps have included applying for membership of the ], reducing ], and announcing plans for ].<ref>Reuters, (] ]), , ''Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa'', Accessed July 16 2006</ref> The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of ]s, ], ] and ]. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.<ref name="spooks" /> Water is also a problem, with some 28% of the population not having access to safe drinking water in 2000.<ref>(2001), , ''WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme'', Accessed October 8 2006</ref>

Under the previous Prime Minister, ], and current prime minister ], Libya is undergoing a business boom. Many government-run industries are being privatised. Many international oil companies have returned to the country, including oil giants ] and ].<ref>Volume: 23, No. 27, (2006), , ''Oil & Gas Worldwide News'', Accessed July 14 2006</ref> Tourism is on the rise, bringing increased demand for hotel accommodation and for capacity at airports such as ]. A multi-million dollar renovation of Libyan airports has recently been approved by the government to help meet such demands.<ref>Jawad, Rana, (] ]), ''BBC News'', Accessed July 22 2006</ref> At present 130,000 people visit the country annually; the Libyan government hopes to increase this figure to 10,000,000 tourists.<ref>{{cite news | first=Richard | last=Bangs | coauthors= Ammar Mabrouk Eltaye | title=Libya sees thriving tourism industry ahead | date= | publisher=MSNBC | url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5210117 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-10 | language = }}</ref> ], the oldest son of Muammar al-Gaddafi, is involved in a green development project called the Green Mountain Sustainable Development Area, which seeks to bring tourism to Cyrene and to preserve Greek ruins in the area.<ref></ref>
{{-}}

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Libya}}
]
Libya has a small population within its large territory, with a ] of about 3 people per square kilometre (8.5/mi²) in the two northern regions of ] and ], and less than one person per square kilometre (1.6/mi²) elsewhere. Libya is thus one of the least densely populated nations by area in the world.<ref>Earth Trends, Environmental Information, (2004), , ''World Resources Institute'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> 90% of the people live in less than 10% of the area, mostly along the coast. More than half the population is urban, concentrated to a greater extent, in the two largest cities, ] and ].<ref>Al-Amari, Mailud, (November 2004), , ''American Public Health Association'', Accessed July 17 2006</ref> Native Libyans are a mixture of indigenous Berber peoples and the later arriving Arabs.

There are small ] (a Berber population) and ] tribal groups concentrated in the south, living ]ic or semi-nomadic lifestyles. Among foreign residents, the largest groups are citizens of other African nations, including North Africans (primarily ] and Tunisians), and ] Africans.<ref>Libya Demographics and Geography, (2005), ''The Columbia Gazetteer of the World'', Accessed July 17 2006</ref> According to the CIA Factbook, Libyan Berbers and Arabs constitute 97% of the population; the other 3% are ], ], ], ], ]is, ], ]ns, and ] Africans.<ref>The World Factbook, (2006), , ''CIA World Factbook'', Accessed ] ]</ref> However, this only counts legal residents, as Libya is also home to a large illegal Sub-Saharan African population which according to some estimates numbers as much as a million.<ref></ref>

The main language spoken in Libya is ], which is also the official language. ] (i.e. Berber languages), which do not have official status, are spoken by Libyan Berbers.<ref>Anderson, Lisa, (2006), , ''MSN Encarta'', Accessed July 17 2006</ref> Berber speakers live above all in the ] region (]), the town of ] on the coast, and the city-oases of ], ] and ]. In addition, Tuaregs speak ], the only known Northern ] language. ] and ] are sometimes spoken in the big cities, although Italian speakers are mainly among the older generation.

Family life is important for Libyan families, the majority of which live in ] and other independent housing units, with precise modes of housing depending on their income and wealth. Although the Libyan Arabs traditionally lived nomadic lifestyles in tents, they have now settled in various towns and cities.<ref>Al-Hawaat, Dr. Ali, (1994), ''National Center for Research and Scientific Studies of Libya'', Accessed ] ]</ref> Because of this, their old ways of life are gradually fading out. An unknown small number of Libyans still live in the desert as their families have done for centuries. Most of the population has occupations in ] and ], and a small percentage is in ].

=== Education ===
]
Libya's population includes 1.7 million students, over 270,000 of whom study at the ].<ref name="Libedu">Clark, Nick, (July 2004), , ''World Education News and Reviews, Volume 17, Issue 4'', Accessed July 22 2006</ref> Education in Libya is free for all citizens,<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1987), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 22 2006</ref> and compulsory up until ]. The literacy rate is the highest in North Africa; over 82% of the population can read and write.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.medregion.mepi.state.gov/libya.html |title=About Libya |accessdate=2007-10-10 |date=2003 |work=Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative |publisher=United States Department of State }}</ref> After Libya's independence in 1951, its first university, the University of Libya, was established in Benghazi.<ref name="Libedu2">El-Hawat, Ali, (2000), , ''International Network for Higher Education in Africa", Accessed July 22 2006</ref> In academic year 1975/76 the number of university students was estimated to be 13,418. As of 2004, this number has increased to more than 200,000, with an extra 70,000 enrolled in the higher technical and vocational sector.<ref name="Libedu" /> The rapid increase in the number of students in the higher education sector has been mirrored by an increase in the number of institutions of higher education. Since 1975 the number of universities has grown from two to nine and after their introduction in 1980, the number of higher technical and vocational institutes currently stands at 84 (with 12 public universities).<ref name="Libedu" /> Libya's higher education is financed by the public budget. In 1998 the budget allocated for education represented 38.2% of the national budget.<ref name="Libedu2" />

The main universities in Libya are:
* ] (Tripoli)
* ] (Benghazi)

=== Religion ===
{{main|Religion in Libya}}
By far the predominant religion in Libya is ] with 97% of the population associating with the faith.<ref>Religious adherents by location, ''Adherents.com'', Accessed July 15, 2006</ref> The vast majority of Libyan Muslims adhere to ], which provides both a spiritual guide for individuals and a keystone for government policy, but a minority (between 5 and 10%) adhere to ] (a branch of ]), above all in the Jebel Nefusa and the town of Zuwarah. ], close to the Tunisian and Algerian border. About 97% of Libyans are followers of Islam.]]
Before the 1930s, the ] Movement was the primary Islamic movement in Libya. This was a religious revival adapted to desert life. Its ''zawaayaa'' (lodges) were found in ] and ], but Sanusi influence was strongest in ]. Rescuing the region from unrest and anarchy, the Sanusi movement gave the Cyrenaican tribal people a religious attachment and feelings of unity and purpose.<ref name="sanusi">Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1989), , ''U.S. Library of Congress'', Accessed July 22, 2006</ref> This Islamic movement, which was eventually destroyed by both ] and later the Gaddafi government,<ref name="sanusi" /> was very conservative and somewhat different from the Islam that exists in Libya today. Gaddafi asserts that he is a devout Muslim, and his government is taking a role in supporting Islamic institutions and in worldwide proselytizing on behalf of Islam.<ref>Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, (1989), , ''US Library of Congress'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> A Libyan form of ] is also common in parts of the country.<ref>Libya - Religion, (] ]), ''Arabic News'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref>

Other than the overwhelming majority of Sunni Muslims, there are also small ] communities, composed almost exclusively of foreigners. There is a small ] community, made up mostly of African immigrant workers in Tripoli; it is part of the Egyptian Diocese.<ref>(2004), ''Jewish Virtual Library'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref> There are also an estimated 40,000 ] in Libya who are served by two Bishops, one in Tripoli (serving the ] community) and one in ] (serving the ] community).

Libya was until recent times the home of one of the oldest ]ish communities in the world, dating back to at least 300 BC.<ref>The World Jewish Congress, , ''University of California at Berkeley'', Accessed July 16 2006</ref> A series of ]s beginning in November of 1945 lasted for almost three years, drastically reducing Libya's Jewish population.<ref name="harris">Harris, David A. (2001), <u>"In the Trenches: Selected Speeches and Writings of an American Jewish Activist"<u>, 1979–1999, pp. 149–150</ref> In 1948, about 38,000 Jews remained in the country. Upon Libya's independence in 1951, most of the Jewish community emigrated. After the ] in 1956, all but about 100 Jews were forced to flee.

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Libya}}
]
Libya is culturally similar to its neighboring ]. Libyans consider themselves very much a part of a wider Arab community. The Libyan state tends to strengthen this feeling by considering Arabic as the only official language, and forbidding the teaching and even the use of the Berber language. Libyan Arabs have a heritage in the traditions of the nomadic ] and associate themselves with a particular Bedouin tribe.

As with some other countries in the Arab world, Libya boasts few theatres or art galleries.<ref>News and Trends: Africa, (] ]), ''Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections'', Accessed July 19 2006.</ref><ref>About Libya, , ''Discover Libya Travel'', Accessed July 14 2006.</ref> Conversely, for many years there have been no public theatres, and only a few cinemas showing foreign films. The tradition of ] is still alive and well, with troupes performing music and dance at frequent festivals, both in Libya and abroad. The main output of Libyan television is devoted to showing various styles of traditional Libyan music. ] and dance are popular in ] and the south. Libyan television programmes are mostly in Arabic with a 30-minute news broadcast each evening in English and French. The government maintains strict control over all media outlets. A new analysis by the ] has found Libya’s media the most tightly controlled in the Arab world.<ref name="mediacont" /> To combat this, the government plans to introduce private media, an initiative intended to bring the country's media in from the cold.<ref>(] ]), , ''Middle East Times'', Accessed July 21 2006</ref>

Many Libyans frequent the country's beaches. They also visit Libya's beautifully-preserved archaeological sites—especially ], which is widely considered to be one of the best preserved Roman archaeological sites in the world.<ref>Donkin, Mike, (] ]), , ''BBC News'', Accessed July 19 2006</ref>

The nation's capital, ], boasts many good museums and archives; these include the Government Library, the Ethnographic Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the National Archives, the Epigraphy Museum and the Islamic Museum. The Jamahiriya Museum, built in consultation with ], may be the country's most famous. It houses one of the finest collections of classical art in the Mediterranean.<ref>Bouchenaki, Mounir, (1989), , ''UNESCO, Museum Architecture: beyond the <<temple>> and ... beyond'', Accessed ] ]</ref>

{{see|Music of Libya}}
{{see|Literature of Libya}}

==International rankings==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organization
! Survey
! Ranking
|-
| ]/'']''
|
| 155 out of 157
|-
| '']''
|
| 70 out of 111
|-
| ]
|
| 9 out of 20
|-
| ]
|
| 162 out of 167
|-
| ]
|
| 131 out of 180
|-
| ]
|
| 56 out of 177
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{refbegin}}
* ''Libya'', Anthony Ham, Lonely Planet Publications, 2002, ISBN 0-86442-699-2
* ''Libya Handbook'', Jamez Azema, Footprint Handbooks, 2001, ISBN 1-900949-77-6
* Harris, David A. (2001). ''In the Trenches: Selected Speeches and Writings of an American Jewish Activist, 1979–1999''. KTAV Publishing House, Inc. ISBN 0-88125-693-5
* Wright, Muhannad B. ''Nations of the Modern World: Libya'', Ernest Benn Ltd, 1969
* {{CIAfb}}{{clr}}
*{{StateDept}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{portal|Libya|Flag of Libya.svg}}
{{sisterlinks|Libya}}
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Revision as of 21:58, 23 April 2008

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