General
Information
|
Total Land Area: |
1,759,540 km2 |
|
Land boundaries: |
4,383 km |
|
Coastline: |
1,770 km |
|
Capital: |
Tripoli |
|
Other Large
Cities: |
Banghazi,
Misurata(Misratah),
Tobruq |
|
Official
Language: |
Arabic |
|
National
Currency Unit: |
Libyan Dinar (LYD) |
|
National Day: |
September 1 |
Location and
Geography
Libya is situated on
the Southern
Mediterranean coast
of North Africa. It
has borders with
Chad and Niger in
the South, Egypt and
Sudan in the East,
and Algeria and
Tunisia in the West.
Meadows and forests
make up a small area
of the land. The
narrow strip on the
Mediterranean coast
is more fertile. The
Saharan plateau
forms about 90
percent of Libya
making it a truly
desert land. There
are no perennial
rivers in Libya. The
coastal region has a
temperate climate,
with mild winters
and hot dry summers.
Extreme desert
conditions prevail
inland.
Demography
|
Population:
|
5.50 million
(2002) |
|
Crude Birth
Rate:
|
27 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Crude Death
Rate:
|
4 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Infant Mortality
Rate:
|
16 per thousand
(2002) |
|
Life Expectancy:
|
Male: 70 years,
Female: 75 years
(2002) |
|
Urban
Population:
|
88.0 percent
(2002) |
|
Adult Literacy:
|
80.80 percent
(2001) |
Economy
Libya’s economy is
based on the
exploitation of
crude oil. The
country’s proven oil
reserves represent
almost half of
Africa’s. The
majority of
electricity used is
obtained from
oil-fired power
plants. Major
mineral deposits of
the country include
iron ore, potassium,
magnesium, sulphur,
and phosphate. There
is also potential
for extracting
uranium. The
agricultural sector
has been developing,
but the climatic
conditions and
irrigation problems
limit the output.
Main agricultural
products are wheat,
barley, olives,
dates, vegetables,
citrus fruits, and
peanuts. There is a
significant
potential for a
fishing industry
based especially on
tuna, sardines, and
red mullet.
Manufacturing
activities are
mostly limited to
food processing.
|
GDP at Current
Market Prices:
|
20090 million
US$ (2002) |
|
Per Capita GDP:
|
3653 US$ (2002) |
|
Share of Sectors
in GDP:
|
5.0%
Agriculture,
55.0% Industry,
40.0% Services,
(1998) |
|
Total Exports:
|
9877 million US$
(2002) |
|
Total Imports:
|
5419 million US$
(2002) |
|
Major Exports
Items: |
Crude oil,
refined
petroleum
products and
natural gas |
|
Major Imports
Items: |
Machinery and
transportation
equipment,
foodstuffs and
manufactured
goods |
|
Major Trading
Partners: |
Italy, Germany,
Spain and South
Korea |
|
