Language
Arabic is the official language. Regional variations of Berber are also spoken, as well as Italian and English.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	6.4 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	6.1 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	6.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	5.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	5.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	5.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	5.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	5.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	5.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
9.8 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Arabs account for 90 percent of the population. There is a Berber minority as well as an immigrant population that includes Egyptian, Greek, Italian and Sudanese communities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
The official religion is Islam, and Libyan Muslims are mainly Sunni. There is a small Christian minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	85.4 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	85.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	84.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	84.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	84.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	83.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	83.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	83.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1964
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available

Percentage of population under 15

2005	30.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	30.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	30.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	31.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	32.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	33.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +3

Climate description
Consisting of mostly desert, Libya has hot, extremely dry conditions year-round. Along the coast there is a temperate, Mediterranean climate that provides relief from the heat in the winter when it rains.

Currency
Dinar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 218

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	73.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	73.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	72.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	71.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	76.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	76.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	76.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	17 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	17 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	18 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	18 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	13 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	16 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	16 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	17 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	18 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	18 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	19 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	20 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	16 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	19 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	97 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	97 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	56	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	64	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	58	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	58	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	61	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	64	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	5 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	5 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	No data available percent
1995-2003	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2002	72 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	72 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	97 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	97 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	81.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	80.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	80.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	91.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	91.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	91.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	90.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	70.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	69.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	138 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	132 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	129 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	121 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	113 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	730 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	730 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	650 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	338 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	86 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	47 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	47 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	44 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	40 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	36 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	28 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	126 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	131 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	105 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	107 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	108 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	118 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	9010 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	7390 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	5870 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4420 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	No data available current US$
2001	No data available current US$
2000	current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	58.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	49.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	41.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	30.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	23.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	19.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	30.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	34.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	6.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	-2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	5.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	13.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	29.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	23.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	29.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	30.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	23.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

Physicians

2000-2004	No data available per 100,000 people
1990-2004	129 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	120 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	120 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
No data available percent

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	No data available per 100,000 people
2006	No data available per 100,000 people
2005	No data available per 100,000 people
2004	No data available per 100,000 people
2003	No data available per 100,000 people
2002	No data available per 100,000 people
2001	No data available per 100,000 people
2000	No data available per 100,000 people

Number of refugees originating here

2008	2084	UNHCR
2007	1954	UNHCR
2006	1573	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	1535	UNHCR
2004	1720	UNHCR
2003	1570	UNHCR
2002	1456	UNHCR
2001	888	UNHCR
2000	619	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	6713	UNHCR
2007	4098	UNHCR
2006	2760	UNHCR
2005	12166	UNHCR
2004	12166	UNHCR
2003	11897	UNHCR
2002	11666	UNHCR
2001	11664	UNHCR
2000	11543	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	No data available	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	No data available	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
1999-2001	2.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003