LIBYA

Libya’s official language is Modern Standard Arabic, although most residents use the Libyan dialect in their daily lives. Libyan Arabic is often grouped with other North African dialects, but it differs significantly from the others because of Libya’s history as an Italian colony. There are similarities with the Tunisian and Egyptian lexicons in the West and East, respectively. Approximately 20% of the population [i] speaks Tedaga, Domari, or an Amazigh language. It was illegal to use and teach Amazigh languages for most of modern history, but since 2011 there have been significant efforts to revive them by sharing them with younger generations [ii].

Libya is known for maintaining its traditional folk culture, which is expressed today through music, dance, and many festivals [iii]. Additionally, Libyan culture prioritizes hospitality, especially as a means of practicing one of the three dimensions of Islam: Ihsan, or achieving excellency [iv]. Many Libyans believe that it is their duty as good Muslims to welcome and help others. In fact, Libya was one of the top 20 countries in the 2013 World Giving Index [v]. One of the most common pastimes in Libya is horse racing and in September 2017 [vi], the General Authority for Horse Racing established the annual Peace Cup of Libya.

Libya is religiously homogenous, with nearly 97% of the population practicing Sunni Islam. Less than 1% [vii] of Libyan Muslims are Ibadis, and most Ibadis are also Imazighen [viii]. In 2015, some small pockets of Sufis were subject to attacks [ix] by the Islamic State. Additionally, there are approximately 200,000 Christians [x] in Libya, including Coptic Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholics. Until the 1940s, Libya had a significant Jewish community [xi]. However, under Benito Mussolini directive, Libyan Jews were forced into concentration camps and subjected to heavy restrictions. Even after Libya gained independence, attacks against the Jewish population continued, causing most to flee to Israel.

From 1969 to 2011, Muammar al-Qaddafi ruled Libya with a tight grip until he was killed during the Arab Spring. Libya’s first parliamentary elections were held in July 2012. A second round of elections occurred in 2014, but the results were widely disputed because of low voter turnout. Consequently, two rival governments formed [xii] and have been fighting since. In 2016, the United Nations helped establish the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is based in Tripoli and currently led by Fayez al-Sarraj. In the eastern city of Tobruk, the House of Representatives and Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army oppose the GNA.

Libya’s economy relies heavily on oil and gas exports. The combination of a small population and high oil revenues gives Libya one of the highest GDP per capita in Africa [xiii]. However, the wealth has traditionally been concentrated among the elite. Unemployment in 2019 [xiv] was 18.56%. Libya is part of the Pan-Arab Free Trade Area, although its primary import partners in 2016 [xv] included Italy, China, Turkey, and South Korea. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 GDP was estimated to be less than 60% of the 2012 GDP, at approximately $48 billion USD. The Libyan Dinar is equal to $0.70 USD.

The modern state of Libya is relatively new, having gained independence from European rule in 1951. The land was ruled by various groups [xvi] throughout history, including the Garamantes, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. In 1911, Italy took control [xvii]of the area from the Ottomans. After World War II, Britain and France each ruled over part of Libya. In 1951, King Idris I declared the independent Kingdom of Libya, but was overthrown by Muammar al-Gaddafi in 1969. Gaddafi ruled until October 2011, when he was killed by anti-government protestors and the National Transition Council helped create the first democratically-elected parliament in Libya.

Libya is located in the middle of North Africa and shares borders with Egypt in the East, Tunisia and Algeria in the West, Sudan in the Southwest, and Chad and Niger in the South. With an area of 1.76 million square kilometers [xviii], Libya is the fourth-largest country in Africa and 17th in the world. The country is divided into three historical regions [xix]: Tripolitania (Northwest), Cyrenaica (Northeast), and Fezzan (South). Libya has the longest Mediterranean coastline in Africa, which is where the capital, Tripoli, sits. While the North enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, the South is primarily composed of arid desert.