The population of Libya is.accounts for 5,765,563. This figure includes 166,510 non-Libyan nationals (July 2005 est.). The population growth rate is 2.33% (2005 est.)
Religion and Ethnicity
Ninety-seven percent of the population are Sunni Muslims of Berber and Arab descent. The remaining three percent of the population is made up of Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians and Tunisians. Arabic language, Italian and English ones are widely understood in urban areas.
Human Development Indicators
According to the 1998 United Nations Human Development Index, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ranks among nations high in human development with 90 percent of girls and boys currently studying from the age of primary school through university, Libya ranks first among Arab countries and higher than many European countries in its combined school enrollment.
According to a 2004 estimate, 82.6% of the population is literate; this is defined as the percentage of those aged 15 and over who can read and write. The purchasing power parity based on GDP is $6,700.
Life expectancy at birth is 74.29 years for men and 78.82 years for women. The infant mortality rate is 24.6 deaths per thousand live births. The total fertility rate is 3.34 children per woman.
Government
Libya is formally known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The Jamahiriya, a state of the masses, is governed through local councils. There are 25 municipalities, or baladiyat. The national capital is Tripoli.
Libya celebrates its independence from Italy on the 24 of December (1951). Its most important national holiday is Revolution Day on 1 September (1969). The Libyan Constitution was established on 11 December 1969 and amended on 2 March 1977.
General Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi has been chief of state since 1969. The General People's Committee serves as the cabinet. The legislature is the General People's Congress. The judiciary includes a Supreme Court .
Voting is universal and compulsory for 18 years of age and over.
Libya's flag is plain green, the traditional color of Islam.
Geography
With nearly 1,800 km of Mediterranean coastline, Libya lies between Tunisia and Egypt and extends deep into Africa, where it borders Niger, Chad, Sudan and Algeria.
Though mostly desert, the topography of this 1,759,540 sq. km country is varied. There are rolling plains, plateaus and depressions. The country's highest point is Bikku Bitti at 2,267 m. Sabkhat Ghuzzayyil at 47 m below sea level is the most significant depression.
Only one percent of the land area is under cultivation, with 4,700 sq km irrigated. Eight percent of the land is permanent pasturage.
Climate
Due to the lack of natural barriers, the climate is greatly influenced by the desert to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The coastal regions have a Mediterranean climate with moderate temperatures and enough rain during the winter months for grain farming.
In Tripoli average temperatures are 30º C (86º F) in summer and 8º C (46º F) in winter. Annual precipitation averages 380 mm (15 in) and occurs mainly in winter. Semi-arid conditions predominate in the Al Marj and Jaffara plains, and in the southern deserts there are frequent periods of drought. A wind called the "Ghibli" is hot, dry, and filled with sand. It can raise the temperatures in a matter of hours to between 40º C and 50º C and occasionally blows into the usually humid coastal towns.
Environment
To combat desertification and provide natural fresh water to the cities, the government is completing the Great Man-made River Project, which taps water under the Sahara for the cities of the north. this is the he largest water development project in the world.
Libya adheres to the international agreements on Desertification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection and the Nuclear test ban Treaty. It has signed the Biodiversity, Climate Change and Law of the Sea agreements.
The Libyan Economy
GDP:
In 1990 Libya's per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, according to 2004 estimates it rose to $6.700. Oil is responsible for all export earnings and about one quarter of GDP. Non-oil manufacturing and construction account for about 20% of GDP. Chief industries are petrochemicals, food processing, textiles, handicrafts and cement. The GDP purchasing parity is estimated at 37.48 billion; this translates into 6,700 per capita. GDP grows at 4.9% per year.
As for the national budget, revenues are $13.52 billion and expenditures are 12.23, including capital expenditure of $5.6 billion (2004 est.). The fiscal year is the same as the calendar year.
Trade:
Exports include crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas. Main trading partners are Italy, Germany, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
Imported commodities include machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food and consumer products; they come from Italy, Germany, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, and Eastern Europe. Libya enjoys a favorable balance of trade.
Agriculture:
Agriculture accounts for 8.7% of GDP. chief products are wheat, barley olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans and cattle . Libya imports 75% of its food.
Infrastructure:
Main ports are Tripoli, As Sidrah, Az Zuwaitinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, and Zawiyah. Libya's Merchant Marine
It has 17 ships totaling 129,627 GRT/ 105,110 DWT.
There are nearly 7,252 km of pipeline for crude oil , 3,611 km for natural gas, and 450 km of pipeline for petroleum products, including liquefied natural gas.
Libya has a total of 19,189 km of roads, of which nearly 605 are paved.
The country produces 20.89 billion kWh of electricity. Its consumption of electricity is 19.43 billion kWh. (2002 figures)
Communications:
Libya's telecommunications system supports 750,000 telephones. and 100,000 cellular phones.
International service relies on earth stations for Intelsat satellites over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Twenty radio stations serve one million radio owners. Twelve television stations broadcast to a half a million homes.
Fair, and 81 ° F. 
Human Development Indicators
Libya is formally known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The Jamahiriya, a state of the masses, is governed through local councils. There are 25 municipalities, or baladiyat. The national capital is Tripoli.
Due to the lack of natural barriers, the climate is greatly influenced by the desert to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. The coastal regions have a Mediterranean climate with moderate temperatures and enough rain during the winter months for grain farming. 