Libya

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups and languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance and trade
- Services
- Labour
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Ottoman rule
- Italian colonization
- Independence
  - The discovery of oil
  - The Qaddafi regime
  - Revolt in 2011
    - Strong government response to protests
    - Emergence of the Transitional National Council in Benghazi
    - Stalemate, resurgence of the Qaddafi regime, and international intervention
    - Intensification of international efforts: NATO air strikes, diplomacy, and ICC warrants
    - Qaddafi toppled and killed
  - Postrevolutionary chaos
    - Establishment of the General National Congress
    - Competing governments in Tripoli and Tobruk
    - Attempt at unity: Government of National Accord
    - Fight for the National Oil Corporation and Central Bank
    - Tobruk government extends its reach south and west
    - Turkish intervention, retreat of Tobruk government, and renewed attempt at unity

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

Flag of Libya with horizontal stripes of red, black, and green, featuring a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe.

Political map of Libya showing national boundaries, major cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misratah, and neighboring countries including Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt. The map also includes a small locator inset highlighting Libya's position in northern Africa along the Mediterranean Sea.

Leptis Magna, Libya: Roman amphitheatre

Map of northern Africa and southern Europe highlighting Libya in tan, with neighboring countries labeled, including Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Niger, and Sudan. The Mediterranean Sea is shown to the north, and the capital city Tripoli is marked within Libya.

Map of Libya highlighting its physical features, including the Mediterranean coastline, the Nafusah Plateau and Al-Jifarah Plain in the northwest, the Al-Akhdar Mountains in the northeast, the Libyan Desert, and major hills and plateaus such as the Al-Haruj al-Aswad Hills and the Sahara region. Neighboring countries-Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt-are shown, and an inset locator map marks Libya's position in northern Africa.

Map of Libya showing the routes and phases of the Great Man-Made River project, which transports water from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System in the Sahara to northern coastal cities. Different colored lines indicate the five phases of the pipeline system, with reservoirs marked along the routes and major cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sirte labeled. The map also shows international borders and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.

Sabhā, Libya: Fort Elena

Libya: Ethnic composition

Libya: Religious affiliation

Libya: Urban-rural

At a Glance

default image

Libya: Media

country, Africa

Images

Flag of Libya with horizontal stripes of red, black, and green, featuring a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe.

Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Libya showing national boundaries, major cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misratah, and neighboring countries including Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt. The map also includes a small locator inset highlighting Libya's position in northern Africa along the Mediterranean Sea.

Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Leptis Magna, Libya: Roman amphitheatre

Leptis Magna, Libya: Roman amphitheatre

Remains of the Roman amphitheatre at Leptis Magna, Libya.

© Pascal RATEAU/Fotolia

Map of northern Africa and southern Europe highlighting Libya in tan, with neighboring countries labeled, including Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Niger, and Sudan. The Mediterranean Sea is shown to the north, and the capital city Tripoli is marked within Libya.

Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Libya highlighting its physical features, including the Mediterranean coastline, the Nafusah Plateau and Al-Jifarah Plain in the northwest, the Al-Akhdar Mountains in the northeast, the Libyan Desert, and major hills and plateaus such as the Al-Haruj al-Aswad Hills and the Sahara region. Neighboring countries-Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt-are shown, and an inset locator map marks Libya's position in northern Africa.

Physical features of Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Libya showing the routes and phases of the Great Man-Made River project, which transports water from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System in the Sahara to northern coastal cities. Different colored lines indicate the five phases of the pipeline system, with reservoirs marked along the routes and major cities such as Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sirte labeled. The map also shows international borders and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.

Libya's Great Man-Made River

Existing and projected pipelines of Libya's Great Man-Made River irrigation project.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Sabhā, Libya: Fort Elena

Sabhā, Libya: Fort Elena

Fort Elena, on a hill near Sabhā, Libya.

J. Allan Cash Photolibrary/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Al-Kufrah oasis

Al-Kufrah oasis

Aerial view of the circular irrigation system at Al-Kufrah oasis, southeastern Libya.

Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Stone ruins of the Roman theater at Sabratha, Libya, showing a semicircular seating area and a multi-story stage backdrop with columns and arches.

Sabratha, Libya: ancient theatre

Remains of the theatre of the ancient city of Sabratha, Libya.

© Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock.com

Leptis Magna, Libya: Roman basilica

Leptis Magna, Libya: Roman basilica

The remains of the Roman basilica at Leptis Magna, Libya.

© Canpinos/Fotolia

Muammar al-Qaddafi

Muammar al-Qaddafi

Muammar al-Qaddafi, 2009.

MC2 Jesse Awalt/U.S. Department of Defense

Map of northern Libya highlighting key locations involved in the 2011 Libya revolt, including major coastal cities such as Tripoli, Misratah, Benghazi, Surt, and Tobruk, as well as nearby towns and the border with Tunisia. The Mediterranean Sea is shown along the northern coast. An inset map indicates Libya's location within northern Africa.

key locations of the 2011 revolt in Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Benghazi, Libya: protests in 2011

Benghazi, Libya: protests in 2011

Protesters at a rally in Benghazi in March 2011 carrying the Libyan flag that was...

Kevin Frayer—AP/Shutterstock.com

Map of Libya in August 2018 showing territorial control of major cities and oil ports by two rival governments. Areas under the Government of National Accord, based in Tripoli, are shaded orange, while areas under the House of Representatives, based in Tobruk, are shaded purple. Key oil ports and cities are marked along the Mediterranean coast and inland.

Control of major cities and oil ports in Libya, August 2018

Libya's major cities and oil ports, split between the Tripoli-based Government of...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of the Sahara Desert region in northern Africa showing physical features such as mountain ranges, plateaus, major sand areas, and elevation with color shading. Country boundaries, major cities, and select spot elevations are labeled. An inset locator map highlights the Sahara's position within Africa and the Mediterranean region.

Physiography of the Sahara.

The Sahara.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

National flag of Libya (1977–2011).

National flag of Libya (1977–2011).

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya

Libya

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Interactives

Libya: Ethnic composition

Libya: Ethnic composition

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya: Religious affiliation

Libya: Religious affiliation

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya: Urban-rural

Libya: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya: Age breakdown

Libya: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya: Major import sources

Libya: Major import sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Libya: Major export destinations

Libya: Major export destinations

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: