About Lybia

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia 

Area

1,759,540 sq km

Population

5,900,754 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.6%, 15-64 years: 62.2%, 65 years and over: 4.2%

Median age

23.61 years

Population growth rate

2.3 %

Ethnic groups

Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians

Religions

Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages

Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities

Literacy

Total population: 82.6%; male: 92.4%; female: 72% (2003 est.)

Government type

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils;

Capital

Tripoli

Legislative Branch

unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Executive Branch

Chief of state: - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
Head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) Cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress
Elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress

Gross Domestic Product

$65.79 billion (2005 est.), per capita: $11,400 (2005 est.)

GDP Growth Rate

8.5% (2005 est.)