mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
232 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%)
per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues:
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People ::Liberia
Population:
3,685,076 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 760,989/female 758,554)
15-64 years: 53% (male 904,770/female 920,704)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 47,013/female 49,760) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.782% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Birth rate:
38.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Death rate:
10.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Net migration rate:
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 18 male: 80.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.58 years country comparison to the world: 194 male: 55.05 years
female: 58.14 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
35,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:
Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%,Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)
Religions:
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)
Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 13 years
female: 9 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 157
Government ::Liberia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2005 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH 40.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; note - number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 11 October 2005 (next to be held in October 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2005 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDC 15, LP 9, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15; note - the UP now holds 13 out of 30 senate seats and 16 out of 64 house seats following a merger with several smaller parties in 2009
note: junior senators - those who received the second most votes in each county in the 11 October 2005 election - will only serve a six-year first term because the Liberian constitution mandates staggered Senate elections to ensure continuity of government; all senators will be eligible for nine-year terms thereafter
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL [H. VarneySHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH];Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party orNPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: demobilized former military officers
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Edwin F. SELE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 7-705-4826
Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag
National anthem:
name: "All Hail, Liberia Hail!"
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author would become the third president of Liberia
Economy ::Liberia
Economy - overview:
Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign assistance for revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, several have returned. Liberia has the distinction of having the highest ratio of direct foreign investment to GDP in the world. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, primarily raw timber and rubber and is reviving those sectors. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010 and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently eliminated. This new status will enable Liberia to estabilish a sovereign credit rating and issue bonds. Liberia's Paris Club creditors agreed to cancel Liberia's debt as well. Rebuilding infrastructure and raising incomes will depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.76 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $1.66 billion (2009 est.)
$1.587 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$977 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 4.6% (2009 est.)
8.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 226 $500 (2009 est.)
$500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
1.372 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 134
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
85% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Population below poverty line:
80% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.4% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 45 15.05% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$206.9 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 174 $145.6 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2009)
$NA (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.202 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.157 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
350 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - consumption:
325.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - exports:
23 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - imports:
4,263 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Current account balance:
-$224 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 92
Exports:
$1.197 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 148
Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:
Germany 27.92%, Poland 17.12%, South Africa 15.83%, India 10.48%,Greece 7.09%, US 6.23%, Norway 5.24% (2009)
Imports:
$7.143 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 102
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
South Korea 28.29%, Singapore 19.06%, Japan 17.06%, China 14.58%,Taiwan 4.02% (2009)
Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)
Communications ::Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 224
Telephones - mobile cellular:
842,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 148
Telephone system:
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators
domestic: mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 25 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
3 private TV stations; satellite TV service is available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.lr
Internet hosts:
8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 224
Internet users:
20,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 193
Transportation ::Liberia
Airports:
29 (2010) country comparison to the world: 115
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Railways:
total: 429 km country comparison to the world: 117 standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: most sections of the railway are inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003 (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,600 km country comparison to the world: 135 paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 2,512 country comparison to the world: 2 by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 507, cargo 136, carrier 1, chemical tanker 232, combination ore/oil 6, container 875, liquefied gas 93, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 509, refrigerated cargo 109, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned: 2,356 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 4, Chile 7, China 10, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 4, Finland 2, Germany 1049, Gibraltar 5, Greece 454, Hong Kong 47, India 1, Indonesia 4, Isle of Man 19, Israel 31, Italy 48, Japan 102, Latvia 9, Lebanon 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 35, Nigeria 4, Norway 42, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 108, Saudi Arabia 24, Singapore 27, Slovenia 5, South Korea 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 17, Syria 1, Taiwan 88, Turkey 15, UAE 27, UK 25, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 1, US 39, Vietnam 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Buchanan, Monrovia
Military ::Liberia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 797,084
females age 16-49: 808,017 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 510,337
females age 16-49: 527,737 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,411
female: 35,264 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Transnational Issues ::Liberia
Disputes - international:
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January 2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began inNovember 2004) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Libya (Africa)
Introduction ::Libya
Background:
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In January 2008, Libya assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing. In October 2008, the US Government received $1.5 billion pursuant to the agreement to distribute to US national claimants, and as a result effectively normalized its bilateral relationship with Libya. The two countries then exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973 in January 2009. Libya in May 2010 was elected to its first three-year seat on the UN Human Rights Council, prompting protests from international non-governmental organizations and human rights campaigners.
Geography ::Libya
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt andTunisia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km country comparison to the world: 17 land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.6 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%)
per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People ::Libya
Population:
6,461,454 country comparison to the world: 101 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 1,065,606/female 1,020,102)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 2,036,780/female 1,923,566)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 136,224/female 142,079) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 24.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.117% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Birth rate:
24.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Death rate:
3.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 93
Urbanization:
urban population: 78% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.87 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 99 male: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.47 years country comparison to the world: 57 male: 75.18 years
female: 79.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.01 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians,Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 159
Government ::Libya
Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jamahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uthma
local short form: none
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Capital:
name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
22 states (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal alAkhdar, Al Jabal Al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jafrah, Al Kafrah, AlMaraj, Al Marqab, Al Murzuq, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, AzZawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Nalut, Sibha, Surt,Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the Establishment of the People's Authority
Legal system:
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held in March 2010 (next elections expected in early 2011)
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (760 seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement; Islamic elements
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben Ashour
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-3239
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
National anthem:
name: "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest)
lyrics/music: Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
note: adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
Economy ::Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, 25% of GDP, and 80% of government revenue. The weakness in world hydrocarbon prices in 2009 reduced Libyan government tax income and constrained economic growth. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment, especially in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million bbl/day by 2012. In November 2009, the NOC announced that that target may slip to as late as 2017. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$89.03 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $86.19 billion (2009 est.)
$86.77 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$77.91 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 -0.7% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $13,600 (2009 est.)
$14,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 63.8%
services: 33.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.729 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Population below poverty line:
note: About one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
13.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Public debt:
3.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 3.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 2.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 87 5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.41% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 137 6% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$29.85 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 56 $29.82 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $36.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$55.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $41.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - production:
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.17 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - exports:
104 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
77 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.79 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - exports:
1.542 million bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - imports:
575 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - proved reserves:
47 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - production:
15.9 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - consumption:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - exports:
10.4 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.539 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Current account balance:
$15.53 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $10.06 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$44.89 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $37.16 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 37.65%, Germany 10.11%, France 8.44%, Spain 7.94%, Switzerland 5.93%, US 5.27% (2009)
Imports:
$24.47 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $22.01 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.9%, China 10.54%, Turkey 9.92%, Germany 9.78%, France 5.63%, Tunisia 5.25%, South Korea 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: