Location: Africa
Status: UN Country
Capital City: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
Main Cities: Benghazi, Misurata, Surt
Population: 5,225,000
Area: 1,759,540 km2
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar = 1,000 dirhams
Languages: Arabic
Religions: Muslim
More about
Libya: a republic in N Africa, on the Mediterranean: became an Italian colony in 1912; divided after World War II into Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (under British administration) and Fezzan (under French); gained independence in 1951; monarchy overthrown by a military junta in 1969. It consists almost wholly of desert and is a major exporter of oil. Official language: Arabic. Official religion: (Sunni) Muslim. Currency: Libyan dinar. Capital: Tripoli. Pop.: 5 659 000 (2004 est.). Area: 1 760 000 sq. km (680 000 sq. miles) Official name: Al-Jumhuria al-Arabia al-Libya ash-Shabiya al-Ishtirakiya al-Uzma