Country
Countries A-Z
Libya
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
al-Jamahiriyah al-‘Arabiyah al-Libiyah al-Sha‘biyah
al-Ishtirakiyah al-Uzma
Political Status: Independent state since December 24, 1951; revolutionary republic declared September 1, 1969; name changed from Libyan Arab Republic to Libyan Arab People's Republic in 1976; present name adopted March 2, 1977.
Area: 679,358 sq. mi. (1,759,540 sq. km.).
Population: 4,811,902 (1995C); 5,661,000 (2004E). Both figures include nonnationals (approximately 8.6 percent).
Major Urban Centers (1984C): TRIPOLI (990,697), Benghazi (485,386), Azzawiya (220,075), Misurata (178,295). (Many secretariats have reportedly been relocated recently to Sirte–about 400 miles east of Tripoli–and other cities.)
Official Language: Arabic.
Monetary Unit. Dinar (official rate July 1, 2005: 1.37 dinar = $1US).
Revolutionary Leader (De Facto Head of State): Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (Col. Moammar GADDAFY); assumed power as Chairman of Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) following coup d'état ...