al-Jamahiriyah al-Arabiyah al-Libiyah al-Shabiyah

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: 5,678,484 (2003C, provisional); 6,283,000 (2008E). Both figures include nonnationals.

Major Urban Centers (2003C): TARABULUS (TRIPOLI, 1,197,000), Banghazi (Benghazi, 680,000), Misratah (Misurata, 351,000), Surt (Sirte, 162,000). (Many secretariats have reportedly been relocated recently to Sirte—about 400 miles east of Tarabulus—and other cities.)

Official Language: Arabic.

Monetary Unit: Dinar (official rate December 1, 2009: 1.19 dinar = $1US).

Revolutionary Leader (De Facto Head of State): Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (Col. Moammar GADDAFY); assumed power as Chair of Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) following ...