Country
Countries A-Z
Libya
Republic of Libya
al-Jumhuriyyah al-Libiyah
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; interim draft constitution promulgated on August 3, 2011.
Area: 679,358 sq. mi. (1,759,540 sq. km).
Population: 6,512,765 (2012E—UN); 6,002,347 (2013E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2003C): Tripoli (Tarabulus, 1,197,000), Benghazi (Banghazi, 680,000), Misurata (Misratah, 351,000), Sirte (Surt, 162,000). (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 November 1, 2013: 1.23 dinar = $1US).
Prime Minister: Ali ZIDAN (independent), elected on October 14, 2012, to succeed Mustafa Abu SHAGUR (National Front), ...