Libya
Tripoli · North Africa
Libya is a country in Africa. Its capital city is Tripoli, the official currency is the Libyan Dinar, and the main language is Arabic.
With a population of roughly 6.9 million people spread over 1,759,540 km², Libya is the 104th most populous country in the world and the 16th largest by area. That works out at about 4 people per square kilometre.
Libya shares land borders with Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Egypt — 6 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata. The highest point in the country is Bikku Bitti, at 2,267 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Sudan, while its population is closest to that of Paraguay.
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Region
- North Africa
- Population
- 6,900,000
- Area
- 1,759,540 km²
- Currency
- Libyan Dinar
- Main language
- Arabic
- Highest point
- Bikku Bitti
2,267 m - Land borders
- 6
Libya: things worth knowing
- Libya is over 90% desert and has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa.
- The Great Man-Made River pumps fossil groundwater from beneath the Sahara to the coastal cities.
- Leptis Magna is among the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the world.
Libya in context
Africa has 54 sovereign countries in total. Libya ranks 35th among them by population.
See the full list of Africa countries, or browse all 195 countries.