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Geography of Libya

Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:1,770 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate:Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:4,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

Libya Quickstats

  • Population: 6,036,914
  • Area: 1,759,540 sq km
  • Density: 3.2 /km² (218th)
  • GDP (total): $74.97 billion (67th)
  • GDP (per capita): $12,700 (58th)
  • Literacy: 82.6%

Languages of Libya

Useful to know

  • Currency: Dinar (LYD)
  • Dial code: +218

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Libya Internet

  • Usage: 205,000
  • Penetration: 3.3 %
  • Top Domain: .ly

WT eBusiness info:

  • Success Ranking: 100
  • Market testing: Untested
  • Overall risk: High
  • Overall reward: Low

e-maturity:

  • Tourism: 10%
  • eCommerce: 10%
  • Gaming: 10%
  • eLearning: 10%

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