Demographics of Libya 

Libya has a small population residing in a large land area. Population density is about 50 persons per km² (80/sq. mi.) in the two northern regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, but falls to less than one person per km² (1.6/sq. mi.) elsewhere. Ninety percent of the people live in less than 10% of the area, primarily along the coast. About 88% of the population is urban, mostly concentrated in the two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. 50% of the population is estimated to be under age 15.

Native Libyans are primarily a mixture of Berbers and Arabs. Small Tuareg and Tebu tribal groups in southern Libya are nomadic or seminomadic. Among foreign residents, the largest groups are citizens of other African nations, including North Africans (primarily Egyptians), and Sub-Saharan Africans.

Demographics of Libya, Data of FAO, year 2006; Number of inhabitants in thousands. to see the last information, please visit this official site: http://www.gait.gov.ly/info/info2.htm

Contents

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.

Population

5,670,688 (including 2,944,632 males and 2,726,056 females)
note: includes 162,669 non-nationals (July 2006)

Age structure


0-14 years: 36% (male 938,476; female 899,139)
15-64 years: 60% (male 1,595,306; female 1,485,069)
65 years and over: 4% (male 97,770; female 99,690) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.30% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

27.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio


at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

30.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth


total population: 75.45 years
male: 73.34 years
female: 77.66 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.71 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality


noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups

Berber and Arab 97%, Egyptians, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians.

Religions

Sunni Muslim 97%, Christian (Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican) 3%, other < 1%

Languages

Arabic is the official language and is understood virtually by everyone, about 10% of the population speak Tamazight which is concentrated in Jabal Nafusah, English is not widely understood, a small number of people who are mostly from the elder generation understand Italian.

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.4%
male: 96.9%
female: 94% (2006 est.)

Source