PEOPLE
Libya
has a small population in a large land area. Population density
is about 50 persons per sq. km. (80/sq. mi.) in the two northern
regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, but falls to less than
one person per sq. km. (1.6/sq. mi.) elsewhere. Ninety percent
of the people live in less than 10% of the area, primarily along
the coast. More than half the population is urban, mostly concentrated
in the two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. Fifty percent
of the population is estimated to be under age 15.
Native
Libyans are primarily a mixture of Arabs and Berbers. Small Tebou
and Touareg tribal groups in southern Libya are nomadic or semi-nomadic.
Among foreign residents, the largest groups are citizens of other
African nations, including North Africans (primarily Egyptians
and Tunisians), West Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans.
Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Libyan(s).
Population (July 2004 est.): 5,631,585 (includes
non-nationals, of which an estimated 500,000 or more are sub-Saharan
Africans living in Libya).
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 2.37%.
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%; Greeks, Maltese,
Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%.
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are
widely understood in major cities.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--90%.
Literacy--82.6%.
Health (2004 est.): Infant mortality rate—25.7/1,000.
Life expectancy--male, 74.1 yrs.; female, 78.58 yrs.
Work force (2001 est.): 1.6 million, an estimated
500,000 of whom are sub-Saharan African foreign workers. Work
force by occupation (1997 est.): Industry--29%. Services and Government--54%.
Agriculture--17%.
