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 2008 est.): 6,173,579 (includes 166,510 non-nationals).
Annual growth rate (2008 est.): 2.216%. Birth rate (2008 est.)--25.62 births/1,000 population. Death rate (2008 est.)--3.46 deaths/1,000 population.
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%; Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%.
Languages: Arabic is the primary language. English, French, and Italian are understood in major cities.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--90%. Literacy (age 15 and over who can read and write)--total population 82.6%; female 72% (2003 est.).
Health (2008 est.): Infant mortality rate--21.94 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--total population 77.21 yrs.; male 74.8 yrs.; female 79.4 yrs.
Work force (2008 est.): 1.916 million, an estimated 500,000 of whom are sub-Saharan African foreign workers.