MILNET: Country Studies
Libya
Military Structure | Arms Acquisition | Issues | Libyian Economy
Formal Name: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
Short Form: Libya.
Term for Nationals: Libyans.
Capital: Tripoli.
Note: The United States has designated this country for sanctions under
Federal regulation (Export Administration Act), due to the provisions
of
Executive Order 12947
which prohibits transactions and places sanctions
on countries who either sponser terrorism or willfully interfere with the
MidEast Peace Process.
Size: About 1,760,000 square kilometers (excluding Aouzou Strip claimed by Chad) consisting mainly of desert. Land boundaries 4,345 kilometers long and coastline 1,770 kilometers long. Twelve-nautical- mile maritime claim, including disputed Gulf of Sidra.
Topography: Main contrast between narrow enclaves of fertile lowlands along Mediterranean coast and vast expanse of arid, rocky plains and sand seas to south. Coastal lowlands separated from one another by predesert zone and backed by plateaus with steep, north-facing scarps; country's only true mountains, Tibesti, rise in southern desert. Country has several saline lakes but no perennial watercourses. Less than 5 percent of territory economically useful.
Climate: Dominant climate influences Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert. In coastal lowlands, where 80 percent of population lives, climate Mediterranean, with warm summers and mild winters. Climate in desert interior characterized by very hot summers and extreme diurnal temperature ranges. Precipitation ranges from light to negligible; less than 2 percent of country receives enough rainfall for settled agriculture.
Population: Approximately 3.63 million inhabitants according to 1984 census, including at least 260,000 aliens. Indigenous population was increasing at one of world's highest annual growth rates, estimated variously at between 3.4 percent and 4.5 percent.
Languages and Ethnic Groups: Official language Arabic. Government policy discourages use of other languages, but English used extensively--even by government for some purposes--and ranks as a second language. Italian and French also spoken, and small minorities speak Berber dialects. Arabic-speaking Sunni Muslims of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry make up well over 90 percent of indigenous population. Most of remainder Berbers, Tuaregs, and black Africans, and small but long-settled Greek and Maltese communities. Expatriates, imported under government contract to meet labor shortages, largely citizens of other Muslim countries; many technical and professional positions filled by East and West Europeans. Altogether, representatives of more than 100 nationalities live in Libya.
Health: Number of medical doctors and dentists reportedly increased sevenfold between 1970 and 1985, producing in case of doctors ratio of 1 per 673 citizens. In 1985, about one-third of doctors Libyan natives, remainder expatriate foreigners. Number of hospital beds tripled in same time period. Among major health hazards endemic in country in 1970s were typhoid and paratyphoid, infectious hepatitis, leishmaniasis, rabies, meningitis, schistosomiasis, venereal diseases, and principal childhood ailments. Progress included eradication of malaria and significant gains against trachoma, tuberculosis, and leprosy. In 1985 infant mortality rate was 84 per 1000. Life expectancy for men 56 years, for women 59 years.
Literacy: In early 1980s, estimates of total literacy between 50 and 60 percent, about 70 percent for men and 35 percent for women, but gap narrowing because of increased female school attendance.
Religion: Islam official religion; nearly entire population adheres to Sunni branch of Islam.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): In 1986 GDP estimated at $US20 billion, $6,260 per capita. Petroleum contributed almost 40 percent; public services and administration 12 percent; construction 11 percent; transportation and communication 5 percent; manufacturing 5 percent; and agriculture 4 percent.
Petroleum: In early 1980s, estimated proven reserves were 32 billion barrels, of which 7 billion barrels in offshore areas. In 1986 production averaged slightly over 1 million barrels per day, and in 1987 declining. In 1986, Libya world's fifteenth largest producer of petroleum.
Foreign Trade: In 1986 exports primarily petroleum worth US$5 billion, matched by imports primarily of manufactures and foodstuffs worth US$5 billion.
Currency: Libyan dinar; in mid-1987 LD1 equaled US$3.16.
Fiscal Year: Same as calendar year (see Glossary).
Railroads: None.
Roads: Over 23,000 kilometers of paved roads.
Ports: In 1986 Tobruk, Tripoli, Benghazi, and Qasr Ahmad, near Misratah, major ports. Five major oil export terminals As Sidra, Burayqah, Ras al Unuf, Marsa al Hariqah, and Zuwaytinah; future sixth terminal planned at As Zuwarah in western Libya.
Airfields: Three international airports at Tripoli (Al Aziziyah airport), Benghazi (Benina airport), and Sabha. Forty-two other smaller airfields with permanent-surface runways. National carrier Libyan Arab Airlines (LAA).
Form: Jamahiriya (newly coined Arabic word, roughly translated as "state of the masses," "people's power," or "people's authority"). Nearest English equivalent is "republic." In late 1987, de facto head of state and government and commander in chief of armed forces was Colonel Muammar al Qadhafi, who led 1969 Revolution against Sanusi monarchy. Application of his innovative and revolutionary Arab-socialist philosophy to Libyan nation has resulted in fundamental changes in political representation, property ownership, legal system, and commercial transactions.
Executive and Legislature: General People's Congress (GPC), both an executive and legislative body that convenes several times annually, primary formal instrument of government; membership of more than 1,000 delegates drawn from subnational-level people's committees, people's congresses, and revolutionary committees. Leadership of GPC vested in General Secretariat headed by secretary general, official chief of state. Cabinet functions performed by national-level General People's Committee. Subnational Governmental
Divisions: After Governorates abolished in 1975, Libya divided into between seven and ten military districts (number varies with frequent reorganizations). Each military district divided into several municipalities, subdivided into villages or urban wards.
Legal System: Since 1969 Revolution, sharia (Islamic law) has replaced other jurisprudence. Regular court system adjudicates personal, criminal, civil, and commercial law. People's Courts, Revolutionary Courts, and Military Courts handle political transgressions and threats against state.
Political Parties: Political parties banned; mass organization accomplished primarily through Arab Socialist Union, which includes geographically and functionally based membership.
Foreign Relations: Libya under Qadhafi a staunch proponent of pan-Arab unity, both in theory and in practice. Libyan regional policy predicated on intractable opposition to Israel and support of Palestinian cause. In 1980s, Qadhafi made bid for worldwide recognition and Third World leadership by espousing normative philosophy known as Third Universal Theory, which rejects both communist and capitalist models of government and calls instead for nonalignment, "people's power," and "new economic order" based on more equitable division of wealth between developed and underdeveloped countries. In accordance with this ideology, Libya has pursued activist and aggressive foreign policy, which includes alleged support and sponsorship of numerous terrorist and guerrilla movements throughout world. Member of United Nations (UN) and most of its specialized agencies, League of Arab States (Arab League), Organization of Arab Unity (OAU), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).
Armed Forces: In 1986 military manpower estimated at over 90,000; components were army (over 70,000), air force (10,000), and navy (6,500). Compulsory Military Service Statute of 1978 made all eligible males between ages of seventeen and thirty-five subject to draft commitment of three years of active service in army or four years in air force or navy. A 1984 statute mandated compulsory military training for all Libyans coming of age, whether male or female, to achieve total mobilization of population in event of national emergency. Law strengthened People's Militia (formerly known as Popular Resistance Force) into 45,000-person paramilitary force. All forces were under control of Qadhafi in his role as commander in chief of military establishment.
Police: Civil force, under Secretariat of the Interior, known after 1985 as People's Security Force (formerly known as Police at the Service of the People and the Revolution). Total number of personnel not available 1987.
Major Tactical Military Units: In 1987 army composed of twenty armored battalions, thirty mechanized infantry battalions, ten artillery battalions, two special forces groups comprising ten paratroop battalions, and eight air defense battalions. Air force organized into one medium bomber squadron, three fighterinterceptor squadrons, five forward ground attack squadrons, one counterinsurgency squadron, nine helicopter squadrons, and three air defense brigades. Although navy configured to carry out essentially coast guard role, inventory included six Soviet- built submarines.
Major Equipment Suppliers: Between 1980 and 1985, Soviet Union leading supplier of military equipment to Libya (US$4.6 billion) followed by Czechoslovakia (US$875 million), Italy (US$850 million), France (US$725 million), and People's Republic of China (US$320 million). In early 1987, however, Soviet deliveries reportedly curtailed or cut off. Policy of refusing to ship arms to Libya was agreed to in Tokyo Declaration on International Terrorism signed in 1986 by United States, Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), Britain, Italy, France, and Japan. In 1987, Libya turning to peripheral suppliers such as Greece, Brazil, and Yugoslavia.
Military Costs: According to Libyan figures, 1984 defense budget was LD340 million, which constituted 23.6 percent of total budget. In 1985, defense expenditures omitted entirely from budget. According to United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Libyan defense spending in 1985 estimated at $5.1 billion.
