“Nationalism is as fragile as a thread — perhaps that is why so many feel compelled to guard it so anxiously.”
Hisham Matar
This map is interactive: click on the icons to access more information.
Population
Area
Currency
Religions
Sunni Islam (97%)
Christian minorities
GDP (nominal)
Main exports
Main imports
Main customers
Main suppliers
Political system
After gaining independence from Italy in 1951, Libya was initially a constitutional monarchy under Idris I, dominated by the coastal elite. In 1969, Muammar Gaddafi overthrew the king and established an authoritarian regime, nationalized the oil industry, and adopted an anti-Western foreign policy, sparking regional and international tensions. Libya became a centralized but isolated state until the early 2000s, a period of reconciliation with the West and limited economic openness.
Gaddafi’s fall in 2011 following a NATO intervention led to a power vacuum, civil war, and the proliferation of rival militias. Since 2015, Libya has been divided between a recognized government in Tripoli and another based in Benghazi, with foreign interference from Turkey, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. The oil economy, the country’s mainstay, remains unstable, and infrastructure is largely destroyed. The country is struggling to reestablish a legitimate central government.
Mohamed Al-Menfi
President of the Libyan Presidential Council since 2021, Mohamed Al-Menfi is attempting to unify a country divided between rival factions. A native of Cyrenaica, he was chosen because he was accepted by leaders in both Tripoli and Benghazi. His authority remains limited in the face of Khalifa Haftar’s military power. Enjoying international recognition and UN support, he is striving to organize elections that have been postponed several times due to a lack of agreement with his rival.
Khalifa Haftar
Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar has controlled the eastern part of the country since 2014. A former general under Gaddafi, he relies on a powerful military network and significant foreign backing from countries such as Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. His influence is decisive in political negotiations. His military presence weighs heavily on the country’s democratic transition and stability.
