Libia

Libia, the Italian name for the country commonly known in English as Libya, is located in North Africa along the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, Algeria to the west, and Tunisia to the northwest. The country has a long Mediterranean coastline and a large interior desert region, the Sahara, including the Libyan Desert. The capital and largest city is Tripoli.

Libia achieved independence in 1951 as the Kingdom of Libya under King Idris I. It became a republic in 1969 after Muammar Gaddafi’s coup and remained under his rule until the 2011 uprising. Since then, the country has faced protracted conflict and competing authorities, with periods of relative stability and extended negotiations under international mediation. Efforts toward a unified government have continued, but political divisions and security challenges have persisted. Libya is a member of OPEC and relies on oil and gas for much of its national revenue.

The population is predominantly Arab and Berber, with Islam as the main religion. Arabic is the official language; Berber varieties are also spoken, and Italian influence remains in some areas. The Libyan dinar (LYD) is the currency. The country’s economy centers on petroleum production, which has shaped its development, infrastructure, and export patterns, subject to fluctuation with the political and security situation.