Hannah+and+Tayler+-Libya+4B

Libya

· **Size of country in square miles** **Libya****:** 679,362 U.S**.****:** 3,794,100 · **Population density in people per square**

**U.S:**82 people per sq. miles **Libya****:** 9 people per sq. miles

· **Gross Domestic Product per capita** Gross Domestic Product (GDP) means how much money you make a year. Capita is I person. **U.S:** $45,592 **Libya****:** $ 14,364

· **Libya’s Flag**                   Libya’s flag was adopted in November 1977. The flag color, green, is the national and a traditional color of Islam, Libya’s state religion. Their flag is the only national flag that consisting of a single plan color with no designs.

· ** The life expectancy ** ** Female: Male: ** ** U.S: ** 81 Libya: 77 **U.S:** 77 ** Libya **** : ** 72

· ** Birth Rate: ** ** U.S: ** 14 /1,000 ** Libya **** : ** 25/1,000

· ** Political leader ** ** Libya **** : ** Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006) **U.S:** Barrack Obama

· ** Infant mortality rate ** ** Libya **** : ** 21/1,000 per births ** U.S. **** : ** 6/1,000 per births

· ** Language(s) spoken ** In Libya, their official language is Arabic and is nearly spoken by everyone, but it may take different forms. The Qur’an, official documents, and school materials are read in classical Arabic. The second languages are English (most common), Italian, or French.



Physical map

political map

· **Interesting facts:** In Libya, there are 137 airports, 59 of the runways are paved, and 78 of them not paved. To join the military you have to be 17 years of age.

· **Monetary unit ( money type)** Libyan Dinar

· **Type of government** Libya is an authoritarian state, which means that they are a dictatorship country like North Korea and China. Unlike the U.S., we are a democratic country.

· **Religions practiced** Libya’s official religion in Islam. 97% of the population in Sunni Muslims. Sanusis, Ibadhis (Muslims that are a member of a branch of Islam), Sufis (Muslims who seek direct experience and mysticism of Allah), Sharifs (Muslims who claim to be descendants of Muhammad), and //marabouts// (holy men who are considered to be teachers and leaders).

· **Literacy rate** **Female: Males:** **Libya****:** 78% **U.S:** 99% **Libya****:** 95% **U.S:** 99%

· **Economic Summary** Libya’s economy primarily depends upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes about 95% of export earnings, 60%of public sector wages, and 25% of GDP.In 2009 the hydrocarbon prices reduced Libya’s government tax income and constrained the economic growth. The substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population gave Libya one of the highest GDP’s in Africa ,little of this income goes down to the lower order society. Libyan officials have made progress in the last five years on the economic reforms as a part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. To help attract greater foreign investment, especially in the energy sector, Libya lifted us unilateral sanctions in the spring of 2004. Libya’s oil and gas licensing round continued to draw higher interest. That country faces a long roan ahead in liberating the socialist oriented economy, but initial steps –including applying for WTO membership and reducing, some subsidies- are all laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market based economy.

· **Brief history** The first inhabits were tribes called Imazighen, meaning “free men”. During the seventh century BC, Phoenicians set trading colonies in Libya. In 146 AD, the Roman defeated the Phoenicians and took control of the country. Beginning in AD 429 the area was subsequently invaded and ruled by Germanic Vandal tribes, The Byzantine Empire (AD 533), and the Arabs (AD 640) .The country gradually Arabized as thousands of Arabs settle and adsorbed or displaced the Imazighen .Muslim dynasties ruled until the 1500s, when the control of the country passed between Malta, Spain, Barbary sea pirates and finally the Ottoman Empire, which ruled from the mmid-1500s to the early 1900s. In the 1840s, members of the Islamic political Sanusi movement rose up against the Ottomans in North Africa. After being defeated the Ottomans in 1911, Italy colonized Libya. During World War II Libya became a major battleground for the European powers. Upon defeat, Italy gave up control of Libya. Libya gained full independence in 1951; Mohammed Idris became king and remained friendly with the Western nations. Oil was discovered in 1959 the country went from a poor farming country to a rich exporter of oil, and many Libyans wanted to access to the wealth. A group of junior military officers staged a coup in 1969. The group’s leader, Muammar Quaddafi, immediately began making changes. Muammar came up with a governmental and economic system called Jamahiriya (nation ruled by the masses). This system is meant to be an alternative to communism and capitalism. In theory, the system advocated a form of democracy, but in reality, Quaddafi had all of the power. Muammar exiled political opponents; shut down private newspapers replaced Sanusi clerics with his supporters, and banned political parties. Quaddafi tried to merge Libya with Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Chad; he led his country into military conflicts with Egypt (1977), Uganda (1979), and Chad (1983-87). The country was defeated in each case but not before creating regional instability. In 1989, Libya reconciled with the Arab world and formed an economic union called the Arab Maghreb Union with Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. In 1999, Muammar moved to have Libya rejoin the international community.