Libya

Libya

Libya facts and figures

Libya's National Day
Libya's National Day

24 December

Situated in the north of Africa, and sharing a border to the west with fellow OPEC Member Country Algeria, Libya is the 16th largest country in the world in terms of land mass, comprising around 1,760 thousand square kilometres. More than a quarter of the country’s six million plus inhabitants live in its capital city, Tripoli. Arabic is the main language.

Apart from petroleum, Libya's other natural resources are natural gas and gypsum. Its economy depends primarily on the oil sector. Substantial revenues from the energy sector, coupled with a small population, give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa. The national currency is the dinar.

The country joined OPEC in 1962.

Did you know?

  • Libya's huge man-made river is the largest water transportation project ever undertaken and carries more than five million cubic metres of water per day across the desert to coastal areas.
  • Libya's first productive oil well was struck in 1959 at Amal and Zelten, now known as Nasser. The country began exporting oil in 1961.


Below data covers 2021

Population (million inhabitants) 6.71
Land area (1,000 sq km) 1,760
GDP per capita ($) 4,821
GDP at market prices (million $) 32,352
Value of exports (million $) 28,986
Value of petroleum exports (million $) 27,485
Current account balance (million $) 5,177
Proven crude oil reserves (million barrels) 48,363
Proven natural gas reserves (billion cu. m.) 1,505
Crude oil production (1,000 b/d) 1,207
Marketed production of natural gas (million cu. m.) 24,244
Refinery capacity (1,000 b/cd) 634
Output of petroleum products (1,000 b/d) 126
Oil demand (1,000 b/d) 186
Crude oil exports (1,000 b/d) 1,091
Exports of petroleum products (1,000 b/d) 89
Natural gas exports (million cu. m.) 8,000

  • b/d (barrels per day)
  • cu. m. (cubic metres)
  • b/cd (barrels per calendar day)

Source: Annual Statistical Bulletin 2022

  • HE Mohamed Oun

    HE Mohamed Oun

    Minister of Oil and Gas
    Head of Delegation

    Download CV
  • Mr. Mustafa Abdulla Almukhtar Benisa

    Mr. Mustafa Abdulla Almukhtar Benisa

    Governor for OPEC

  • Mr. Abdulnasser Lamin Mohamed Gnedi

    Mr. Abdulnasser Lamin Mohamed Gnedi

    National Representative