Libya (Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)

https://www.humantruth.info/libya.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2026

Libya Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	159th best
Capital	Tripoli
Land Area	1 759 540km²₁
Location	Africa, The Mediterranean
Population	6.7m₂
Life Expectancy	71.91yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$15 336 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	LY, LBY, 434₅
Internet Domain	.ly₆
Currency	Dinar (LYD)₇
Telephone	+218₈

1. Overview

#islam #italy #libya #state_violence #switzerland #terrorism #turkey

“The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system was a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices. [...] QADHAFI used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism [prompting] UN sanctions. [...] During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were [... lifted in 2003, and Libya agreed to] end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI subsequently made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. [...]
Libya in May 2010 was elected to its first three-year seat on the UN Human Rights Council, prompting protests from international non-governmental organizations and human rights campaigners. Unrest that began in several Near Eastern and North African countries in late December 2010 spread to several Libyan cities in early 2011. In March 2011, a Transitional National Council (TNC) was formed in Benghazi with the stated aim of overthrowing the QADHAFI regime and guiding the country to democracy. In response to QADHAFI's harsh military crackdown on protesters, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, which demanded an immediate ceasefire and authorized the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Libya. [...] Anti-QADHAFI forces in August 2011 captured the capital [and] the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the TNC as the legitimate interim governing body of Libya. [In 2012] Libya held its first post-QADHAFI nationwide election, which resulted in the formation of a 200-member National Congress (NC). In August 2012, the NC elected a congress president and in October, a new prime minister.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Libya, a realm of stunning coastline, dramatic Greek and Roman ruins and the majesty of the Sahara remains poised to become a travel hotspot. Libya is a classic North African destination and its primary appeal derives from its position as an ancient crossroads of civilisations - these civilisations bequeathed to the Libyan coast some of the finest Roman and Greek ruins in existence, among them Leptis Magna, Cyrene and Sabratha. This is also one of the best places in Africa to experience the Sahara Desert, from seas of sand the size of Switzerland and sheltering palm-fringed lakes (the Ubari Sand Sea) to remote massifs adorned with prehistoric rock art (the Jebel Acacus), labyrinthine caravan towns (Ghadames) and an isolated black-as-black volcano (Wawa al-Namus) in the desert´s heart.
However, the upheaval caused by Libya´s democratic revolution in 2011-12 continues, meaning the future is still uncertain. That said, Libya's tourism and transport infrastructure are excellent, so once peace returns fully to the country, expect it to be one of the hottest travel destinations on the continent.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Libya National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
101	Uzbekistan	0.727
102=	Dominica	0.720
102=	Jordan	0.720
104	Libya	0.718
105	Paraguay	0.717
106=	Palestine	0.715
106=	St Lucia	0.715
108	Guyana	0.714
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
75	Botswana	$16 198
76	Macedonia	$15 918
77	Maldives	$15 448
78	Libya	$15 336
79	Bosnia & Herzegovina	$15 242
80	Moldova	$14 875
81	Georgia	$14 664
82	Colombia	$14 384
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
156	Swaziland	114.1
157	Benin	114.1
158	Kiribati	114.4
159	Libya	114.7
160	Zambia	115.1
161	Mali	115.3
162	Ivory Coast	115.4
163	Djibouti	115.9
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Libya's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Libya's population is predicted to rise to 7.783 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.40. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
105	Bulgaria	7.1m
106	Paraguay	7.0m
107	Lebanon	6.9m
108	Libya	6.7m
109	Nicaragua	6.5m
110	El Salvador	6.4m
111	Kyrgyzstan	6.3m
112	Turkmenistan	5.9m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
95	Libya	71.9
96	Bhutan	71.8
97	Bulgaria	71.8
98	Georgia	71.7
99	St Kitts & Nevis	71.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
64	Trinidad & Tobago	1.61
65	Saudi Arabia	2.39
66	Macedonia	1.60
67	Libya	2.40
68	Iceland	1.59
69	Dominica	1.59
70	Antigua & Barbuda	1.58
71	Armenia	1.58
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
70	Philippines	10.3
71	Cambodia	10.4
72=	Egypt	10.5
72=	Libya	10.5
72=	S. Africa	10.5
75	Bangladesh	10.6
76=	Nepal	10.8
76=	Bhutan	10.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
43	Latvia	13.2%
44	Spain	12.8%
45	Iceland	12.5%
46	Libya	12.4%
47	France	12.2%
48	Barbados	12.1%
49	Djibouti	12.1%
50	Netherlands	12.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
157	Venezuela	1.8%
158	S. Africa	1.7%
159	Iran	1.7%
160	Libya	1.7%
161	Gabon	1.7%
162	Vanuatu	1.6%
163	Djibouti	1.5%
164	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	1.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#christianity #equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #ISIS #libya #libya_gender #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
175	Palestine	132.1
176	UAE	133.5
177	Guinea	135.7
178	Libya	135.9
179	Ethiopia	136.3
180	Qatar	136.5
	Africa Avg	110.04
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Libya is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Libya does worse than average for combatting modern slavery₂₀, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₁, supporting press freedom₂₂, freethought₂₃, its average Freedom in the World rating and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₄. It sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₅ (the highest in Africa), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₆ (one of the highest in Africa) and in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₇ (amongst the worst in Africa). And finally, it is the worst in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₈. Freedom of speech is undermined by needlessly aggressive and restrictive laws₂₉. In 2016, slave markets in Libya had migrant men, women and children auctioned off to the highest bidders, many destined for lives of abuse₃₀. In 2017, the country is still steeped in conflict between multiple militias (including ISIS) and competing proto-governments, the fighting has "decimated the economy and public services, including the public health system, law enforcement, and the judiciary" with executions and widespread human rights abuses₂₉. Freedom of religion and freedom of belief are not protected in Libya and minorities such as Sufis and Christians are openly attacked₂₉.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Libya

5. Libya's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
4	Morocco	86.8
5	Cape Verde	95.9
6	Algeria	98.9
7	Libya	102.1
8	Botswana	108.2
9	Sao Tome & Principe	111.4
10	Egypt	116.2
11	Rwanda	117.7
12	Ghana	119.3
13	Eritrea	120.2
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
112	Guyana	100.9
113	Mexico	101.9
114	Mongolia	102.1
115	Libya	102.1
116	Kosovo	102.3
117	Niue	102.3
118	Tonga	103.3
119	Palestine	103.9
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₂.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #libya #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #yemen

Libya does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Libya does the best when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₃. It does better than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate₃₄ (one of the lowest in Africa), delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₅, its fertility rate₁₅, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₆ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. Libya doesn't do so well in other areas. Libya does worse than average for the prevalence of overweight adults₃₇ (the worst in Africa) and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₈. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₉. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Libya improved by +3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Libya had the 3rd-highest average fertility rate in the world in the 1970s (after Yemen and ). Overall, it is amongst only 7 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 5 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 8.13 in 1971.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
95	Libya	71.9
96	Bhutan	71.8
97	Bulgaria	71.8
98	Georgia	71.7
99	St Kitts & Nevis	71.7
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₃
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9=	Syria	0.3
9=	Pakistan	0.3
11=	Kiribati	0.4
11=	Iraq	0.4
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
64	Trinidad & Tobago	1.61
65	Saudi Arabia	2.39
66	Macedonia	1.60
67	Libya	2.40
68	Iceland	1.59
69	Dominica	1.59
70	Antigua & Barbuda	1.58
71	Armenia	1.58
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
153	Mozambique	153
154	Cape Verde	154
155	Bahamas	155
156	Libya	156
157	Papua New Guinea	157
158	Belize	158
159	Algeria	159
160	Senegal	160
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		1976 %₃₇
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
142	Germany	38.7
143=	Bahamas	38.8
143=	Egypt	38.8
145	Libya	38.9
146	Macedonia	39.2
147	Saudi Arabia	39.4
148=	Iraq	40.0
148=	Venezuela	40.0
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2022 %₄₀
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
167	Argentina	36.0%
168	Panama	36.1%
169	Mexico	36.1%
170	Libya	36.2%
171	Hungary	36.4%
172	Bahrain	37.2%
173	Iraq	37.4%
174	Barbados	38.2%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₄
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
28	Cyprus	6.8
29	Qatar	6.9
30	Monaco	6.9
31	Libya	7.0
32	Portugal	7.1
33	Germany	7.2
34	Israel	7.4
35	Australia	7.7
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		Total Avg %₃₈
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
175	Paraguay	77.5
176	Ivory Coast	77.0
177	Vanuatu	76.7
178	Libya	76.4
179	Guinea-Bissau	76.0
180	Cameroon	75.1
181	Mozambique	74.2
182	Lebanon	74.1
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₅
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
40=	Brunei	96.6
41	Spain	96.5
42	Poland	96.5
43	Libya	96.4
44	St Kitts & Nevis	96.3
45	Bahamas	96.2
46	Maldives	96.2
47	Tajikistan	96.1
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₆
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
73	Lebanon	13.05
74	Kazakhstan	13.65
75	Turkey	13.98
76	Libya	14.17
77	Seychelles	14.49
78	Mauritius	14.97
79	El Salvador	15.03
80	Kosovo	15.11
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

From the 1960s to the 1970s, Libya made substantial improvements to its infant mortality rate (the 3rd most improved in the world in that period)₃₆.

6. Libya's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #iran #libya #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism #yemen

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
45	Sudan	97.8
46	Comoros	99.1
47	Mauritania	101.2
48	Seychelles	103.4
49	Angola	109.5
50	Libya	121.4
51	Zimbabwe	121.5
52	Somalia	131.0
53	Eritrea	146.2
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
178	Belarus	116.0
179	Uzbekistan	116.1
180	Cook Islands	119.6
181	Libya	121.4
182	Zimbabwe	121.5
183	Solomon Islands	121.6
184	Marshall Islands	123.1
185	Palau	124.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₂. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Libya ranks 19th-worst in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment (amongst the worst in Africa). This is computed from 21 data sets. Libya does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₄ (but bad for Africa). But that's it. Libya has problems. It does worse than average for its environmental performance₄₅ (still high for Africa) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆ (the worst in Africa) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₇ (amongst the worst in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₃
Pos.		Total₄₃
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
130=	Tokelau	0.0%
130=	St Martin	0.0%
130=	Liechtenstein	0.0%
130=	Libya	0.0%
130=	Montserrat	0.0%
130=	Kiribati	0.0%
130=	Saudi Arabia	0.0%
137	Nepal	-0.1%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		2018₄₅
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
120	China	50.7
121	Thailand	49.9
122	Micronesia	49.8
123	Libya	49.8
124	Ghana	49.7
125	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	49.5
126	Senegal	49.5
127	Malawi	49.2
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₇
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₇
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
144	S. Africa	1.97
145	Kuwait	2.02
146	Barbados	2.04
147	Libya	2.05
148	Singapore	2.06
149	Lebanon	2.06
150	Ukraine	2.11
151	Syria	2.12
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, Libya was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
160	Turkey	47%
161	Cambodia	47%
162	Kyrgyzstan	46%
163	Libya	46%
164	Micronesia	46%
165	Cape Verde	46%
166	Guinea-Bissau	46%
167	Bosnia & Herzegovina	45%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Yemen, Iran and Libya are the only three countries not to have enacted the 2016 Paris Agreement on curbing climate change.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
136	Estonia	15.9%
137	China	15.1%
138	Denmark	14.9%
139	Libya	14.6%
140	Iceland	13.1%
141	Uzbekistan	11.3%
142	Tajikistan	11.1%
143	Haiti	10.0%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2021 kg₄₄
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
86	Oman	48.0
87	Ukraine	48.5
88	Cuba	49.6
89	Libya	50.0
90	Ecuador	50.9
91	Albania	52.0
92	Kiribati	52.4
93	Vietnam	52.6
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Libya's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
	...
7	Algeria	81.9
8	Gabon	83.0
9	Cape Verde	84.0
10	Libya	88.6
11	Kenya	97.0
12	Djibouti	102.5
13	Botswana	104.9
14	Ghana	105.6
15	Nigeria	106.3
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
111	Trinidad & Tobago	86.2
112	Guatemala	86.7
113	Sri Lanka	88.5
114	Libya	88.6
115	Brunei	89.6
116	Jordan	90.3
117	Antigua & Barbuda	92.9
118	Honduras	93.2
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₉. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₁

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
147	Mozambique	147
148	Lesotho	148
149	Venezuela	149
150	Libya	150
151	Gabon	151
152	Sierra Leone	152
153	Cambodia	153
154	Zambia	154
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		2025 %₅₂
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
111=	Gambia	90
111=	Guinea-Bissau	90
111=	Guinea	90
111=	Libya	90
111=	Ethiopia	90
111=	Lesotho	90
111=	Grenada	90
111=	Jamaica	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Libya officially adopted metric in 1923₅₃. Progression:

1960 (60%): Italian/metric legacy; traditional units present.
1970 (75%): Standardization in commerce/education.
1980 (85%): Metric dominant officially.
2000 (90%).
2025 (90%).

IQ Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2006₅₄
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
85=	Morocco	84
85=	Saudi Arabia	84
87=	Algeria	83
87=	Libya	83
87=	Tunisia	83
87=	Oman	83
87=	Syria	83
92=	India	82
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #libya

In the 2000s, the expected duration of education in Libya fell by over a year, one of only 12 countries to see a reduction in that decade. It reduced it by another year in the 2010s.₅₅

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2018₅₆
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
96	Bolivia	58.8%
97	Zimbabwe	58.7%
98	Gabon	57.6%
99	Libya	57.4%
100	Dominican Rep.	56.6%
101	Uruguay	56.0%
102	Lebanon	54.9%
103	Portugal	54.2%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2021 Years₅₇
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
115	Bahamas	12.9
116	Nepal	12.9
117	St Lucia	12.9
118	Libya	12.9
119	Venezuela	12.8
120	Malawi	12.7
121	El Salvador	12.7
122	Nicaragua	12.6
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #politics #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2016₅₈
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
144	Ivory Coast	22%
145	Honduras	22%
146	Botswana	21%
147	Libya	21%
148	Zimbabwe	21%
149	Equatorial Guinea	21%
150	Lesotho	21%
151	Indonesia	20%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₅₉
Pos.		2012₅₉
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
19	Mexico	37
20	India	39
21	Indonesia	42
22=	Libya	43
22=	Malaysia	43
24	Jordan	45
25=	Turkey	46
25=	Tunisia	46
	Africa Avg	45.0
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better₆₀
Pos.		2013₆₀
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
22	Switzerland	0.55
23	S. Korea	0.56
24	Australia	0.63
25	Libya	0.63
26	Qatar	0.65
27	Chile	0.66
28	Guinea-Bissau	0.67
29	Uzbekistan	0.69
	Africa Avg	1.07
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₁
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
169=	Cuba	0.0
169=	St Vincent & Grenadines	0.0
169=	Montenegro	0.0
169=	Libya	0.0
169=	Jamaica	0.0
169=	Fiji	0.0
169=	Jordan	0.0
169=	Barbados	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Libya's Culture, Peace and Inequality

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #happiness #internationalism #politics

Corruption Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2022 Points₆₂
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
170=	Chad	19.0
171=	Equatorial Guinea	17.0
171=	N. Korea	17.0
171=	Libya	17.0
171=	Haiti	17.0
171=	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
177	Venezuela	14.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Libya has a consistently poor long-term record on corruption. On average through the 2010s, it scored the 7th-worst on the Corruption Perception Index.

Happiness Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2024 Score₆₃
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
76	Dominican Rep.	5.8
77	Mongolia	5.8
78	Mauritius	5.8
79	Libya	5.8
80	Moldova	5.8
81	Greece	5.8
82	Venezuela	5.7
83	Indonesia	5.6
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
160	Burundi	160
161	Rwanda	161
162	Congo, DR	162
163	Libya	163
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		Total Q₆₄
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
184	S. Sudan	41.8
185	Bangladesh	40.5
186	N. Korea	39.8
187	Libya	39.7
188	Palestine	38.3
189	Nepal	38.0
190	Somalia	34.2
191	Yemen	33.3
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
94	Guinea	94
95	Ivory Coast	95
96	Peru	96
97	Libya	97
98	Czechia	98
99	Israel	99
100	Argentina	100
101	Seychelles	101
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #libya #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism #USA

Libya under Gaddafi took to using oil funds in the 1970s and 1980s to attempt to end Marxism and capitalism across the globe via violence and terrorism₉, earning it a place on the USA State Department's list of State Sponsors of Terrorism₆₅ from 1979. "British authorities largely credit the Libyan weapons shipments with having appreciably facilitated the [terrorist group] IRA's terror campaign"₆₆ during the 1970s and 1980s and tailing off into the 1990s. Libya was linked to the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland₆₇_,₉ which led to UN sanctions from 1992, which isolated Libya politically₉. From here, Qaddafi changed his approach.

“During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were [...] lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing [and] Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. [...] The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

Libya was removed from the US terrorism list in 2006, and in 2009 the USA and Libya exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973.

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2023 Score₆₈
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
134	Palestine	2.54
135	Lebanon	2.58
136	Mexico	2.60
137	Libya	2.61
138	Niger	2.63
139	Cameroon	2.66
140=	Colombia	2.69
140=	Venezuela	2.69
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
142	St Vincent & Grenadines	142
143	Belize	143
144	Haiti	144
145	Libya	145
146	Croatia	146
147	UAE	147
148	Central African Rep.	148
149	Bosnia & Herzegovina	149
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₉
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
112	Libya	112
113	Belize	113
114	Morocco	114
115	Iraq	115
116	Dominica	116
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2019 Score₆₉
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
136	Cameroon	6.62
137	Central African Rep.	6.62
138	Mali	6.65
139	Libya	6.77
140	Egypt	6.79
141	Congo, DR	7.04
142	Philippines	7.14
143	Yemen	7.26
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		2019₇₀
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
71=	Armenia	8.70
72=	Tunisia	9.00
72=	Turkey	9.00
74	Libya	9.10
75	Iran	9.20
76	Mauritius	9.40
77=	Seychelles	9.60
77=	Moldova	9.60
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₁
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₁
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
13	Palestine	.004
14	Tunisia	.005
15	St Lucia	.007
16	Libya	.007
17	Algeria	.008
18	Kyrgyzstan	.008
19	Bosnia & Herzegovina	.008
20	Barbados	.009
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #ISIS #islam #judaism #libya #religion_in_libya

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₂:

	2010	2020
Muslim	96.8%	99%
Christian	2.63%	0.525%
Buddhist	0.281%	0.258%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim (official) 97%, other 3%₇₃.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Freedom of religion and freedom of belief are not protected in Libya; in addition the current conflict from 2011 has allowed "militias and forces affiliated with several interim authorities, as well as ISIS fighters [to attack] religious minorities, including Sufis and Christians, and [destroy] religious sites in Libya with impunity"₂₉.

Links: