Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.
Fast Facts about Libya
1. About 6.4 million people live in Libya. Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. Located on the edge of the Libyan Desert, Tripoli is the nation’s commercial center with a population of about 1.1 million people.
2. The official language of Libya is Arabic. Most of the people living in Libya are Muslims.
3. In Libya, you could go to college anywhere in the world. The state pays 2,500 euros plus accommodation and car allowance for any citizen that chose to school in another part of the world.
4. Libyan citizens enjoy many privileges – loans to Libyan citizens are given with NO interest, students would get paid the average salary for the profession they are studying for, if you are unable to get employment the state would pay the full salary as if you were employed until you find employment and when you get married the couple gets an apartment or house for free from the Government. There is also free education and health care for all citizens.
5. Unlike most countries, Libya does not owe money, (not a cent) to anyone. No creditors.
6. More than 90% of the country is desert or semi-desert. Much of the country lies within the Sahara.
7. Libya ranks 10th among countries that have the largest oil reserves; in the sector of petroleum production, it globally ranks 17th.
8. The solid-green colour flag was used by Libya from 1969 till the time Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. It was the only national flag in the world which had one single colour. Three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double width), and green with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe replaced the former all green colour on 27th February 2011.
9. The red represented the blood of the Libyan people who died under the Italian fascist rule, while the green represents the era of independence, freedom and a new start for the Libyan people. The crescent and star represent the main religion of Libya which is Islam.
10. Women in the country have absolutely no rights. Their only roles is to clean, cook and give birth to children.
