GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Three children enjoying a playful moment in the historic streets of Tripoli, Libya.A luxurious jewelry set featuring citrine and diamond pieces, elegantly displayed with a bright and sparkling aesthetic.

Libya

Africa · Northern Africa

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Few locals speak English well.

Safety

124th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.361lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#124 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
44.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$7,250national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
4.9New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 36% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 34% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$20K$40K$16,521 PPP$6,449Inflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $10,049 a person, $28,936 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2007, $11,145 a person, $30,929 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2008, $13,906 a person, $30,812 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2009, $9,551 a person, $29,027 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2010, $11,601 a person, $30,234 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $7,594 a person, $15,698 at PPP, inflation 15.5%2012, $14,976 a person, $26,826 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $11,952 a person, $21,151 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $8,926 a person, $17,510 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2015, $7,458 a person, $17,903 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2016, $7,526 a person, $16,961 at PPP, inflation 25.9%2017, $9,966 a person, $18,026 at PPP, inflation 25.8%2018, $11,197 a person, $18,879 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2019, $9,963 a person, $16,194 at PPP, inflation -2.2%2020, $6,650 a person, $10,955 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $4,936 a person, $12,642 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2022, $5,987 a person, $12,264 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2023, $6,027 a person, $13,858 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2024, $6,569 a person, $14,325 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2025, $6,449 a person, $16,521 at PPP, inflation 1.8%$0$20K$40KInflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $10,049 a person, $28,936 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2007, $11,145 a person, $30,929 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2008, $13,906 a person, $30,812 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2009, $9,551 a person, $29,027 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2010, $11,601 a person, $30,234 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2011, $7,594 a person, $15,698 at PPP, inflation 15.5%2012, $14,976 a person, $26,826 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $11,952 a person, $21,151 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $8,926 a person, $17,510 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2015, $7,458 a person, $17,903 at PPP, inflation 10.4%2016, $7,526 a person, $16,961 at PPP, inflation 25.9%2017, $9,966 a person, $18,026 at PPP, inflation 25.8%2018, $11,197 a person, $18,879 at PPP, inflation 13.2%2019, $9,963 a person, $16,194 at PPP, inflation -2.2%2020, $6,650 a person, $10,955 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $4,936 a person, $12,642 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2022, $5,987 a person, $12,264 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2023, $6,027 a person, $13,858 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2024, $6,569 a person, $14,325 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2025, $6,449 a person, $16,521 at PPP, inflation 1.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.1years, at birthModerate
#127 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
71WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
24.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
18.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
11 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
395EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet11 MbpsSlow
Mobile23 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A luxurious jewelry set featuring citrine and diamond pieces, elegantly displayed with a bright and sparkling aesthetic.
How it changed

Libya's Human Development Index

0.721High human development

115th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 9th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #114Suriname0.722
  2. #115Belize0.721
  3. #115Libya0.721
  4. #117Jamaica0.720
  5. #117Kyrgyzstan0.720
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.690 in 1990 to 0.721 in 2023.

0.650.730.800.72119902000201020231990: 0.6901991: 0.7001992: 0.7031993: 0.7051994: 0.7101995: 0.7121996: 0.7161997: 0.7211998: 0.7211999: 0.7242000: 0.7272001: 0.7302002: 0.7332003: 0.7392004: 0.7412005: 0.7472006: 0.7512007: 0.7542008: 0.7542009: 0.7532010: 0.7552011: 0.7152012: 0.7582013: 0.7482014: 0.7282015: 0.7282016: 0.7252017: 0.7402018: 0.7432019: 0.7372020: 0.6882021: 0.7292022: 0.7412023: 0.7210.650.730.8019902000201020231990: 0.6901991: 0.7001992: 0.7031993: 0.7051994: 0.7101995: 0.7121996: 0.7161997: 0.7211998: 0.7211999: 0.7242000: 0.7272001: 0.7302002: 0.7332003: 0.7392004: 0.7412005: 0.7472006: 0.7512007: 0.7542008: 0.7542009: 0.7532010: 0.7552011: 0.7152012: 0.7582013: 0.7482014: 0.7282015: 0.7282016: 0.7252017: 0.7402018: 0.7432019: 0.7372020: 0.6882021: 0.7292022: 0.7412023: 0.721

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.1 years2024at birthDown 0.3 years from 71.4 years in 2005
Internet users
82%2024of people onlineUp 78 points from 4% in 2006
Urban population
88%2025of people in towns and citiesLevel with 2006
Births per woman
2.302024births per womanDown 0.47 from 2.77 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
3%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
77%2024of people with electricityDown 13 points from 90% in 2005
Infant mortality
82024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 18 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
8.7 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 1.2 t from 9.8 t in 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Post-Gaddafi instability and ongoing civil conflict; oil wealth, not safe for travel. The case against is little English among locals and polluted air.

About Libya

Libya is a North African country whose Mediterranean coast has some of the most intact and undervisited ancient Greek and Roman ruins in the world, most notably Leptis Magna and Sabratha, while the Saharan interior contains the extraordinary rock art and desert landscapes of the Fezzan. The culture is Arab and Berber, with a tradition of hospitality that predates modern history. It remains inaccessible for most independent travellers, but the potential for a remarkable journey is there.

Practical facts

  • CapitalTripoli
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyLibyan dinar (LYD)
  • Area1,759,540 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F/L
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Libya's Human Development Index?

Libya's Human Development Index is 0.721 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #115 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Libya safe?

Libya scores 2.36 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #124 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Libya?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Libya at 18.3 (New York = 100); that is #1 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Libya?

Life expectancy at birth in Libya is 71.1 yrs (World Bank), ranked #127 of 195 countries.