Libya
Africa · Northern Africa
Post-Gaddafi instability and ongoing civil conflict; oil wealth, not safe for travel.
At a Glance
📈Libya's Human Development Index
0.746
High human development#91 of 191 countries worldwide, #3 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 53% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Had the highest GDP per capita in Africa and free healthcare before 2011.
- Gaddafi ruled for 42 years — longer than most of his citizens had been alive.
- Contains a sixth of all the world's known oil reserves.
Quick Facts
Capital
Tripoli
Language
Arabic
Currency
ل.د LYD
Area
1.76M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
11Mbps
Mobile
23Mbps
GDP / Capita
$6K
PPP / Capita
$17K
Inflation
1.8%
Unemployment
18.8%
GNI / Capita
$7K
FDI Inflows
1.8%
Cost of Living
18.3
Price Level Index
60th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.724 → 0.746 (+0.022)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Libya's Human Development Index?
Libya's Human Development Index is 0.746 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #91 of 191 countries.
Is Libya safe?
Libya scores 2.36 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #124 of 160 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.