Country explorer: Libya

Libya's economy has experienced volatile shifts in GDP per capita, reflecting its oil-dependent economy and political instability, with its unemployment rates and inflationary trends diverging significantly from regional norms, underscoring the nation's unique challenges and resilience amidst ongoing socio-political transitions.

Libya has experienced a modest population growth, significant disruptions in net migration due to political instability, a gradual decrease in fertility rates aligning with regional trends, and an improvement in life expectancy indicative of broader health advancements, reflecting a complex blend of demographic resilience and vulnerability unique among its North African peers.

Libya has faced a significant decline in access to electricity and a persistently low level of access to safely managed sanitation facilities, indicating challenges in infrastructure development and basic service delivery, in contrast to regional trends of gradual improvement.

Libya has experienced volatile human development trends with significant fluctuations in its Human Development Index, marked improvements in reducing child mortality rates, and increases in literacy rates, reflecting a complex interplay of advancements and challenges unique among its North African peers.

Libya has seen its per capita CO2 emissions fluctuate significantly due to its oil-dependent economy, maintained a relatively small but stable forest area, and despite an energy mix heavily reliant on fossil fuels, has seen negligible growth in renewable energy production and a notable decrease in per capita renewable freshwater resources, underscoring the environmental challenges and energy dependence similar to those faced by many North African countries.

Libya has shown a notable increase in internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, highlighting a significant shift towards digital inclusion and mobile connectivity, despite facing challenges unique to its geopolitical and economic context.

Libya has experienced significant societal transformations reflected by an increasing foreign-born population, fluctuating life satisfaction levels, improvements in gender equality, and a steady age dependency ratio, highlighting distinctive challenges and resilience compared to its North African and upper-middle-income peers.

Over the last two decades, Libya has experienced significant governance challenges, marked by lower scores in rule of law, high perceptions of corruption, restricted political and civil liberties, and constrained press freedom, distinguishing it with a more pronounced decline compared to regional peers and upper-middle-income countries.