Libya
Libya is a large North African country located along the Mediterranean coast, covering approximately 1.76 million square kilometers, making it the fourth largest in Africa and the 16th largest worldwide. It borders six countries: Egypt, Sudan, Chad,...
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With a safety index of 44/100, Libya offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Libya maintains a restrictive visa policy requiring advance approval for all international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. No visa-free entry or visa on arrival is available; tourists must obtain a tourist visa through the eVisa system introduced in April 2024 or via Libyan embassies/consulates. The eVisa application requires a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from an authorized Libyan tour operator or sponsor, often necessitating booking a full guided tour due to security protocols. Applications...
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59% below EU avg
32% below EU avg
40% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Tripoli
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Area
1,759,540 km²
Population
6,871,287
Libya shows a purchasing power index of 42/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$45.75B
HDI
0.7
Quality of Life
N/A
NYC baseline: 43
Purchasing Power
18/100
-24 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Libya. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Libya has a very affordable cost of living with CPI estimated below 40 due to low general price levels and limited consumer market development.
Housing Market
Housing affordability is moderate to good, with property prices likely reflecting a ratio between 5 and 8 years of income given limited data and economic conditions.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing power is below average due to economic instability and reliance on oil revenues, with GDP per capita around $6,552 and limited diversification.
Tax System
Libya has a progressive income tax system with rates up to 20%, no VAT but some indirect taxes; tax administration is weak and complicated by political fragmentation.
Business Environment
Business environment is challenging due to political instability, weak regulatory framework, and security concerns; Libya ranks low in ease of doing business globally.
Social Security
Social security coverage is limited with basic healthcare and pension systems in place but constrained by funding and political instability.
Libya, spanning 1.76 million km², features a predominantly arid climate with hot desert conditions dominating the vast interior, moderated by a narrow Mediterranean coastal strip and highland areas. Köppen classifications include hot desert (BWh), hot semi-arid (BSh), and Mediterranean (Csa/Csb) types.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
71.9
Population
6,871,287
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
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Libya remains politically divided with two rival administrations controlling different regions. The UN-backed Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah governs western Libya, while the Government of National Stability backed by eastern forces holds the east. Despite municipal elections in 2025, national elections remain postponed amid ongoing political deadlock and efforts to unify institutions continue under a UN roadmap.
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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.