Libya: Encyclopedia II - Libya - Demographics

Libya - Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Libya

Libya has a small population within its large territory, with a population density of about 50 persons per km² (80/sq. mi.) in the two northern regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, and less than one person per km² (1.6/sq. mi.) elsewhere. Ninety percent of the people live in less than 10% of the area, primarily along the coast. More than half the population is urban, mostly concentrated in the two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. 50% of the population is estimated to be under the age 15. Native Libyans are primarily a mixture of Arabs and Berbers. Small Tuareg and Tebu tribal groups in southern Libya are nomadic or seminomadic. Among foreign residents, the largest groups are citizens of other African nations, including North Africans (primarily Egyptians and Tunisians), West Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Libyan Berbers and Arabs constitute 97% of the population, the other 3% being Africans (outside of North Africa), Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians and Tunisians.

The main language spoken in Libya, as well as being the official language, is Arabic. Tamazight is a language spoken by Libyan Berbers. Italian and English are also spoken in the big cities, although Italian is usually spoken by the older generation.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Demographics", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki