Capital of Libya: Tripoli
The capital of Libya is Tripoli. Libya sits in Africa, has a population of 6,812,341, and uses the LYD. Official languages include Arabic.
Quick facts
- Capital: Tripoli
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~6,812,341
- Area: 1,759,540 km²
- Population density: 3.9 people per km²
- Official language: Arabic
- Currency: LYD
- ISO code: LY
How big is Libya?
By population, Libya ranks 106th in the world, holding roughly 0.09% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 16th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Libya has 3.9 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Libya is the 35th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Libya in population are Bulgaria (6,781,953) and Paraguay (6,780,744).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Sudan (1,861,484 km²) and Iran (1,648,195 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.
Libya uses the LYD, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
Libya in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Libya belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Libya and a page on the flag of Libya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Libya?
The capital of Libya is Tripoli.
What is the population of Libya?
About 6,812,341, making it the 106th most populous country in the world.
How big is Libya?
1,759,540 square kilometres, ranking 16th by land area, at a density of 3.9 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Libya use?
The LYD, which no other country uses.