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GDP: US$30 billion
GDP per head: US$5220
Annual growth: .5%
Inflation: 6%
Major industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Major trading partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia, UK

Events

The Islamic (or Hjira) calendar is a full 11 days shorter than the Gregorian (western) calendar, so public holidays and festivals fall 11 days earlier each year. In April for the next few years, Ras as-Sana is the Islamic celebration of the new year. Also known as Eid al-Adha or the Great Feast, Tabaski commemorates the moment when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command, only to have God jump in at the last minute and substitute a ram instead. Eid al-Moulid celebrates the prophet Mohammed's birthday, while Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (presently in December), commemorating the month when the Quran was revealed to Mohammed. Out of deference, Muslims take neither food nor water until after sunset each day. At the end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr, the fasting breaks amid much celebration.

The main secular holiday in Libya is Revolution Day, which is marked with a week of public parades, rallies and events. Folk troupes, horsemen, musicians and various military groups are bussed into Tripoli for the occasion, and Qaddafi usually gives a pep talk in Green Square. Slightly lower in key is the date-harvest festival held in various parts of the country during October.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: Everyone except visitors from most Arab countries and Malta must have a visa to visit Libya. Before applying for a visa, you must have your passport translated into Arabic.
Health risks: Small risk of malaria, cholera and hepatitis
Time: GMT/UTC plus 2 hours
Electricity: 240V
Weights & measures: Metric

The best time to visit Libya is between November and March, when daytime temperatures are relatively mellow ... for a desert country. Conversely, if you drop by between April and September, don't be surprised to find the mercury pushing 38°C (100°F) on a regular basis. The coastal atmosphere is generally humid (hovering around 55% in the afternoons year round), while inland the deserts are often as dry as dust. The best periods in which to avoid travel to Libya are late spring (May through June) and early fall (October), when the country's subject to the massive ghibli sandstorms from the south, which tend to last several days and interrupt all outdoor activities.