Libya's population is around 7 million, concentrated heavily in a narrow coastal strip. The vast Saharan interior — which makes up 90% of the country's area — is nearly empty. Tripoli holds close to a third of the population.
The country is ethnically diverse but often described as homogeneous. The majority are Arab-Berber, descendants of the Amazigh (Berber) people who inhabited North Africa before the Arab conquest of the 7th century, and who largely assimilated into Arab culture over the following centuries. Significant Amazigh (Berber) communities remain, particularly in the Nafusa Mountains and in oasis towns like Ghadames and Awjila, where distinct Berber languages are still spoken. The Tuareg, a nomadic Berber people, inhabit the far southwest near Ghat and the Algerian border. The Tebu, a Saharan people of Nilo-Saharan origin, live in the far southeast.
Islam shapes daily life: nearly all Libyans are Sunni Muslim, and the rhythm of the day follows prayer times. Hospitality to strangers is a genuine cultural value — travelers who made it to Libya before 2011 consistently describe being invited into homes and plied with tea, a pattern that continues despite the conflict.
The revolution of 2011 and the subsequent civil wars have deeply fractured Libyan society along regional, tribal, and ideological lines. The division between west (Tripolitania) and east (Cyrenaica) has ancient roots and has been politically significant since independence. The south (Fezzan) has its own distinct character and loyalties. Understanding these divisions matters if you're trying to understand what you're seeing.
Libya had one of the highest standards of living in Africa under Gaddafi, thanks to oil revenue distributed through subsidised food, fuel, and services. Much of that infrastructure has deteriorated since 2011. Youth unemployment and displacement are significant problems; large numbers of Libyans have left the country since the revolution.