People groups of Libya
Libya has a population of 5.3 million (1995). Approximately 0.3% are Christian.
Libyan society is influenced by change in the twentieth century, such as the revolution that brought into power Muammar Qadaffi, who has been a significant political leader since 1969. A socialist welfare system has replaced what was formerly a society where nomadic lifestyle was prominent. Now many of the nomads have been settled in housing urban centers, and facing changes from their centuries old former way of life.
In history the early church was established in Libya after the day of Pentecost, all that seems to remain of that history today are the impressive semi-restored ruins of Roman colonists.
90% of the country is desert, or semi-desert, though the coastal strip has a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and cool, wetter winters. Only 2% of Libyan territory is suitable for cultivation. Traditionally the country was divided into three provinces: Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and Fezzan. Most people live in the coastal strip around Terabulus, otherwise known as Tripoli (which has over 1.8 million inhabitants) (L'Etat, 1993), and Binghazi, also known as Benghazi (650,000 inhabitants) (1993)
Please pray ...
- for this country where religious activity is strictly regulated by the government, that believers will be able to spread their faith.