Libya: Flag and Facts
Libya's flag has a red stripe on top, a wide black stripe in the middle with a white crescent and star, and a green stripe at the bottom.
- Official name
- State of Libya
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Region
- Northern Africa
- Population
- 7.4 million (2024)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Libyan dinar
- Area
- 1,759,540 km² (679,362 sq mi)
- People
- Libyan
- Calling code
- +218
- Highest point
- Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
- Independence
- 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
- National symbols
- star and crescent, hawk
About Libya
Each color stands for one of the three main regions: green for Tripolitania, black for Cyrenaica, and red for Fezzan. The crescent and star represent Islam. The design belonged to the Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1969 and was brought back in 2011, replacing the plain green flag used under Qadhafi.
Berbers have lived in this part of north Africa since ancient times, while Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Vandals all ruled the area at various points. Islam spread in the 7th century, and Ottoman rule began in the mid-16th century. Italy took over the Tripoli area in 1911 and held it until defeat in 1943. Libya passed to UN administration and became independent on 24 December 1951. Qadhafi seized power in a 1969 coup and ruled until the 2011 uprising. Most of the land is dry, barren plain and plateau, with a Mediterranean climate only along the coast.
Did you know?
- Bikku Bitti is Libya's tallest point at 2,267 m.
- Libya is slightly larger than Alaska.
- The hawk is one of Libya's national symbols, along with the star and crescent.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Libya
What is the capital of Libya?
Tripoli is the capital and largest city, with about 1.2 million people in 2023.
What is the national anthem of Libya?
The anthem is called Libya, Libya, Libya.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.