Libya has a population of over 4 million people, more than half of whom are under the age of fifteen. More than 90 percent of the population identify themselves as Arab, with most of the remaining minority composed of Berbers and black Africans. About three-quarters of the population now live in urban areas concentrated along the coast.

Libyan society

Arabic is the national language of Libya and English is the most popular second language and is regularly taught in school.
Libya has many legends based on the exploits of Muslim leaders who resisted European invaders. These leaders, such as Umar al-Mukhtar, often come from religious backgrounds and are well-learned.

The majority of Libyans are Muslims, belonging to the Sunni school of Islam, which was brought by the original conquering Arabs.
Libya commemorates secular holidays and Muslim religious holidays. One major Muslim holiday is Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. The other major Muslim holiday is Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to obey God's command in all things, even when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son.

Other Islamic holidays, celebrated to a lesser degree, are the Islamic New Year, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, and the Tenth of Muharram . This holiday commemorates Moses leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. The Prophet Muhammad instructed all Muslims to fast on this day.
Secular holidays include Independence Day (December 24), and a holiday commemorating the United States withdrawal from Wheeling Air Force base (Evacuation Day) in Libya on June 11, 1970. Army Day is August 9, and Proclamation Day is November 21.

A Libyan always greets guests with a cup of coffee or tea. Desert tradition requires that a guest be offered food. Hospitality is part of the Libyan code of honor.
Since alcohol is forbidden by Islam, Libya has no bars or nightclubs. There are many sidewalk cafes, however.

Living conditions

Living conditions for most Libyans have improved in recent years. Housing shortages, however, continue to be a problem. The typical Libyan family lives in an apartment. One-tenth of all families have cars, often Japanese.

The traditional roles of men and women changed noticeably in the 1970s. Then, the government began encouraging women to vote and to work outside the house. Working mothers were offered cash bonuses. Day care was greatly improved. The retirement age for women was set at fifty-five, and laws were passed ensuring equal pay for equal work. By the mid-1980s women had broken into several professional fields, most notably in the health-care arena. Recently, the government has tried to further redefine the role of women and expand its armed forces by making military service required for both sexes.

Two styles of clothing are currently common in Libya. In the cities, there is a mixture of Western and traditional clothes. Girls commonly wear brightly colored dresses, and boys wear jeans and shirts. Young men and women wear predominantly modern clothing, but most women continue to cover their hair in keeping with Islamic tradition. The traditional attire for men is a long, white gown worn over a shirt and pants. Some men wear a black or white Muslim hat on their heads. Traditional women also wear long gowns and hair coverings. Most women's gowns cover both the head and body. In rural areas, traditional dress is very common.

Couscous is a very popular food. Couscous is semolina (a type of wheat flour) sprinkled with oil and water and rolled into tiny grains. The grains are steamed and then are ready for use in a favorite recipe. It can be mixed with a number of sauces and then combined with a variety of meats and/or vegetables. Couscous is also combined with honey and milk and served for breakfast. The main meat eaten by Libyans is lamb.
Most Libyan meals are eaten with kasrah, a flat, round, nonyeasted bread. Kasrah is often eaten with dips, such as babaghanuj, a dip made of mashed, roasted eggplant mixed with lemon, tahini (sesame seed paste), and a pinch of salt. Dates from palm trees are used in many forms by Libyans. The fruit can be eaten fresh or squeezed to make juice or date honey. Dried dates can be ground into date flour, and date pits can be roasted and ground to make date coffee.
Coffee and mint tea are popular drinks, served throughout the day. Alcoholic beverages and pork are forbidden by Islamic law.