How many countries belong to the Arab world? Eastern Mediterranean countries

The multimillion-dollar and colorful Arab world includes a number of countries in Africa (Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania) and Asia (Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, etc.). All of them are largely united on the basis of ethnic community and powerful civilizational traditions, in which the leading role is played by Islam. However, the level of socio-economic development of Arab countries can hardly be called homogeneous.

Countries with huge oil reserves (especially small Arabian states) are in an advantageous position. The standard of living there is quite high and stable, and the once poor and backward Arabian monarchies, thanks to the flow of petrodollars, have become prosperous countries with the highest level of per capita income. And if at first they only exploited the generous gifts of nature, then today the psychology of the “rentier” is giving way to a sound and rational strategy. A striking example That is Kuwait, where billions of petrodollars are invested in programs of socio-economic transformations, in the purchase of the latest technology, etc. Saudi Arabia and some other countries have taken the same path.

At the opposite pole are, for example, Sudan and Mauritania, whose level of development is practically no higher than poor African countries. These contrasts are somewhat mitigated by the system of mutual assistance: a fair amount of petrodollars from Arabian states is pumped into the poorest Arab countries to support them.

Of course, the success of Arab countries depends not only on the availability of natural oil reserves, but also on the development model they choose. The Arabs, like some African states, have already passed the stage of “socialist orientation”, and today we are no longer talking about the choice between socialism and capitalism. The question of preserving the traditions of Islam and combining this with the attitude towards Western values ​​and the influence of Western culture is now much more relevant and acutely perceived in the Arab world.

Islamic fundamentalism(i.e., an extremely conservative movement in one religion or another), which noticeably revived in the last quarter of the 20th century. and which, along with other regions, covers almost the entire Arab world, calls for a return to the purity of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, to restore the lost standards of life that are prescribed by the Koran. There is something more behind this: on the one hand, the desire to strengthen one’s civilizational identity, and on the other, to oppose the inviolability of tradition to the onslaught modern world, changing before our eyes. In some countries (for example, Egypt), despite the increased frequency in the 90s. surges of fundamentalism, the Eurocapitalist path has been chosen, which leads to an inevitable change in traditional foundations. In other states (in particular, in the Arabian monarchies), a deep commitment to Islam is combined with the adoption of only external standards of Western life, and not by the entire population. Finally, there is a third option: complete rejection of everything that brings with it the influence of the West. This is the case, for example, in Iraq. There is militant fundamentalism combined with aggressive foreign policy(which, by the way, caused resistance even from a number of Arab countries) inflicted in the 80-90s. a heavy blow to the state's economy and seriously slowed down its development.

A somewhat similar situation arises in countries associated with a single Arab religion - Islam (Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan). The differences between them are also largely determined by their relationship to the Western model. If Turkey consistently continues to follow the Euro-capitalist path, then in Iran the course towards modernization and Europeanization, launched by Shah Reza Pahlavi back in the mid-20s, led to mass discontent half a century later. As a result, Iran was proclaimed an Islamic republic (1979) and became one of the main strongholds of fundamentalism. The coming century will show what kind of future awaits Islamic fundamentalism and whether its adherents will be able to find special way development without exposing their countries to economic and political disasters.

Arab world traditionally called the Arab countries of the Middle East and some countries of North and East Africa that are members of the League of Arab States and have Arabic as the state language. Today, the Arab world has 23 countries, two of which are SADR (Saharan Arab Democratic Republic) and the State of Palestine - are not recognized by all countries. Total area of ​​Arab countries, including the SADR and the State of Palestine - more than 13.5 million sq. km. Population exceeded the mark in 380 million people.

Arab countries are members of the international organization created on March 22, 1945 "League of Arab States"(LAG).

Arab countries are a territory of contrasts. GDP per capita fluctuates from 260 US dollars(in Yemen) to over 17,000 US dollars in the Gulf countries. The leader is Saudi Arabia, the only Arab country, one of the TOP 20 largest economically developed countries in the world, its GDP is more than a quarter of the entire GDP of the Arab world. Half of the Arab economies are made up of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Richest countries The region has inexhaustible reserves of oil and gas. Kuwait has the highest rating among Arab countries is an Arab state that owns 9% of the world's oil reserves. Oil provides Kuwait with about 50% of GDP, 95% of export revenues and 95% of government budget revenue. Djibouti is at the bottom of the Arab countries is an Arab state located in the Horn of Africa, which has virtually no natural resources and is the main trading port of Ethiopia.

Social policy, the unity inherent in Arab culture, and the tradition of helping the poor contribute to the fact that poverty in Arab countries is not as terrible as in some other regions of Africa. However, they also have a significant shortage of human capital. Long before the Arab Spring, Arab countries faced employment problem for the rapidly growing young population, especially among educated youth. Unemployment in Arab countries is 15%- the highest in the developing world.

Massive popular unrest that swept through a number of Arab countries, turning them into a hotbed of tension and escalating into uprisings, revolutions and civil wars, with thousands of casualties among demonstrators and civilians, turbulent political events recent times in the Arab world, “revolution of social expectations”, transition from autocracy to democracy forever changed the vector of development of the region.

In many countries of the Arab world began restructuring of political and socio-economic models, which required the mobilization of the state and society to create an innovative economy as the main source of growth in the well-being of citizens. At the same time, the processes of globalization accelerated, forcibly drawing Arab countries into the sphere of influence on them in trade, in the regulation of export-import mechanisms, in the field of science, technology, culture, art, the formation of artistic tastes, the imposition of European standards - from clothing styles to moral principles .

Among the consequences of the Arab Spring, especially noteworthy active development of the credit and banking system. Bahrain is officially considered the financial capital of the Middle East, and Qatar has legislation to transform it into an international financial center. The United Arab Emirates is a traditional place of concentration and movement of large cash flows. Experts from the international agency Standard & Poor’s believe that the Islamic banking sector in the Arab region has great growth opportunities, and banks can carry out operations without violating Islamic principles. According to experts, in the next 10 years, Islamic banks will be able to attract 40-50% of all available savings on the global market. Currently, the growth rate of the Islamic finance industry reaches 15% per year, the number of institutions has reached 300, and deposit accounts have reached US$500 billion. Largest number of Islamic financial organizations concentrated in Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar.

The number of Internet users is growing. Just 10-15 years ago, only 0.6% of residents of Arab countries used the Internet. Now, according to the Internet World Status website, more than 60 million people already use the Internet, which is one sixth of the region’s population. The countries of the Arab world continue to actively modernize information Technology and infrastructure as part of the strategy for economic development and creation of new jobs (Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Algeria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, etc.). Liberalization in the telecommunications sector has begun in many Arab countries, although this process still lags far behind the rest of the world: since financial expenses incommensurate with profits, investors are in no hurry to invest their funds in this sector of the economy. And yet, most of the largest operators cellular communication North African countries are no longer owned by the private sector, with the exception of Algerie Telecom, whose privatization was delayed due to the global financial crisis.

Leading world powers, including Russia, have always experienced an increased interest in Arab countries, whether it concerns history, culture, people, religion, society, state... In the era of globalization, with political, economic and environmental problems hanging over the world, the Arab countries the world is interested global community from a political and economic prospects, places for solving many political and economic, in particular, energy and raw materials issues.

And now, although the existing cooperation between Russia and Arab countries in the trade, economic and socio-political spheres is insignificant and inconsistent, it has serious potential and prospects.

One day a friend of mine was consulting on where he should go on vacation so that it would be cheaper and better. When the conversation turned to Turkey, I heard an interesting phrase from him: “No! I don’t want to go to an Arab country!” I had to spend about five minutes explaining that Arabs and Turks are completely different peoples, and calling Turkey an Arab country is not correct.

But this is a cliché, and the most common among Russian tourists. The phrase 'Arab country' is used to describe many countries, but no one can really explain what this means and what properties a country must have in order to receive such status from the average Russian citizen. That's what we'll talk about in this blog post.

Which countries do Russians consider to be Arab countries?

After I asked myself this question, I without much haste began asking friends and clients about which countries they put on this list. The first country that almost everyone called was , which surprised me, since .

Egypt is truly an Arab country, since almost 90% of its population are Arabs. Do not forget that 10% of the population are Copts, who consider themselves descendants of the builders. Copts profess Christianity, for which they suffer. I agree “100%” with Egypt.

Only half of the people I interviewed named the United Arab Emirates. Almost 100% of the population are Arabs. Even the main attraction, the tower, is reminiscent of the famous Spiral Minaret in Samarra.

It turned out that inclusion in the list (more than half of those surveyed included it among the Arab countries) is just a small thing. Iran is included in this list, although there are almost no Arabs there. Most Iranians are Persians and they are very far from Arabs.

A high GDP per capita means that the country is an important participant in the global market. Here are the top ten richest Muslim countries according to Yahoo Finance.

Qatar:

The Gulf countries, with a population of 1.7 million, top the list of the world's richest Muslim countries. Qatar's average GDP per capita for 2011 is $88,919. The main levers of active growth are the continuous growth of production volumes and exports of natural gas, oil and petroleum products. Qatar, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is also bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Kuwait:

The state with a population of about 3.5 million ranks second in the ranking of the richest Muslim countries. The country's per capita GDP for 2011 is $54,654. Kuwait has discovered 104 million barrels of crude oil reserves, representing approximately 10% of the world's reserves. Oil production in Kuwait is expected to increase to 4 million barrels by 2020. Other important sectors of the country's economy include shipping, construction and financial services.

Brunei:

Brunei is the third richest Muslim country in the world. Brunei's per capita GDP for 2011 was $50,506. The country's wealth stems from its vast natural gas and oil deposits. Over the past 80 years, the country's economy has been dominated by the oil and gas industry, with hydrogen resources accounting for more than 90% of its exports and more than half of its GDP.

United Arab Emirates:

The UAE ranks fourth on the list of richest Muslim countries. The UAE relies on oil and gas, which forms 25% of GDP, amounting to 48,222 in 2011. Oil and natural gas exports play a role in the country important role in economics, particularly in Abu Dhabi.

Oman:

Oman is the fifth richest Muslim country in the world. Oman's per capita GDP for 2011 was $28,880. Oman's oil reserves total 5.5 billion barrels.

Saudi Arabia:

Saudi Arabia ranks sixth on the list. The country's per capita GDP in 2011 was $24,434. Arabia ranks second in the world in terms of oil reserves. Oil accounts for 95% of the country's exports and 70% of government revenue. The country also has gas reserves that are the sixth largest in the world.

Bahrain:

Bahrain is the seventh richest Muslim country in the world. The country's per capita GDP for 2011 was $23,690. Oil is Bahrain's most exported product.

Türkiye:

Türkiye ranks eighth in the list of richest Muslim countries. The country's per capita GDP in 2011 was $16,885. Tourism in Turkey has achieved rapid growth and is the most important sector of the economy. Other key parts of the country's economy are construction, oil refining, petrochemicals and automobile manufacturing. Turkey is one of the leading countries in shipbuilding and ranks fourth after China, Japan and South Korea by the number of ships ordered.

Malaysia:

Malaysia completes the ranking of the richest Muslim countries in the world. The country's per capita GDP in 2011 was $15,589. Malaysia is an exporter of agricultural resources and oil. Also, Malaysia is the largest producer of rubber and palm oil. Tourism in Malaysia is the third largest source of income.

Geographically, the Arab world covers the region from the Atlantic Ocean near the northern part of East Africa to the Arabian Sea. A wide swath of the planet, including territory throughout North Africa, a large cluster in South-West Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, is connected by the Arabic language.

A Semitic language related to Hebrew spoken by citizens of member states of the Arab States, founded in 1945 to represent the interests of Arab people and achieve the political unification of Arab countries.

The political boundaries of the Arab world have historically diverged, leaving Arabs as minorities in the non-Arab countries of the Sahel and Horn of Africa and Middle Eastern countries (Cyprus, Turkey and Iran). At the same time, non-Arab minorities remained in Arab countries. However, the underlying geography - sea, deserts and mountains - provides strong natural boundaries for the region.

Kingdom of Bahrain

• capital - Manama;
• The official language is Arabic.

Located in the Persian Gulf on the Bahrain archipelago, in southwest Asia. The state has been governed as a constitutional monarchy since 2002 under the leadership of Sunni King Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa, whose family holds all major political and military positions in the government. The gap between the Shia majority and the Sunni population led to long-term tensions that periodically erupted into civil disobedience.

Bahrain is one of the first countries in the Persian Gulf to discover oil (production began in 1932) and build an oil refinery. The energy sector remains the backbone of the kingdom's economy, making up a significant share of government revenue, but its share of GDP has also been declining due to earlier efforts to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons.

Not reaching production levels like Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, Bahrain was forced to diversify its economy. This led to the kingdom becoming one of the main financial centers in the region. Transport links are being modernized and expansion work is underway. international airport Bahrain, which is expected to enhance the country's status as a transit and logistics hub.

Iraq

• capital - Baghdad;
• official languages ​​are Arabic and Kurdish.

Once a country of great civilizations, Iraq, located in western Asia, in modern history has become a field for competing forces with high level sectarian violence following the US-led overthrow of President Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Shiite-led governments that have held power since then have struggled to maintain order, but the country has had only brief respites.

Archaeological sites of Samarra, Iraq

Chaos and violence are preventing the revival of an economy destroyed by decades of conflict and sanctions. Iran is the third largest country in the world in terms of crude oil reserves. The economy is expected to grow slightly in 2019, but much depends on the rise and fall of oil production and the economic fallout from the Islamic State (IS) insurgency. The budget deficit is constantly growing.

The main ethnic groups are Arabs and Kurds. Others are Assyrians, Turkmens, Shabakis, Yezidis, Armenians, Mandaeans, Circassians and Kavliyas.

• capital - Doha;
• The official language is Arabic.

Since gaining independence in 1971, Qatar has quickly become a leader regionally and internationally. Economic, political and Cultural Center Middle East. With a relatively small local population and significant revenues derived from natural gas, Qatar has the world's highest GDP per capita (averaging around US$100,000).

Until 2010, the country was mainly known internationally as the home of the Al Jazeera media network, but that all changed when Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December 2010.

Numerous large billboard infrastructures continue to expand the construction industry. By emphasizing extensive international investment, ample spending on significant infrastructure projects, labor migration issues, and state involvement in foreign and regional affairs, Qatar has made a name for itself on the international stage.

Qatar's significant oil and natural gas reserves underpin rapid economic growth.

The country is the world's fourth largest producer of dry natural gas and the largest producer of liquefied natural gas, resulting in hydrocarbon revenues making up the bulk of national income.

Although the fall in global energy prices has impacted export earnings, last years Strong diversification of the economy has led to dividends, with non-hydrocarbon growth reaching 7.7% in 2015, compared with a 0.1% contraction for hydrocarbon growth over the same period. The country's financial sector continues to develop; Islamic banking in particular has witnessed significant progress.

Jordan

• capital - Amman;
• The official language is Arabic.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies in the heart of the Middle East, in a region often called the Levant. Jordan's importance stems from its strategic location - at the crossroads of what Christians, Jews and Muslims call the Holy Land.

Shares land borders with Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria. In the south it has access to the Red Sea through the Arabian Gulf. Jordan has few natural resources, but has played an important role in the power struggle in the Middle East. Key US ally. One of two Arab countries (along with Egypt) to have concluded a peace agreement with Israel.

• capital - Sana'a;
• language - Arabic.

Despite its ancient roots as a crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the modern Republic of Yemen is a relatively young state. Founded in 1990 as a result of the merger of North Yemen (officially the Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (officially the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen).

Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East. The ongoing conflict in the country has caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. As of 2019, approximately 17 million Yemenis (60 percent of the total population) are in need of any kind of humanitarian assistance, and 7 million are experiencing severe food shortages.

(Kuwait; Arabic).

Kuwait is a small country located in southwest Asia, in the upper part of the Persian Gulf region, surrounded by powerful neighbors: Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. Its strategic location and vast oil reserves make Kuwait one of the richest countries in the world (5th highest GDP per capita). US ally.

A conservative state (sheikhdom) with a Sunni Muslim majority, Kuwait stands out among other monarchies in the Gulf region for being the most open political system. As a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Kuwait is perhaps the most politically dynamic in the region, and tensions persist between the parliament and the cabinet controlled by the ruling Al Sabah family. The government faces growing opposition calls for radical political reform.

As Kuwait continues its efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenues, it is increasing momentum on several major infrastructure projects that should help further integrate the country into the global economy.

To visit the country you need.

(Beirut; Arabic).

With a high level of literacy and a traditional cash culture, Lebanon has always been an important trading center in the Middle East. Situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria, Lebanon is the smallest country in the Middle East. But, despite its compact size, throughout its history it has played an important role in regional politics and security. Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Christians and Druze represent the main population groups in the country, which has always remained a haven for the region's minorities.

After years of political turmoil, Lebanon has regained its former reputation as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" and is becoming an important international direction, both for leisure and for business. Pristine natural beauty, beautiful mountain and seaside resorts, excellent weather, great food, European architecture, breathtaking night life, casinos, international hotels attract wealthy travelers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

If you plan to visit the country and stay there for more than 30 days, then it is necessary.

(Abu Dhabi; Arabic).

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven emirates, is one of the most important economic centers in the Middle East. Before oil was discovered in the 1950s, the UAE's economy depended on fishing and pearling. The UAE has diversified and become a regional trading and tourist center. UAE companies have invested heavily in foreign countries.

Despite its traditional conservatism, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf. However, politically they remain an authoritarian state. Federal absolute monarchy. The two most famous emirates are cosmopolitan Dubai and oil-rich Abu Dhabi.

In recent years, both have played key roles in managing trade and investment between the region and the rest of the world. Lesser-known emirates are Umm al-Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. Although in Lately they also become important shopping centers.

Relations with neighboring Iran remain tense due to the ongoing territorial dispute over the Persian Gulf islands. The UAE was one of three countries that recognized Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Oman

(Muscat; Arabic).

Located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council located outside the Gulf itself (at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula). Taking advantage of its strategic location, it invested in infrastructure with the goal of becoming a global logistics hub.

The country has smaller hydrocarbon reserves than neighboring Arab Gulf states and has made efforts to diversify the sultanate, becoming driving force economic growth. The long-term development strategy, Oman Vision 2020, emphasizes industrialization, privatization and Omanization. Logistics, tourism, mining, fishing and industrial production identified as potential future economic drivers and are the focus of development under Vision 2040.

Oldest independent state In the Arab world, Oman is one of the most traditional countries in the region. Oman has not been immune to political dissent in the region. Protests in 2011 demanding reform were dispersed by police, and in next year The government began cracking down on online criticism.

Those wishing to travel to the country must.

Saudi Arabia

(Riyadh; Arabic).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the main players in the Arab world. Authority is built on geographic size, prestige as the birthplace of Islam and its status as a colossus as an oil producer. It stands out for its support of the puritanical version of Sunni Islam, which welcomes harsh punishments, executions (public beheadings), and the oppression of women. It doesn't just come out that way.

State of Palestine

• capital - Ramallah;
• language - Arabic.

A de jure sovereign state in the Middle East. The West Bank - bordering Israel and Jordan - and the Gaza Strip - bordering Israel and Egypt - with East Jerusalem as the designated capital, although the administrative center is located in Ramallah. The Palestinians seek self-determination but have achieved only limited control over their territories. The economy is fragmented and subject to Israeli restrictions. A significant portion of the population depends on international food aid.

The Palestinian population - some ten or eleven million people - is divided between historical Palestine and a diaspora in neighboring Arab countries. Efforts to create a Palestinian state West Bank the Jordan River and Gaza on the Mediterranean coast have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Israel and disputes over the status of diaspora Palestinians.

The war that followed Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 saw the former British Mandate of Palestine divided between Israel, Trans-Jordan and Egypt. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced from their homeland during the war - the Palestinian exodus, which they call the Nakba (catastrophe).

Syria

The capital is Damascus.

Once the center of the Islamic Caliphate, Syria occupied territory that had experienced invasions over the centuries, from the Romans and Mongols to the Crusaders and Turks. A land of fertile plains, high mountains and deserts, home to a variety of ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shiites and Arab Sunnis, the latter of whom make up the majority Muslim population.

Modern Syria gained independence from France in 1946, but has experienced periods of political instability due to the conflicting interests of these various groups.
Since 2011, political power in the hands of a small elite has been contested in a brutal civil conflict, initially sparked by the Arab Spring, that has evolved into a complex war involving regional and international powers.

Algeria's national commitment to pan-Arabism and the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa has led to an active role in the region. It joined the League of Arab States (LAS) immediately after the declaration of national independence in 1962.

To go to Algeria you need.

Djibouti

• capital - Djibouti;
• languages ​​- Arabic, French.

Located on the northeastern coast of Africa, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti - officially the Republic of Djibouti - is bordered by the Gulf of Aden to the east and bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Thanks to geographical location Djibouti is of significant geopolitical interest, controlling access to and access to the main waterway of the Red Sea and one of the world's busiest shipping routes, the Suez Canal. Djibouti was a French protectorate (first a colony, then an overseas territory) until 1977. Supports foreign military presence: In 2002, the United States of America established the largest American military base in Africa (Camp Lemonnier) in Djibouti.

The seaport is the main source of the economy, providing the largest source of income and employment. In terms of metals and minerals, there are some deposits of gold, granite, limestone and marble. Djibouti is also seeking to exploit its significant geothermal resources to meet domestic energy demand.

• capital - Cairo;
• language – Arabic.

Illustrious ancient civilization Egypt, the largest Arab country, plays a central role in Middle Eastern politics and in the modern era. Big cities Egypt and almost all agricultural activity is concentrated along the banks and delta of the Nile. Most of the country is desert.

The economy is highly dependent on Agriculture, tourism and remittances from Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. However, rapid population growth and limited arable land are straining the country's resources and economy, and political instability often paralyzes government efforts to solve problems.

Egypt's great past and the fact that it was one of the first countries in the Middle East to open up Western world after Napoleon's invasion, gives him the right to claim the role of intellectual and cultural leader in the region. Al-Azhar Mosque ( Mosque of the Most Shining One) in Cairo is a symbol of Islamic Egypt and is extremely revered in the Sunni Muslim world.

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), declared by the Polisario Front in 1976, is now recognized by many governments and is a full member of the African Union. A buffer strip with landmines and fortifications runs the length of the disputed territory and separates the Moroccan-based western part from the eastern region controlled by the Polisario Front.

In addition to phosphate reserves and rich fishing grounds off the coast, Western Sahara is believed to have offshore oil fields.

Libya

• capital - Tripoli;
• language - Arabic.

Libya, located in northern Africa's Maghreb region, is a largely desert, oil-rich country with ancient history. It is washed in the north by the Mediterranean Sea and borders Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria and Tunisia. In modern history, it is known for the 42-year rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the chaos that followed his overthrow in 2011 as a result of an armed rebellion facilitated by Western military intervention. In recent years, Libya has been a key staging area for migrants heading to Europe.

There are serious concerns about the rise of Islamist militancy. Libya's economy continues to shrink. The influx of foreign direct investment has virtually ceased, and unemployment has risen sharply. Shortage current account accounted for almost half of GDP in 2017, while exports fell sharply. Crude oil production has been declining since 2013. The economy may recover in the next few years, but this largely depends on a stable government and improved security.

To travel to Libya, foreigners must