Living in Libya: the ultimate expat guide

Bordered by the mediterranean sea to the north, that region experiences mild mediterranean climate. The majority of Libya however, is a desert, and one of the hottest and driest areas in the world. Certain parts of Libya rarely see any rain. In terms of natural hazards, Libya generally experiences sirocco, which is essentially wind coming from the Sahara desert and can sometimes turn into hurricanes. Other natural hazards include dust storms and sandstorms.

Temperatures can reach extreme highs in Libya, even reaching world records at times, such as in 2012 when the record high was 58°C (about 136°F). In the desert, temperatures can drop to below freezing during winter time.

Most of Libya's economy involves the oil sector, the country being home to many oil reserves (the largest in the African continent). Other natural resources include natural gas and gypsum, which is a sulfate mineral used in fertilizer, plaster, chalk, and wallboard. Given the oil production and the GDP that it brings, along with a small population, Libya has one of the highest per capita GDPs in the continent.

However, there is a heavy dependence on an external labour force, mostly immigrants, and a high unemployment rate in the country. Moreover, the heavy reliance on the energy and oil sector means that there is not enough diversity in terms of the economy.

The majority of the population considers themselves to be Arabs and speaks Arabic, although English is also widely understood. Most people live in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata. The minority population is considered to be Berbers, an indigenous people who speak Berber languages, although there are a few other minorities as well such as Tuareg and Tebou.

With over 12% of the population belonging to an immigrant population,the rest of the Libyan population consists of Bangladeshis, Greeks, Turks, Italians, Indians, and Maltese.

The major religion in Libya today is Islam, more specifically Sunni Islam, although around 300 BCE the country was home to one of the world's oldest Jewish communities prior to the Italian Facist movement in the 1940s.

Libyans keep the traditions of the nomadic Arab people, the Bedouins,including their sense of hospitality, an emphasis on kinship and heritage, and a collectivistic society.

The cuisine of Libya is an interesting mix of Arab, Bedouin, and Italian. In some areas of the country, pasta is a staple, whereas rice is more popular in other places. Tomatoes, pasta sauce, couscous, olives, dates, and grains form part of regular meals. Two of the most common dishes include bazeen (unleavened bread made with barley flour and served with a tomato sauce), and asida (unleavened bread served with honey and butter).