If you lived in Libya instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 31.5% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Libya, that number is 33.7% of people as of 2024.

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live 13.1 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Libya, that number is 71 years (70 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 60.9% more likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Libya, that number is 18.8% as of 2025.

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make 71.3% less money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Libya, the GDP per capita is $6,449 as of 2025.

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Life

have 54.3% more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Libya, there are 16.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 79.5% more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Libya, on the other hand, 7.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 12.7% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Libya, about 82.0% do as of 2024.

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be 26.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Libya, that number is 73% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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Geography

see 29.9% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Libya, that number is 1,770 km.

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Infrastructure

find 87.3% less home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Libya has 4.5 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 2.5 times more CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Libya emits 8.7 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Libya: At a glance

Libya is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 1,759,540 sq km. The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government. Libya in 2012 formed a new parliament and elected a new prime minister.
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How big is Libya compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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