If you lived in Libya instead of Macedonia, you would:

Health

be 13.5% less likely to die by suicide

Macedonia has a suicide rate of 5.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Libya, it is 5.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 5.5 years less

In Macedonia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 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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be 25.5% more likely to be obese

In Macedonia, 26.8% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Libya, that number is 33.7% of people as of 2024.

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see 41.6% less spent on your healthcare

Macedonia spends $1,808 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Libya spends $1,055 as of 2023.

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have 16.2% less access to essential health services

Macedonia scores 74 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Libya scores 62 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 53.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Macedonia, 12.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Libya, that number is 18.8% as of 2025.

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make 38.5% less money

Macedonia has a GDP per capita of $10,490 as of 2025, while in Libya, the GDP per capita is $6,449 as of 2025.

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Life

have 87.5% more children

In Macedonia, there are approximately 8.8 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 19.7 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Macedonia, approximately 3.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Libya, 59.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 3.2 times more likely to die during infancy

In Macedonia, approximately 2.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Libya, on the other hand, 7.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 26.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In Macedonia, 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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be 12.0% less likely to have internet access

In Macedonia, approximately 93.1% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Libya, about 82.0% do as of 2024.

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Safety

be 6.0 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Macedonia, road accidents kill 5.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Libya, they kill 34.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

use 14.3% more electricity

Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Libya uses 3,796 kWh as of 2023.

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find 84.9% less home broadband

Macedonia has 29.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Libya has 4.5 as of 2022.

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live with 15.5 times more strain on fresh water

Macedonia withdraws 53% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Libya withdraws 817% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 12.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Macedonia, air pollution causes 62.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Libya, it causes 54.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.2 times more CO2

Macedonia emits 4.0 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 (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), 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 Macedonia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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