Religion in Libya

Libya is a country where most people follow a special way of life called Islam, mainly the Sunni kind. In 2020, about 94% of Libyans were Sunni Islam. Only a tiny part of the country did not follow Islam.

Besides Sunni Islam, there were small groups of other beliefs. Some people followed Christianity, mostly from other countries living in Libya. The biggest Christian group was the Coptic Orthodox Christianity, from Egypt. There were also a few Roman Catholics, mostly from Italy and Malta, and a very small Anglican group.

Long ago, Libya was also home to one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, but that changed after some sad events in the mid-1940s. Today, Buddhism and other beliefs have a very small presence in Libya.

Religious freedom

Libya's constitution says that Islam is the official religion and that Sharia guides the country's laws. It also promises religious freedom for Christians and Jews. However, other religious groups do not have the same rights.

Sometimes, religious minorities face unfair treatment. In 2023, Libya was a difficult place for Christians to live.

Islam

Main article: Islam in Libya

In the seventh century, Muslim groups came to Libya. By the eighth century, most people there stopped fighting them. The cities quickly followed Islam, but people in the countryside took longer.

Old beliefs from before Islam mixed with the new religion. This created a form of Islam with special rituals and beliefs about spirits. These ideas were common across North Africa. The educated people in the cities followed the strict rules of Islam.

Before the 1930s, the Sanusi Movement was an important religious group in Libya. It was designed for life in the desert and had special meeting places in Tripolitania, Fezzan, and especially in Cyrenaica. This group was very careful in its practices. A Libyan kind of Sufism is also found in some areas.

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in Libya

Christianity is a small part of the religion in Libya. The biggest group is the Coptic Orthodox, made up of workers from Egypt. There are also many Roman Catholics. In Tripoli, there is one Anglican group, mostly made up of workers from Africa. The Anglican leader for Libya lives in Cairo.

Judaism

Main article: History of the Jews in Libya

Jews lived in Libya for a very long time, since ancient times. At one point, many Jews lived there. But later, many left because of hard times, especially after World War II.

Today, there are almost no Jews left in Libya. The last Jewish person in Libya passed away in 2002.

Religiosity

A study by the Arab Barometer found that more people in Libya said they were not religious over time. In 2013, about 10% of Libyans said they were not religious. By 2018, this grew to around 25%. Many young people felt this way.

In 2018, almost everyone in Libya — 99.9% — said they were Muslim. Only a very small group, 0.1%, said they did not follow any religion. The study talked to 1,962 people to learn about these views.

Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism in Libya

A small number of people in Libya practice Buddhism. Most of these people come from Asia. Libya does not have special Buddhist buildings like pagodas or temples.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Libya

Only a few Hindus live in Libya. Most came from India for jobs. Before 2011, there were about 15,000 to 16,000 Hindus, but many returned to India when the country had war.