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, letting them handle family matters like marriage and inheritance. However, other religious groups do not have the same rights.

Unfortunately, religious minorities sometimes face pressure and unfair treatment. Some groups may be pushed to follow Islam, and non-Muslims can be at risk in certain places. In 2023, Libya was considered one of the more difficult places in the world for Christians to live. That same year, the country received a low score—just 1 out of 4—for how much religious freedom it allowed.

Islam

Main article: Islam in Libya

In the seventh century, Muslim groups came to Libya, and by the eighth century, most people there had stopped fighting against them. The cities quickly started following Islam, but many people in the countryside took longer to change their ways.

Old beliefs from before Islam mixed with the new religion. This created a form of Islam that included special rituals, beliefs about spirits, and respect for local holy people. These ideas were common across North Africa. The educated people in the cities kept to the more 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, different from how Islam is practiced in Libya today. 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, with more than 60,000 people in 2016. The Coptic Church has a long history in Libya, even before people from Arab countries moved in. There are also many Roman Catholics, with about 40,000 members. In Tripoli, there is one Anglican group, mostly made up of workers from Africa, and it is part of the Egyptian Anglican area. The Anglican leader for Libya lives in Cairo because many Christians in Libya come from Egypt, including the Copts.

Judaism

Main article: History of the Jews in Libya

Jews lived in Libya for a very long time, dating back to ancient times. At one point, there was a large Jewish community there. However, over time, many Jews left due to difficult situations and moved to other places, especially after World War II and later events.

Eventually, almost all Jews left Libya, and today there are none left. The last Jewish person in Libya passed away in 2002, marking the end of this ancient community.

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, but by 2018, this number grew to around 25%. Many young people especially 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 part of Libya’s population, about 0.3%, practices Buddhism. Most of these people are immigrants from Asia. However, Libya does not have any special Buddhist buildings like pagodas or temples.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Libya

There are only a small number of Hindus in Libya. Most of them came from India to find work. Before 2011, about 15,000 to 16,000 Hindus lived there, but many went back to India when the country faced war.