Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Libya?
Tripoli
The capital of Libya is Tripoli. About 1.2 million people live in the Tripoli urban area — 15.9% of the country's population.
1.2 million
Urban area population
UTC+2
Time zone
32.88°N
Latitude · 13.17°E
Yes
Largest city
Tripoli at a glance
Name origin
The name derives from the Greek words tri and polis, meaning "three cities;" the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia.
Time zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
32 53 N, 13 10 E · IANA time zone Africa/Tripoli
Location of Libya
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
Largest cities in Libya
1
Tripoli Capital
1.2 million2
Misratah
984,0003
Benghazi
859,000Urban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Cairo, Egypt — 1,741 km
N'Djamena, Chad — 2,319 km
Niamey, Niger — 2,428 km
Khartoum, Sudan — 2,738 kmCapitals closest to Tripoli
Valletta, Malta — 355 km
Tunis, Tunisia — 514 km
Rome, Italy — 1,004 km
Vatican City, Vatican City — 1,005 km
Algiers, Algeria — 1,018 km
Tirana, Albania — 1,107 km
Athens, Greece — 1,112 km
Podgorica, Montenegro — 1,189 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Tripoli
What is the capital of Libya?
The capital of Libya is Tripoli. About 1.2 million people live in the Tripoli urban area — 15.9% of the country's population.
Is Tripoli the largest city in Libya?
Yes — Tripoli is also the largest urban area of Libya (1.2 million).
What time zone is Tripoli in?
Tripoli is on UTC+2 — UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Tripoli come from?
The name derives from the Greek words tri and polis, meaning "three cities;" the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia.
Which capital is closest to Tripoli?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Tunis (Tunisia) is the closest, 514 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).