Psychiatry in Libya: eastern region

Abstract

Libya occupies an approximate area of 1.8 million sq. km in the northern part of Africa, with a population of 4.5 million. of the population, 97% are Muslims, 46.5% are under 15 years and only 2.3% are over 65 years of age. Sixty-four per cent of the population live in urban areas and the literacy rate is 60%. Tripoli, situated in the west, is the capital city of Libya and Benghazi, the second biggest city, is situated in the east of the country and the distance between the two cities is about 1000 km. The population of Benghazi and eastern Libya is about 2 million.