Subdivisions of Libya have varied significantly over the last two centuries. Initially Libya under Ottoman and Italian control was organized into three to four provinces, then into three governorates (muhafazah) and after World War II into twenty-five districts (baladiyah). Successively into thirty-two districts (shabiyat) with three administrative regions, and then into twenty-two districts (shabiyat). In 2012 the ruling General National Congress divided the country into governorates (muhafazat) and districts (baladiyat). While the districts have been created, the governorates have not.
History Prior to the Italian invasion of 1911, the area of Libya was administered as three separate provinces ("Vilayets") of the Ottoman Empire: Tripolitania, Fezzan, and Cyrenaica.
At first, Italy continued the tripartite administration, but soon consolidated the area into a single province/governorate administered as the "Libyan Colony". Indeed, until about 1931 -when the last of the native resistance to the Italians was subdued- the area was divided into three historical regions (Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan/"Territorio Sahara").
Then, in 1937, Italian governor Italo Balbo created the political entity called Libya. His Italian Libya was re-divided into four provinces and one territory: Tripoli, Misurata, Benghazi, Derna, (in the coastal north) and the "Southern Military Territory" () (in the Saharan south).Pan, Chia-Lin (1949) "The Population of Libya" Population Studies, 3(1): pp. 100-125, p. 104
After the French and British occupied Libya in 1943, it was again split into three provinces: Tripolitania in the northwest, Cyrenaica in the east, and Fezzan-Ghadames in the southwest.
After independence, Libya was divided into three governorates (muhafazat), matching the three provinces of before, but in 1963 it was divided into ten governorates.
Provinces
The Provinces of Libya existed during the last period of colonial Italian Libya through post-independence Libya. The country was divided into provinces from 1934 in the colonial era to 1963 when the Governorates system was instituted.
Governorates
The Governorates of Libya (muhafazah) were an administrative division of Libya from 1963 until 1983. Initially there were 46 governorates-districts, called baladiyah, that were reduced to 25 in 1987.
بلدية Baladiyah Main city Population(in 1984) Number(on the map)طبرق Butnan Tobruk 3 درنة Darnah Derna 14 الجبل الاخضر Jabal al Akhdar Bayda 5 المرج Marj Marj 4 بنغازي Benghazi Benghazi 13إجدابيا Al Wahat Ajdabiya 1 الكفرة Kufra Al Jawf 8 سرت Sirte Sirte 21 مصراتة Misratah Misrata 17 خمس Khoms Khoms 7 طرابلس Tripoli (Tarabulus) Tripoli 22العزيزيه Al 'Aziziyah 'Aziziya 2 الزاوية Az Zawiyah Zawiya 12 النقاط الخمس Nuqat al Khams Zuwara 9الجبل الغربي Gharyan Gharyan 16 زليطن Zlitan Zliten 25 الجفرة Al Jufrah Waddan ? 6 الشاطئ Ash Shati' Brak 10 سبها Sabha Sabha 19 أوباري Awbari Ubari 11 غدامس Ghadamès Ghadames 15 Sawfajjin Bani Walid 20 مرزق Mourzouq Murzuk 18 ترهونة Tarhounah Tarhuna 23 يفرن Yafran Yafran 24Total
Baladiyat
In 1983, a new system was introduced dividing the country into forty-six districts (baladiyat also sometimes translated as municipalities). In 1987 this number was reduced to twenty-five.
In Libya there are currently 106 districts, second level administrative subdivisions known as baladiyat (singular baladiyah). The number has varied since 2013 between 99 and 108.
Districts
On 2 August 1995, Libya reorganized into thirteen districts (sha`biyat - singular sha`biyah, also translated as municipalities or popularates). In 1998 this was increased to twenty-six districts (sha`biyat). In 2001 it was increased to thirty-two districts plus three administrative regions. Finally in 2007 the number was reduced to twenty-two districts. شعبيات الجماهيرية العظمىSha'biyat of Great Jamahiriya, accessed July 6, 2007
Basic People's Congresses
Under Gaddafi Libyan districts were further subdivided into Basic People's Congresses (Mu'tamar shaʿbi asāsi ). Geographically they corresponded approximately to the level of a township or borough. In desert areas they often had an extensive land area with very low population, and were generally centered on, and named for, an oasis.
Overview year number of divisions name of divisions historically (Persians) 1(?) Barqa Shatrapani/Satrapy Shatrapani/satrapy historically (Greeks) 1(?) Libya Satrapy satrapy historically Roman Empire Roman Libya: Creta et Cyrenaica province historically Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Tripolitania) Ottoman Tripolitania 1 vilayet colonised territory (1st phase) Italian North Africa, from 1912 to 1927 1Italian Libya states "Italian Libya was formed from the colonies of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania which were taken by Italy from the Ottoman Empire in 1912". (Italian Libya) or 2Italian North Africa states "from 1912 to 1934, as Tripolitania and Cyrenaica" governorate or province colonised territory (2nd phase) Italian North Africafrom 1927 to 1934 2 (Italian Cyrenaica,Italian Cyrenaica states "was formed in 1927" and "In 1934, Cyrenaica became part of Italian Libya". Italian Libya states "Italian Libya was formed from the colonies of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania which were taken by Italy from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 after the Italo-Turkish War of 1911 to 1912".Provinces of Libya states "From 1927 to 1934, the territory was split into two separate colonies, each run by their own Italian governor: Italian Cyrenaica and Italian Tripolitania". Italian TripolitaniaItalian Tripolitania states "was formed in 1927" and "In 1934, Cyrenaica became part of Italian Libya". Italian Libya states "Italian Libya was formed from the colonies of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania which were taken by Italy from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 after the Italo-Turkish War of 1911 to 1912".) also Fezzan?Italian Libya states "Both Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, along with Fezzan, were merged into Italian Libya in 1934" but Italian North Africa states "from 1912 to 1934, as Tripolitania and Cyrenaica". governorate or province colonised territory (3rd phase) Italian Libya from 1934 to 1937 3Provinces of Libya states "In 1934 Italy adopted the name "Libya" as the official name of the reunified area, and administratively divided it up into the three provinces of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan". (Cyrenaica, Fezzan, Tripolitania) or 4Italian Libya states "In 1934, [...] the colony (made up of the three Provinces of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan)" but also in the same paragraph "The colony was administered among four provincial governatores [...] and the southern military territory". or 1Italian North Africa states "Indeed, from 1934 to 1940, Italian North Africa was then known as Libya as the North African territories were consolidated into one colony, Italian Libya". Later, the list confirms 1 division. province colonised territory (4th phase) Provinces of the Fourth Shore within the Italian Colonial Empire from 1937 to 1940 4 (Tripoli, Bengazi, Derna, Misurata) or 5Provinces of Libya states "In 1937 Cyrenaica and Tripolitania provinces split, with northern Cyrenaica becoming Benghazi and Derna provinces, and northern Tripolitania splitting into Tripoli and Misrata. Fezzan was not split, but the whole southern desert area was militarily". (along with Southern Military Territory) or 1 provinceItalian Libya states "1939 a decree law transformed the commissariats into provinces". colonised territory (5th phase) after World War II from 1943 to 1951 3Italian Libya states "From 1943 to 1951, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were under British administration, while the French controlled Fezzan".Provinces of Libya states "French and British occupied Libya in 1943, it was again split into three provinces: Tripolitania in the northwest, Cyrenaica in the east, and Fezzan-Ghadames in the southwest". (Cyrenaica and Tripolitania were British; Fezzan-Ghadames was French) province after independence in 1951-1952 (Kingdom of Libya) 3 muhafazah (governorate) in Kingdom of Libya after 1963 and in Libyan Jamahiriya after 1969 coup d'état 10 muhafazah (governorate) after 1983 46 baladiyah after 1987-1988 25 baladiyah after 1995 13 shabiyah (district) after 1998 26 shabiyah (district) after 2001 32 shabiyah (district) after 2007 22 shabiyah (district) after 2013 99 to 108 baladiyah after 2022 19 Muqata'ah (provinces)
See also Districts of Libya Governorates of Libya Provinces of Libya Basic People's Congress
Notes