Libya Genealogy

Guide to Libya ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Country Information
Libya is a country in Africa bordered by Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, and Algeria. The official language is Arabic.

Libya was ruled in parts by empires, such as the Roman and Ottoman Empires, and tribes. In the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire ceded power of Lebanon over to Italy and the region remained under Italian rule from 1911-1943. From 1943-1951, Britain and France ruled Libya. Independence was not declared until 1951, by King Idris I. Libya became an Arab Republic after Muammar Gaddafi dethroned the king. He ruled until 2011 when he was killed during conflicts across the country known as the Arab Spring.

About 90% of the country today is considered desert or semi desert.

Tribal lineages are vital genealogical records in Libya.

Libya Map
Genealogy records are kept on the local level in Libya. Since 2007, Libya has been divided into 22 districts (baladiyat):

FamilySearch Resources
Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in researching your family.
 * Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research