Tripoli, Libya
Tripoli (/ˈtrɪpəli/; Arabic: طرابلس الغرب, romanized: Ṭarābulus al-Gharb, lit. 'Western Tripoli') is the capital and largest city of Libya, with a population of about 1.183 million people in 2023. It is located in the northwest of Libya on the edge of the desert, on a point of rocky land projecting into the Mediterranean Sea and forming a bay. It includes the port of Tripoli and the country's largest commercial and manufacturing center. It is also the site of the University of Tripoli. The vast Bab al-Azizia barracks, which includes the former family estate of Muammar Gaddafi, is also located in the city. Colonel Gaddafi largely ruled the country from his residence in this barracks.
Tripoli
طرابلس | |
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Clockwise from top: Tripoli panorama; Tripoli Central Business District; Arch of Marcus Aurelius; a street in Tripoli; Tripoli Beach Park; Martyrs' Square; and Red Castle Museum | |
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Flag | |
OpenStreetMap Location in Libya | |
Tripoli Location in Libya and Africa Tripoli Tripoli (Libya) Tripoli Tripoli (Africa) | |
| Coordinates: 32°53′14″N 13°11′29″E | |
| Country | Libya |
| Region | Tripolitania |
| District | Tripoli District |
| First settled | 7th century BC |
| Founded by | Phoenicians |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (Tripoli Central) | Ibrahim Khalifi |
| • Governing body | Tripoli Local Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,507 km2 (582 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Population (2023) | |
| • Total | 1,183,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| Area code | 21 |
| License Plate Code | 5 |
| Website | tlc.gov.ly (archived) |
Tripoli was founded in the 7th century BC by the Phoenicians, who gave it the Libyco-Berber name Oyat (Punic: 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤕, Wyʿt), before passing into the hands of the Greek rulers of Cyrenaica as Oea (Greek: Ὀία, Oía). Due to the city's long history, there are many sites of archeological significance in Tripoli. Tripoli may also refer to the sha'biyah (top-level administrative division in the Libyan system), the Tripoli District.