In 2024, Libya achieved a crime index of 60.4 points, meaning that the crime levels were high. The index measures the level of crime in a given country or city. It ranges from zero, indicating low levels of crime, to 100, very high levels. In the period examined, the index in Libya peaked at nearly 70 points in 2015. The country had the highest levels of crime in North Africa.

According to the organized crime index, human trafficking, financial crimes, and non-renewable resource crimes were the most prevalent criminal markets in Libya in 2023, with each obtaining *** index points out of 10. Arms trafficking, and extortion and protection racketeering crimes followed as the main types of crime in the country.

According to the organized crime index, state-embedded actors were the most prevalent criminal actors in Libya in 2023, obtaining *** index points. Mafia-style groups and criminal networks followed as the main perpetrators of organized crime in the country.

Libya: Violent crimes per 100,000 people: The latest value from is crimes per 100,000 people, unavailable from crimes per 100,000 people in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 crimes per 100,000 people, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Libya from to is crimes per 100,000 people. The minimum value, crimes per 100,000 people, was reached in while the maximum of crimes per 100,000 people was recorded in .

Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 4.000 Ratio in 2015. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 4.000 Ratio from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2015, with 1 observations. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Libya – Table LY.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, male are estimates of unlawful male homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data was reported at 2.500 Ratio in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.100 Ratio for 2010. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 3.100 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.700 Ratio in 2005 and a record low of 2.500 Ratio in 2015. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: per 100,000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Libya – Table LY.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; Weighted average;

In 2021, the terrorism index in Libya stood at 5.1 points, revealing medium levels of terrorism threat. The index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism on a scale from zero (no impact) to 10 (highest impact). In the period examined, the index in the country peaked at 7.19 points in 2015.

As of 2024, Libya was the North African country with the highest crime index, achieving **** index points. The index measures the level of crime in a given country or city. Algeria followed with a score of **** (moderate level). In contrast, Tunisia registered the lowest crime index in North Africa in that year.

Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.978 Ratio in 2015. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.978 Ratio from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2015, with 1 observations. Libya LY: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Libya – Table LY.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, female are estimates of unlawful female homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

In 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had Africa's highest organized crime index in Africa, scoring 7.35 points. Nigeria ranked second with a total of 7.28 points. To follow, other African countries with significant criminality levels were South Africa, Kenya, Libya, and the Central African Republic. Main criminal markets in Africa Human trafficking is the main type of crime perpetrated in Africa. In 2022, over 21,700 human trafficking victims were identified in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most victims of trafficking in persons on the continent are girls and women, who are predominantly victims of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Other common forms of criminality in Africa are financial crimes, as well as arms trafficking, which include the illegal trade of unauthorized small arms, ammunition, and explosives. Terrorism across Africa In recent years, terrorism has spread at particularly high levels in some African countries. Nigeria, headquarter of the Boko Haram terrorist group, has been facing high levels of crime, violence, and poor national security, and ranked among the highest 10 countries in the global terrorism index in 2022. However, Nigeria and Niger have seen improvements between 2020 and 2022, with the hot spot area in the region moving more towards the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Furthermore, terrorism tends to have adverse effects on the economy. For example, the economic impact of terrorist acts between 2007 and 2019 in Nigeria amounted to around 142 billion U.S. dollars.

Libye: Homicides per 100,000 people: Pour cet indicateur, The UN office on drugs and crime fournit des données pour la Libye de 2012 à 2015. La valeur moyenne pour Libye pendant cette période était de 2.5 homicides per 100,000 people avec un minimum de 2.5 homicides per 100,000 people en 2012 et un maximum de 2.5 homicides per 100,000 people en 2012.

Political stability in North Africa remains a significant challenge, with all countries in the region recording negative index values in the political stability and absence of violence/terrorism index. As of 2023, Sudan recorded the lowest stability score in the region at -2.47. The country has seen a sharp and sustained decline in stability since 2020. This was in the aftermath of the 2019 protests, which led to the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. The political situation worsened further in April 2023 as a result of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering widespread displacement and insecurity. Corruption, repression, and media control A lack of political freedoms and press freedom plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of instability. According to the World Press Freedom Index in 2024, countries like Egypt and Algeria fall into the categories of a “very serious” or “difficult” situation for media freedom, scoring 25.1 and 41.98 out of 100, respectively. Even relatively higher scorers such as Tunisia and Morocco remain in the “difficult” range. Limited press freedom and government control over information reduce transparency and restrict public oversight. This environment facilitates systemic corruption, as independent media are unable to investigate or report on abuses of power. Repressive state measures, including censorship and legal threats against journalists, further undermine institutional checks and balances. Combined with weak governance and the influence of organized crime, these dynamics contribute to persistent political instability across the region. Organized criminal networks The consequences of restricted transparency are reflected in high levels of perceived corruption and deeply embedded criminal networks. According to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Libya scored just 13 out of 100, while Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia all scored below 40, indicating high public concern about government corruption. These concerns align with findings from the ENACT Organized Crime Index, which highlights the dominance of state-embedded actors and criminal networks in the region. With scores of 7.67 and 5.67 respectively, the data suggests that criminal activities are often closely tied to political and institutional power structures. This interconnection between corrupt governance and organized crime further erodes public trust and reinforces the perception, and reality, of chronic instability across North Africa.