Over 867,000 migrants in Libya, most based in the west

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has revealed that Libya is currently host to 867,055 migrants, with more than half residing in the western region of the country. The most represented nationalities are Sudanese, Nigerian, and Egyptian.

According to the IOM’s latest report, adult males comprise 78% of the migrant population, while women and children each account for 11%. The majority — also 78% — are employed in labour-intensive sectors, primarily construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Despite this, the unemployment rate among migrants stands at 21%, with a particularly high rate among women at 55%, compared to 18% among men.

The report also highlights the importance of remittances, with over half of the migrants relying on them as their families’ main source of income.

On average, the cost of migrating to Libya is estimated at 657 US dollars per person, according to the IOM.