The Libyan Revolution by the Numbers

Washington, D.C. – As NATO prepares to end its mission in Libya on Monday, the numbers tell the story of the conflict that ended Muammar Qaddafi’s 42-year reign. In the 252 days since the Day of Rage, the Libyan landscape has been reshaped. 

The Institute for the Study of War began tracking the Libyan revolution on a daily basis in March 2011. ISW has published the first three parts of the in-depth four-part series “ The Libyan Revolution,” and the last part will cover the conflict up to Qaddafi’s death on Oct. 20. To learn more about the revolution, check out our daily and weekly updates and video timeline.

• 85 percent of Libyans are too young to remember a leader other than Qaddafi.
• Feb. 17, the Day of Rage, marked the beginning of Qaddafi’s violent fight against protesters, killing 150 people within three days.
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was adopted on March 17, and the first military strikes by the U.S. and other coalition forces were conducted on March 19. On Oct. 31, the mission will have lasted for 226 days (32 weeks).
• Initially, the coalition enforcing the UN SC Res. 1973 consisted of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Qatar, Spain, the United Kingdom and the U.S.
• NATO’s Operation Unified Protector began supervising the arms embargo on March 23 and had assumed full command by April 4. By Oct. 31 it will have been involved in the intervention for 222 days with 18 participating states.
• The mission cost the Department of Defense $1.1 billion. The British Ministry of Defense estimates its cost at $480 million, and France expects costs of $420 million to $490 million resulting from the mission in Libya.
• NATO’s mission conducted 26,323 sorties, including 9,658 strike sorties.
• NATO has attacked 5,900 targets, including more than 400 artillery or rocket launchers and more than 600 tanks or armored vehicles.
• In order to enforce the arms embargo, NATO has hailed 3,124 vessels, boarded 296 boats and issued 11 denials.
• The National Transitional Council (NTC) held its first meeting on March 5, declaring “that it is the sole representative of all Libya.” As of Oct. 20, 100 UN member countries formally recognize the NTC.
• Before the war Libya produced 1.6 million barrels of oil per day (bpd). This level isn’t expected to be reached again before 2013 as it had fallen down to 60,000 bpd during the revolution.
• Internationally, $150 billion in Libyan assets have been frozen, including $37 billion the U.S. has begun to thaw.
• Qaddafi’s personal wealth was estimated to have reached $200 billion, which would easily put him on top of Forbes’ rich list.
• During his reign Qaddafi amassed approximately 20,000 anti-air missiles that may still be loose in Libya.
• In late October, the Libyan Transitional National Council estimated a total of 25,000 dead and 60,000 wounded.

For media inquiries, please contact Tricia Miller at [email protected] or (202) 293-5550 x210.

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The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization. ISW advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. We are committed to improving the nation’s ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives.