Turks in Libya
Encyclopedia
Turks in Libya are either Turkish people
who live in Libya
even though having been born outside Libya, or are Libyan-born, but have Turkish roots. By Turkish roots, this could mean roots linking back to Turkey
, the island of Cyprus
or the communities of the Turkish diaspora
.
and Libya
in 1975 which opened a new phase in history of Turkish migration and diverted migration from Europe to North Africa
, and then the Middle East
. In 1980, there were about 100,000 Turkish workers in the Arab countries. In 1985, that number doubled to 211,000, about 70% of whom were in Saudi Arabia and 20% in Libya. There is currently 600 Turkish-operated businesses functioning in Libya.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
who live in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
even though having been born outside Libya, or are Libyan-born, but have Turkish roots. By Turkish roots, this could mean roots linking back to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
or the communities of the Turkish diaspora
Turkish diaspora
The Turkish diaspora refers to "Turks" who have emigrated from their homeland. Thus, the term may refer to citizens of Turkey living abroad or ethnic Turks from traditional areas of Turkish settlement who are living abroad.Due to the...
.
History
Turkish labour migration has traditionally been to European countries within the context of bilateral agreements. However, in the 1970s, when Europe began to lose its appeal, another workers’ migration began to the Arab countries. Migration to Arab countries first started with a labour-force agreement with TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1975 which opened a new phase in history of Turkish migration and diverted migration from Europe to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and then the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In 1980, there were about 100,000 Turkish workers in the Arab countries. In 1985, that number doubled to 211,000, about 70% of whom were in Saudi Arabia and 20% in Libya. There is currently 600 Turkish-operated businesses functioning in Libya.
| Emigration of Turkish workers to Libya | |||||||
| Year | Population | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-1973 | 664 | ||||||
| 1974-1980 | 48,457 | ||||||
| 1981-1985 | 106,735 | ||||||