Libya was one of the least developed nation in Africa in the 1950s. When oil reserves were discovered in 1959, Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi abolished the Libyan monarchy and came to power. One of Gaddafi’s immediate policies was to share the wealth with Libyans, and he launched several ambitious social programs in the areas of health, education, housing, public works and provided massive subsidies for electricity and basic foodstuffs. GDP was all-time high under the Gaddafi regime, and the literacy rates were also the lowest in the Libyan history. These policies led to a substantial improvement in the living conditions of Libyans.
In the 1970s, Libya was progressing, and the government nationalized the petroleum industry in the 1970s. The government also started agricultural and industrial development projects to reduce the dependence on oil.
Here below are some stunning historical photos that show what Libya looked like in the 1970s.
