OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge of North Eastern Libyan population with regards to the etiology and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: A cross sectional study was undertaken in 2009. A pre-validated questionnaire was sent to 1400 residents residing in five cities of North East Libya. At the end of the study a total of 1000 questionnaire was collected. Questionnaire includes questions related to respondent’s demographics, general knowledge, transmission, diagnosis, risk factors, treatment and prevention of TB. All data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.00 Software package (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) Chi-square test and one- way ANOVA were used as whenever appropriate, P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Almost all subjects (n = 965, 96 .5%)   in this study had heard about TB.  The main sources of knowledge were television (n= 447, 44.7%), health workers (n=242, 24%) and family members (n=189, 19%). Majority of the respondents were Libyans (n = 883, 88.3 %). Fifty percent of the respondents were males. For the purpose of this research the maximum score of the knowledge which can be obtained by any respondent is 23. Assessment of knowledge score reveals that the mean knowledge score was significantly higher among Libyans (11.7 ± 3.8) than non Libyans (9.7± 4.7, t = 26.13), (P <0.001).  In addition those respondents with tertiary educations scored significantly higher knowledge score (11.8± 3.5) compared to those of intermediate (11.6 ± 4.4) and illiterate (7.7 ± 5.5), [F=19.34, P = 0.001]. No significant differences between the demographic variables and knowledge score. CONCLUSIONS: The present study findings suggested that the level of knowledge about TB among residents in Libya was low. Therefore, there is a need for massive health education campaign to be undertaken by policy makers in order to improve the population’s knowledge towards TB.