Map of Lebanon | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background: Following World War I France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has historically influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.


top of page


Location: Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Syria

Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N 35 50 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 10,400 km²
Land: 10,230 km²
Water: 170 km²
Rank: 170
Comparative: about one-third the size of Maryland

Land boundaries
Total: 484 km
Border countries: (2) Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool wet winters with hot dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation
Mean elevation: 1250 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m: highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m

Natural resources: limestone iron ore salt water-surplus state in a water-deficit region arable land

Land use
Agricultural land: 63.3%
Forest: 13.4%
Other: 23.3%

Irrigated land: 1040 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: dust storms sandstorms

Geography
Note: smallest country in continental Asia; Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate protect and develop numerous factional groups based on religion clan and ethnicity


top of page


Population
Distribution: the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast and of these most live in and around the capital Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density: 6,237,738 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 108
Growth rate: 0.85% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 129
Below poverty line: 28.6% (2004 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Lebanese
Adjective: Lebanese

Ethnic groups: Arab 95% Armenian 4% other 1%
Note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians

Languages: Arabic (official) French English Armenian

Religions: Muslim 54% (27% Sunni 27% Shia) Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic 8% Greek Orthodox 5% Greek Catholic 6.5% other Christian) Druze 5.6% very small numbers of Jews Baha'is Buddhists Hindus and Mormons
Note: 18 religious sects recognized

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 24.65%
15-24 years: 16.73%
25-54 years: 44.44%
55-64 years: 7.54%
65 years and over: 6.64% (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47.3%
Youth dependency ratio: 35.4%
Elderly dependency ratio: 12%
Potential support ratio: 8.3%

Median age
Total: 29.9 years
Male: 29.3 years
Female: 30.5 years
Rank: 115

Population growth rate: 0.85% (2016 est.)
Rank: 129

Birth rate: 14.4 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 134

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 193

Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 145

Population distribution: the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast and of these most live in and around the capital Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density

Urbanization
Urban population: 87.8% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.18% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: BEIRUT (capital) 2.226 million (2015)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male/female
Total population: 1 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.6 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 8 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.1 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 157

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.6 years
Male: 76.3 years
Female: 78.9 years
Rank: 69

Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 169

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.2 physicians/1000 population (2011)

Hospital bed density: 3.5 beds/1000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.06% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 116
People living with hivaids: 2,400 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 117
Deaths: 100 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 117

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 30.8% (2014)
Rank: 40

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 162

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.9%
Male: 96%
Female: 91.8%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
Conventional short form: Lebanon
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Local short form: Lubnan
Former: Greater Lebanon
Etymology: derives from the Semitic root 'lbn' meaning 'white' and refers to snow-capped Mount Lebanon

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: Beirut
Geographic coordinates: 33 52 N 35 30 E
Time difference: UTC+2
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (mohafazat singular - mohafazah); Aakkar Baalbek-Hermel Beqaa Beyrouth (Beirut) Liban-Nord (North Lebanon) Liban-Sud (South Lebanon) Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon) Nabatiye

Dependent areas

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday: Independence Day 22 November (1943)

Constitution: drafted 15 May 1926 adopted 23 May 1926; amended several times last in 2004 (2016)

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code Ottoman legal tradition and religious laws covering personal status marriage divorce and other family relations of the Jewish Islamic and Christian communities

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Lebanon
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Michel AWN
Head of government: Prime Minister Tamam SALAM ; Deputy Prime Minister Samir MOQBIL (since 7 July 2011)
Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly by two-thirds majority vote in the first round and if needed absolute majority vote in a second round for a 6-year term ; (next to be held in 2022); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
Election results: Michel AWN elected president; National Assembly vote in second round - Michel AWN 83 Sethrida GEAGEA (LF) 1; note - in the initial election held on 23 April 2014 no candidate received the required two-thirds vote and subsequent attempts failed mostly because the National Assembly lacked a quorum; the president was elected in the 46th attempt on 31 October 2016

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab in Arabic or Assemblee Nationale in French ; note - seats are apportioned among the Christian and Muslim denominations
Note: Lebanon’s Constitution states the National Assembly cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant
Elections: last held on 7 June 2009
Election results: percent of vote by coalition - March 8 Coalition 54.7% March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by coalition - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57; seats by coalition following 16 July 2012 byelection held to fill one seat - March 14 Coalition 72 March 8 Coalition 56

Judicial branch
Highest court: Court of Cassation or Supreme Court ; Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council a 10-member body headed by the chief justice and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals religious courts; military courts

Political parties and leaders:
Independent: Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]

International organization participation: ABEDA AFESD AMF CAEU FAO G-24 G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IPU ISO ITSO ITU LAS MIGA NAM OAS (observer) OIC OIF OPCW PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNRWA UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU (NGOs) WHO WIPO WMO WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaries Carla JAZZAR (since 28 January 2016)
In the us chancery: 2,560 28th Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 939-6,300
In the us FAX: [1] 939-6,324
In the us consulate general: Detroit New York Los Angeles
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth H. RICHARD
From the us embassy: Awkar Lebanon
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840 Antelias Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut 6,070 Beirut Place Washington DC 20,521-6,070
From the us telephone: [961] 542,600 543,600
From the us FAX: [961] 544,136

Flag description: three horizontal bands consisting of red (top) white (middle double width) and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation the white band denotes peace the snow of the mountains and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity steadiness happiness and prosperity

National symbols: cedar tree; national colors: red white green

National anthem
Name: 'Kulluna lil-watan'
Lyrics and music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
Note: adopted 1927; chosen following a nationwide competition

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview:

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 88

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 169

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 92

Gross national saving:
Rank: 174

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 89.1%
Government consumption: 12.6%
Investment in fixed capital: 26.6%
Investment in inventories: 0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 22.5%
Imports of goods and services: -51.3%

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.6%
Industry: 24.9%
Services: 69.5%

Agriculture products: citrus grapes tomatoes apples vegetables potatoes olives tobacco; sheep goats

Industries: banking tourism food processing wine jewelry cement textiles mineral and chemical products wood and furniture products oil refining metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (2015 est.)
Rank: 118

Labor force: 1.628 million
Note: does not include as many as 1 million foreign workers nor refugees
Rank: 128
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 28.6% (2004 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $9.576 billion
Expenditures: $13.53 billion
Surplus or deficit: -7.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 196

Taxes and other revenues: 18.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 169

Public debt:
Note: data cover central government debt and exclude debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds such as for retirement medical care and unemployment
Rank: 3

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 1

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 100

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 117

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 92

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 66

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 56

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 72

Current account balance:
Rank: 177

Exports:
Rank: 119
Commodities: jewelry base metals chemicals consumer goods fruit and vegetables tobacco construction minerals electric power machinery and switchgear textile fibers paper
Partners: Saudi Arabia 12.1% UAE 10.6% Iraq 7.6% Syria 7.1% South Africa 6.6% (2015)

Imports:
Rank: 80
Commodities: petroleum products cars medicinal products clothing meat and live animals consumer goods paper textile fabrics tobacco electrical machinery and equipment chemicals
Partners: China 11.5% Italy 7.1% Germany 6.8% France 6% US 5.7% Russia 4.6% Greece 4.4% (2015)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 39

Debt external:
Rank: 69

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100%
Production: 18 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 87
Consumption: 16 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 83
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 160
Imports: 100 million kWh (2014 est.)
Imports rank: 84
Installed generating capacity: 2.3 million kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 103
Generation sources fossil fuels: 90.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 76
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 126
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 117
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 193

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 156
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 150
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 213
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 155

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 200
Products consumption: 143,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 73
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 195
Products imports: 139,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 45

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 210
Consumption: 150.1 million m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 163
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 132
Imports: 150.1 million m³ (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 91
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 158

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 16 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 89

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 970,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16
Fixed lines rank: 77
Mobile cellular total: 4.4 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71
Mobile cellular rank: 125

Telephone system
General assessment: repair of the telecommunications system severely damaged during the civil war now complete
Domestic: two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership almost 90 per 100 persons
International: country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus Egypt and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat ; coaxial cable to Syria (2015)

Broadcast media: 7 TV stations 1 of which is state owned; more than 30 radio stations 1 of which is state owned; satellite and cable TV services available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .lb
Users total: 4.577 million
Users percent of population: 74%
Users rank: 76

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures:
Rank: 11

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-24 years of age for officer candidates; no conscription (2013)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,583,274
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 53,902,026 mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OD (2016)

Airports: 8 (2013)
Rank: 161
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Pipelines: gas 88 km (2013)

Railways
Total: 401 km
Standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m gauge
Note: rail system unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006
Rank: 120

Roadways
Total: 6,970 km (2005)
Rank: 146

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 29
By type: bulk carrier 4 cargo 7 carrier 17 vehicle carrier 1
Foreign owned: 2
Registered in other countries: 34 (2010)
Rank: 85

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Beirut Tripoli
Container port: Beirut (1,034,249)


top of page


Disputes international: lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000 Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 452,669 (Palestinian refugees); 7,234 (Iraq) (2015); 1,033,513 (Syria) (2016)
IDPs: 12,000 (2015)
Stateless persons: undetermined ; note - tens of thousands of persons are stateless in Lebanon including many Palestinian refugees and their descendants Syrian Kurds denaturalized in Syria in 1962 children born to Lebanese women married to foreign or stateless men; most babies born to Syrian refugees and Lebanese children whose births are unregistered

Illicit drugs: cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking