Lebanon

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 9,395 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)

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 (2019)

Internet country code

.lb

Internet users

total: 4,769,039 | percent of population: 78.18% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: two mobile-cellular networks provide good service, with 4G LTE services; future improvements to fiber-optic infrastructure for total nation coverage proposed by 2020; in 2018 first successful 5G trial conducted and in 2019 first live mobile 5G site launched, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted telecoms industry and pricing has been raised (2020) | domestic: fixed-line 13 per 100 and 62 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019) | international: country code - 961; landing points for the IMEWE, BERYTAR AND CADMOS submarine cable links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 752,547 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.87 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3,614,797 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61.82 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats

Budget

revenues: 11.62 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 15.38 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: RD (2020) | Moody's rating: C (2020) | Standard & Poors rating: D (2020)

Current account balance

-$12.37 billion (2017 est.) | -$11.18 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$39.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $36.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

78.2 (2020)

Economic overview

Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, complex customs procedures, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and inadequate intellectual property rights protection. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and derailed Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern banking hub. Following the civil war, Lebanon rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily, mostly from domestic banks, which saddled the government with a huge debt burden. Pledges of economic and financial reforms made at separate international donor conferences during the 2000s have mostly gone unfulfilled, including those made during the Paris III Donor Conference in 2007, following the July 2006 war. The "CEDRE" investment event hosted by France in April 2018 again rallied the international community to assist Lebanon with concessional financing and some grants for capital infrastructure improvements, conditioned upon long-delayed structural economic reforms in fiscal management, electricity tariffs, and transparent public procurement, among many others. The Syria conflict cut off one of Lebanon's major markets and a transport corridor through the Levant. The influx of nearly one million registered and an estimated 300,000 unregistered Syrian refugees has increased social tensions and heightened competition for low-skill jobs and public services. Lebanon continues to face several long-term structural weaknesses that predate the Syria crisis, notably, weak infrastructure, poor service delivery, institutionalized corruption, and bureaucratic over-regulation. Chronic fiscal deficits have increased Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio, the third highest in the world; most of the debt is held internally by Lebanese banks. These factors combined to slow economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-17, after four years of averaging 8% growth. Weak economic growth limits tax revenues, while the largest government expenditures remain debt servicing, salaries for government workers, and transfers to the electricity sector. These limitations constrain other government spending, limiting its ability to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, such as water, electricity, and transportation. In early 2018, the Lebanese government signed long-awaited contract agreements with an international consortium for petroleum exploration and production as part of the country’s first offshore licensing round. Exploration is expected to begin in 2019.

Exchange rates

Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - | 1,517.5 (2020 est.) | 1,513 (2019 est.) | 1,506.5 (2018 est.) | 1,507.5 (2014 est.) | 1,507.5 (2013 est.)

Exports

$3.524 billion (2017 est.) | $3.689 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

jewelry, base metals, chemicals, consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Exports - partners

China 13%, UAE 9.9%, South Africa 7.5%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, Syria 6.5%, Iraq 5.8%, Turkey 4.6% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.253 billion (2019 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$88.25 billion (2017 est.) | $86.94 billion (2016 est.) | $85.45 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 87.6% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 13.3% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -46.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) | industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) | services: 83% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,600 (2017 est.) | $19,500 (2016 est.) | $19,300 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP real growth rate

1.5% (2017 est.) | 1.7% (2016 est.) | 0.2% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving

-0.7% of GDP (2017 est.) | 0.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 4.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports

$18.34 billion (2017 est.) | $17.71 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

China 10.2%, Italy 8.9%, Greece 7%, Germany 6.6%, US 6.3%, Turkey 4.5%, Egypt 4.2% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

-21.1% (2017 est.)

Industries

banking, tourism, real estate and construction, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2019 est.) | 6% (2018 est.) | 4.4% (2017 est.)

Labor force

2.166 million (2016 est.) | note: excludes as many as 1 million foreign workers and refugees

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 39% NA (2009 est.) | industry: NA | services: NA

Population below poverty line

28.6% (2004 est.)

Public debt

146.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 145.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | note: data cover central government debt and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$55.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $54.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.7% (2007)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

23.36 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

15.71 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

69 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.346 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

17.59 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

154,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

151,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Area

total: 10,400 sq km | land: 10,230 sq km | water: 170 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-third the size of Maryland | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Middle East :: Lebanon Print Image Description about one-third the size of Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

225 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 1,250 m | lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m | highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil deterioration, erosion; desertification; species loss; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills; waste-water management

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

33 50 N, 35 50 E

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

Irrigated land

1,040 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 484 km | border countries (2): Israel 81 km, Syria 403 km

Land use

agricultural land: 63.3% (2011 est.) | arable land: 11.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 12.3% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 39.1% (2011 est.) | forest: 13.4% (2011 est.) | other: 23.3% (2011 est.)

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Beirut | geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | etymology: derived from the Canaanite or Phoenician word "ber'ot," meaning "the wells" or "fountain," which referred to the site's accessible water table

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

Constitution

history: drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926 | amendments: proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1989

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothy SHEA (since 11 March 2020) | telephone: [961] (04) 543 600 | embassy: Awkar-Facing the Municipality, Main Street, Beirut | mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070 | FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel ISSA (since 24 January 2018) | chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 | FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 | consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michel AWN (since 31 October 2016) | head of government: Prime Minister Saad HARIRI (since 22 October 2020) | cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in the first round and if needed absolute majority vote in a second round for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); last held on 31 October 2016 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; deputy prime minister determined during cabinet formation | election results: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83; note - in the initial election held on 23 April 2014, no candidate received the required two-thirds vote, and subsequent attempts failed because the Assembly lacked the necessary quorum to hold a vote; the president was finally elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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)

Judicial branch

highest courts: Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 8 chambers, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); 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

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

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab in Arabic or Assemblee Nationale in French (128 seats; members directly elected by listed-based proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); prior to 2017, the electoral system was by majoritarian vote | elections: last held on 6 May 2018 (next to be held in 2022) | election results: percent of vote by coalition - NA; seats by coalition – Strong Lebanon Bloc (Free Patriotic Movement-led) 25; Future Bloc (Future Movement-led) 20; Development and Liberation Bloc (Amal Movement-led) 16; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc (Hizballah-led) 15; Strong Republic Bloc (Lebanese Forces-led) 15; Democratic Gathering (Progressive Socialist Party-led) 9; Independent Centre Bloc 4; National Bloc (Marada Movement-led) 3; Syrian Social Nationalist Party 3; Tashnaq 3; Kata’ib 3; other 8; independent 4; composition - men 122, women 6, percent of women 4.6% | note: Lebanon’s constitution states the National Assembly cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant

National anthem

name: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!) | lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA | note: adopted 1927; chosen following a nationwide competition

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

National symbol(s)

cedar tree; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Al-Ahbash or Association of Islamic Charitable Projects [Adnan TARABULSI] Amal Movement [Nabih BERRI] Azm Movement [Najib MIQATI] Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon [Fayiz SHUKR] Free Patriotic Movement or FPM [Gibran BASSIL] Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI] Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH] Islamic Actions Front [Sheikh Zuhayr al-JU’AYD] Kata'ib Party [Sami GEMAYEL] Lebanese Democratic Party [Talal ARSLAN] Lebanese Forces or LF [Samir JA'JA] Marada Movement [Sulayman FRANJIEH] Progressive Socialist Party or PSP [Walid JUNBLATT] Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party [Sabuh KALPAKIAN]Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO] Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Hanna al-NASHIF] Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation [Hagop PAKRADOUNIAN]

Suffrage

21 years of age; authorized for all men and women regardless of religion; excludes persons convicted of felonies and other crimes or those imprisoned; excludes all military and security service personnel regardless of rank

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, which 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.

Military - note

the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the country since 1978, originally under UNSCRs 425 and 426 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area; following the July-August 2006 war, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1701 enhancing UNIFIL and deciding that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; UNIFIL had about 10,200 personnel deployed in the country as of March 2020 (2020)

Military and security forces

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces; Lebanese Internal Security Forces Directorate (includes Mobile Gendarmerie); Directorate for General Security (DGS); Directorate General for State Security (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have approximately 58,000 active troops (55,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 AF); est. 20,000 Internal Security Forces (2019 est.)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LAF inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older equipment, largely from the US and European countries, particularly France and Germany; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments (mostly second hand equipment) to Lebanon (2019 est.)

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2019) | 4.9% of GDP (2018) | 4.5% of GDP (2017) | 5.1% of GDP (2016) | 4.5% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2019)

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.75% (male 581,015/female 554,175) | 15-24 years: 14.98% (male 417,739/female 401,357) | 25-54 years: 46.69% (male 1,296,250/female 1,257,273) | 55-64 years: 9.62% (male 250,653/female 275,670) | 65 years and over: 7.96% (male 187,001/female 248,479) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Middle East :: Lebanon Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Lebanon. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

13.6 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

8.2% (2017)

Death rate

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.4 | youth dependency ratio: 37.2 | elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 | potential support ratio: 8.9 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total: 100% of population | unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% | note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendants of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.1% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,700 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.3 years | male: 76.9 years | female: 79.8 years (2020 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 95.1% | male: 96.9% | female: 93.3% (2018)

Major urban areas - population

2.424 million BEIRUT (capital) (2020)

Maternal mortality rate

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 33.7 years | male: 33.1 years | female: 34.4 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) | adjective: Lebanese

Net migration rate

-88.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32% (2016)

Physicians density

2.03 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

5,469,612 (July 2020 est.)

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

Population growth rate

-6.68% (2020 est.)

Religions

Muslim 61.1% (30.6% Sunni, 30.5% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 33.7% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 5.2%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus (2018 est.) | note: data represent the religious affiliation of the citizen population (data do not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations); 18 religious sects recognized | MENA religious affiliation: PDF

Sanitation facility access

improved: total: 99% of population | unimproved: total: 1% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years | male: 12 years | female: 11 years (2014)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 88.9% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Terrorist group(s)

Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Hizballah; al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; PFLP-General Command; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (2019) | note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

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-controlled Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978

Illicit drugs

Lebanon is a transit country for hashish, cocaine, heroin, and fenethylene; fenethylene, cannabis, hashish, and some opium are produced in the Bekaa Valley; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 879,529 (Syria), 476,033 (Palestinian refugees) (2020) | IDPs: 11,000 (2007 Lebanese security forces' destruction of Palestinian refugee camp) (2019) | stateless persons: undetermined (2016); 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

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Lebanon is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and a transit point for Eastern European women and children subjected to sex trafficking in other Middle Eastern countries; women and girls from South and Southeast Asia and an increasing number from East and West Africa are recruited by agencies to work in domestic service but are subject to conditions of forced labor; under Lebanon’s artiste visa program, women from Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Dominican Republic enter Lebanon to work in the adult entertainment industry but are often forced into the sex trade; Lebanese children are reportedly forced into street begging and commercial sexual exploitation, with small numbers of Lebanese girls sex trafficked in other Arab countries; Syrian refugees are vulnerable to forced labor and prostitution | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Lebanon does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Lebanon was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; law enforcement efforts in 2014 were uneven; the number of convicted traffickers increased, but judges lack of familiarity with anti-trafficking law meant that many offenders were not brought to justice; the government relied heavily on an NGO to identify and provide service to trafficking victims; and its lack of thoroughly implemented victim identification procedures resulted in victims continuing to be arrested, detained, and deported for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked (2015)

Airports

8 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 (2019) | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OD (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 55 | by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 39, oil tanker 1, other 12 (2019)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,981,937 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 56.57 million mt-km (2018)

Pipelines

88 km gas (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Beirut, Tripoli | container port(s) (TEUs): Beirut (1,305,038) (2017)

Railways

total: 401 km (2017) | standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m gauge (2017) | narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m gauge (2017) | note: rail system is still unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006

Roadways

total: 21,705 km (2017)