Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
419,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.lb
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
80.63% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
875,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
77 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
4.29 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, chicken, lemons/limes, wheat (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
37.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$11.853 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$12.73 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$11.960 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$12.615 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$8.542 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$10.474 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$12.134 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$13.367 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$11.265 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.779 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$4.556 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$7.265 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$5.643 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$67.101 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$41.936 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1507.500 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1507.500 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1507.500 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1507.500 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1507.500 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1507.500 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1507.500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1507.500 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1507.500 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1507.500 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
13875.625 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
89,500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
jewelry, cars, diamonds, scrap iron, gold (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$14.519 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$11.426 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$11.553 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$11.112 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$11.627 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$11.395 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$10.681 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$5.192 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$9.684 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$12.445 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$11.77 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
30.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
5.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
136% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-73.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
1.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
2.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
42.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$12,575 (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$20.079 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$72.601 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
35.5 (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$23.095 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$24.315 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$23.526 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$24.673 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$26.080 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$21.821 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$10.705 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$17.667 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$24.536 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$23.313 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-3.75% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-0.78% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.32% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
6.08% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.01% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
84.86% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
154.76% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
171.21% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
221.34% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
45.24% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.939 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
27.40% (2012 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
146.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$102.440 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$110.329 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$119.762 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$129.140 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$125.803 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$92.719 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$66.329 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$65.917 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$65.415 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.46% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.55% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
0.90% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-1.88% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-6.91% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-21.40% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
-7.00% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-0.62% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-0.76% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$16,140 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$17,046 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$18,941 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$20,964 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$21,710 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$16,260 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,600 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$12,293 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$12,575 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$7.567 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$7.191 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$7.481 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$6.593 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
27.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
30.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
33.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$48.531 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$53.906 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$55.412 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$52.381 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$52.213 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$42.440 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$35.239 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$32.513 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$27.49 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$33.301 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
5.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
11.30% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
13.25% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
12.71% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
11.11% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
10.98% (2023 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
21.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
24.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
23.6% (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
47 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
52.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
4.077 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
797 million kWh (2021 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
5.161 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
436.839 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
43.105 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
115,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
375,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
17.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
17.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows
Environment: Environmental 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 environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
65.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
13.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
20.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
7.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
105.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
4.503 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
900 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
240 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
90.70% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.04 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about one-third the size of Maryland
Geography: Area: land
10,230 sq km
Geography: Area: water
170 sq km
Geography: Coastline
225 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,250 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
33 50 N, 35 50 E
Geography: Geography - note
smallest country in continental Asia; Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary
Geography: Irrigated land
1,040 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
484 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
65.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
13.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
20.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms
Geography: Population distribution
the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut
Geography: Terrain
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Government: 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
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
derived from the Phoenician or Hebrew word be'erot , meaning "the wells," which were the only source of water in the region
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
33 52 N, 35 30 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Lebanon
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Lebanon
Government: Country name: etymology
derives from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white," and probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains
Government: Country name: former
Greater Lebanon
Government: Country name: local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Government: Country name: local short form
Lubnan
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
BeirutACS@state.gov https://lb.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[961] (4) 544-019
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[961] (04) 543-600
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 939-6324
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 939-6300
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Joseph AOUN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - 99 of 128 2016: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83; the president elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds of Parliament members in the first round and, if needed, a two-thirds quorum of members by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2031
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 8 February 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 January 2025
Government: Flag
description: three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double-width), and red (bottom), with a green cedar tree centered on the white band meaning: red stands for blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the national symbol and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts
Government: Legal system
mixed 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
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
May 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
5/15/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
128 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Strong Republic (19); Strong Lebanon (18); Development and Liberation (15); Loyalty to the Resistance (15); Independent Deputies (9); Democratic Gathering (8); Independents (20); Other (24)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
6.3%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1927
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
Government: National coat of arms
Lebanon has had many coats of arms since declaring independence in 1943, but none were officially adopted. The current version is a variation of the national flag. Red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, purity, and mountain snow. The cedar tree is the national symbol, embodying eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.
Government: National color(s)
red, white, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Anjar; Baalbek; Byblos; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab); Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
6 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Government: National symbol(s)
cedar tree
Government: Political parties
Al-Ahbash (Association of Islamic Charitable Projects) or AICP Amal Movement ("Hope Movement") Azm Movement Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement or FPM Future Movement Bloc or FM Hizballah Islamic Action Front or IAF Kata'ib Party Lebanese Democratic Party Lebanese Forces or LF Marada Movement Progressive Socialist Party or PSP Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Government: 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
Introduction: Background
As a result of its location at the crossroads of three continents, the area that is modern-day Lebanon is rich in cultural and religious diversity. This region was subject to various foreign conquerors for much of its history, including the Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. From it the French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920, and it gained independence in 1943. Lebanon subsequently experienced 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, and sectarianism remains a key element of Lebanese political life. The Israeli defense forces, which occupied parts of Lebanon during the civil war, did not completely withdraw until 2000. Neighboring Syria influenced Lebanon's foreign and domestic policies while its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005, but its influence diminished significantly after 2005. Over 1.5 million Syrian refugees fled to Lebanon after the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Hizballah -- a major Lebanese political party, militia, and US-designated foreign terrorist organization -- and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal and fought a brief war in 2006. After HAMAS attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, the intensity and frequency of these cross-border attacks increased substantially into a cycle of hostilities, mostly limited to the border areas as of January 2024. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved. Lebanon's prosperity has significantly diminished since the beginning of the country's economic crisis in 2019, which has crippled its economy, shut down its previously lucrative banking sector, reduced the value of its currency, and caused many Lebanese to emigrate in search of better prospects.
Military and Security: Military - note
the primary responsibilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are defense against external attack, border security, protecting the country’s territorial waters, and assisting with internal security and development projects the LAF’s domestic security responsibilities include countering narcotics trafficking and smuggling, managing protests, conducting search and rescue, and intervening to prevent violence between rival political factions; in recent years, the military has faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties have undercut its ability to train and fully pay and supply personnel; the UN, as well as individual countries such as France, Qatar, and the US have provided financial assistance the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the southern part of the country since 1978; it has approximately 10,500 personnel assigned and includes a maritime task force; the terrorist group Hizballah maintains thousands of fighters and militia in Lebanon, primarily in the south (see Terrorist Organizations in References) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), General Directorate for Public Security (border control, some domestic security duties) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 70,000 active Lebanese Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the LAF's inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand equipment from an array of countries, such as France, Germany, Russia, and especially the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
4.49% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
5.10% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
4.60% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
5.06% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
4.74% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
3.03% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.62% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.59% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
18.9% (male 519,352/female 495,591)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
71.6% (male 1,939,311/female 1,900,574)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
9.5% (2024 est.) (male 219,880/female 289,774)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
1.4% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
6% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
5.1% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.57% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.4% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
8.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
50.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
39 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
8.6% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
1.22% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.07 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
15.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
6.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
79.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
75.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
89.5% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
94.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
92.01% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
2.421 million BEIRUT (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
36.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
35.6 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Lebanese
People and Society: Net migration rate
-18.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
32% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.68 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
5,805,962 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.77% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,685,939
People and Society: Population: male
2,678,543
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
11 years (2014)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
25.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
43.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
34.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.23 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
90.70% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Palestine Liberation Front (PLF); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
984,514 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
765,390 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
40,000 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OD
Transportation: Heliports
27 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 30, oil tanker 1, other 17
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
51 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Bayrut, Sayda, Selaata, Sidon/zahrani Terminal, Tarabulus
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
5 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
401 km (2017)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.