Lebanon

Parliamentary Democratic RepublicPop5.4MGDP (PPP)$70.2BCI28Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Lebanon

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 10,230 sq km
Water: 170 sq km
Total: 10,400 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Coastline: 225 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m
Mean elevation: 1,250 m

Irrigated land: 1,040 sq km (2012)
Map references: Middle East

Land Boundaries

Total: 484 km
Border countries: Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards: earthquakes; 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
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land
Area comparative: about one-third the size of Maryland
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Population distribution: the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 94.8% (2019 est.)
Female: 89.5% (2019 est.)
Total population: 92% (2019 est.)

Languages

Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
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.

Religions: Muslim 67.8% (31.9% Sunni, 31.2% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 4.5%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus (2020 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 16.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 35.6 years
Total: 29.4 years (2025 est.)
Female: 36.9 years

Population

Male: 2,678,543
Total: 5,364,482 (2024 est.)
Female: 2,685,939

Nationality

Noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Lebanese

Tobacco Use

Male: 43.8% (2025 est.)
Total: 34.1% (2025 est.)
Female: 25.4% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 89.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 18.9% (male 519,352/female 495,591)
15 64 years: 71.6% (male 1,939,311/female 1,900,574)
65 years and over: 9.5% (2024 est.) (male 219,880/female 289,774)

Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 1.4% (2016)
Women married BY age 18: 6% (2016)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 39 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 (2024 est.)

Physician density: 2.68 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -18.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: total: total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: -0.77% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 77.8 years
Female: 80.7 years
Total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 2.421 million BEIRUT (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 32% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 52.4% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.1% (2023 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 12 years
Total: 11 years (2023 est.)
Female: 11 years (2014)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Beirut
Etymology: derived from the Phoenician or Hebrew word be'erot, meaning "the wells," which were the only source of water in the region
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
Geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 E

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

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
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

Country Name

Former: Greater Lebanon
Etymology: derives from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white," and probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Local short form: Lubnan
Conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
Conventional short form: Lebanon

Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
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 type: parliamentary democratic republic

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)
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and the National Assembly
Chief of state: President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
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
Head of government: Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 8 February 2025)
Most recent election date: 9 January 2025
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
Expected date of next election: 2031

National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
National color(s): red, white, green

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 6 (all cultural)
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

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

Legislative Branch

Note: note 1: Lebanon’s constitution states that the Parliament cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant

note 2: seats are apportioned evenly between Christians and Muslims
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 128 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 5/15/2022
Expected date of next election: May 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 6.3%
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)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All of Us, For Our Country!)
History: adopted 1927
Lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA

National symbol(s): cedar tree
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.
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

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 939-6324
Chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
Chief of mission: Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Email address and website: info@lebanonembassyus.org

http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [961] (4) 544-019
Embassy: Awkar facing the Municipality
P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut
Telephone: [961] (04) 543-600
Mailing address: 6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC  20521-6070
Chief of mission: Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025)
Email address and website: BeirutACS@state.gov

https://lb.usembassy.gov/

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

Legislature

LEBANON · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

128 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

128

Majority line

Largest party

Kataeb Party

Parties

All political parties1 party · 128 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

JA
Joseph Aoun
- Head of StateSince 2025
NS
Nawaf Salam
- Head of GovernmentSince 2025

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $12.73 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $11.853 billion (2021 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $6.1B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2021: $9.684 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $12.445 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $11.77 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $14.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2021: $17.667 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $24.536 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $23.313 billion (2023 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
Labor force: 1.939 million (2023 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 139.4%

Note: 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
Public debt 2017: 146.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 27.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 30.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 33.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 1,507.5 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1,507.5 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1,507.5 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 13,875.625 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 89,500 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $41.936 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: lower middle-income Middle Eastern economy; hyperinflation and sharp poverty increases; banks have ceased lending; economic contraction, destroyed infrastructure, and reduced consumer demand resulting from Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 11.0%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2021: 12.7% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 11.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 11.6% (2023 est.)

Exports partners: UAE 26%, Egypt 7%, Turkey 5%, Iraq 5%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports partners: Switzerland 12%, China 11%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%, Italy 6% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $13,110

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2021: $11,600 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $11,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $11,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.0%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2021: -7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -0.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products: potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, chicken, lemons/limes, wheat (2023)
Exports commodities: jewelry, cars, diamonds, scrap iron, gold (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, gold, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$7.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2021: -$4.556 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$7.265 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$5.643 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 5.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $20.079 billion (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 136% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -73.7% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 37.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 14.6%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 171.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 221.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 45.2% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $70.2B

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $66.329 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $65.917 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $65.415 billion (2023 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Female: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.513 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.49 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $33.301 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Services: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Agriculture: 1% (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 47 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 115,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Imports: 797 million kWh (2021 est.)
Consumption: 4.077 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 5.161 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 436.839 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 43.105 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 52.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 84% (2023 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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 875,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2022 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 4.29 million (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2021 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 419,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 1
Small: 0
Medium: 1
Key ports: Bayrut, Sayda, Selaata, Sidon/zahrani Terminal, Tarabulus
Very small: 3
Total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 3

Airports: 8 (2025)

Railways

Note: note: rail system is still unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006
Total: 401 km (2017)
Narrow gauge: 82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge
Standard gauge: 319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

Heliports: 27 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 51 (2023)
BY type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 30, oil tanker 1, other 17

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OD

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Forest: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 89.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 105.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 7.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.04 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)

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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 240 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 900 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 17.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 375,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 17.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.503 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Military & 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 Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.6%

Military expenditures 2018: 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures 2019: 4.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

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 service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 70,000 active Lebanese Armed Forces (2025)

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.)
Refugees: 765,390 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 40,000 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index28.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4138 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.21as of 2024-Q4110 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (42/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Lebanon — vintage 2026-Q1: Lebanon factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/lebanon

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Lebanon

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Assembly

Current

Joseph Aoun

Nawaf Salam

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Railways

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures