Lebanon

total: 419,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.)

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)

.lb

percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)

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

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

potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, chicken, lemons/limes, wheat (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

revenues: $12.73 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $11.853 billion (2021 est.) 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

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

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

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

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

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

jewelry, cars, diamonds, scrap iron, gold (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 26%, Egypt 7%, Turkey 5%, Iraq 5%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$20.079 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 136% (2023 est.) government consumption: 5.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 1.9% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 30.6% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -73.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 1% (2023 est.) industry: 2.1% (2023 est.) services: 42.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

refined petroleum, gold, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Switzerland 12%, China 11%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.1% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

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

1.939 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

146.8% of GDP (2017 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

$65.415 billion (2023 est.) $65.917 billion (2022 est.) $66.329 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

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

$11,300 (2023 est.) $11,500 (2022 est.) $11,600 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

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

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

5.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

total: 23.6% (2023 est.) male: 24.4% (2023 est.) female: 21.9% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 47 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 5.161 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 4.077 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 797 million kWh (2021 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 436.839 million kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels: 52.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.1% 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.)

43.105 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

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.)

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

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

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

agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.) forest: 13.8% (2023 est.) other: 20.3% (2023 est.)

energy: 7.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 105.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

4.503 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 240 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 900 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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

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

about one-third the size of Maryland

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

225 km

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

33 50 N, 35 50 E

smallest country in continental Asia; Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary

1,040 sq km (2012)

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

agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.) forest: 13.8% (2023 est.) other: 20.3% (2023 est.)

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

Middle East

territorial sea: 12 nm

earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms

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

the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut

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

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

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 Phoenician or Hebrew word be'erot , meaning "the wells," which were the only source of water in the region

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

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

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 probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains

chief of mission: Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025) embassy: Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut mailing address: 6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070 telephone: [961] (04) 543-600 FAX: [961] (4) 544-019 email address and website: BeirutACS@state.gov https://lb.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 email address and website: info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

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

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

parliamentary democratic republic

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

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

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)

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) 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

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

legislature name: National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 128 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/15/2022 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) percentage of women in chamber: 6.3% expected date of next election: May 2026 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

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

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.

red, white, green

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

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

cedar tree

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

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

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.

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)

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) note: the commander of the LAF is also the head of the Army; the LAF patrols external borders, while official border checkpoints are under the authority of Directorate for General Security

approximately 70,000 active Lebanese Armed Forces (2025)

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)

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

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)

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)

total: 1.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.21 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.)

16.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

women married by age 15: 1.4% (2016) women married by age 18: 6% (2016)

5.1% (2023 est.)

52.4% (2019 est.)

6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 39 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 8.8 (2024 est.)

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

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

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

1.07 (2025 est.)

10.1% of GDP (2021) 15.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births

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.

total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.) male: 77.8 years female: 80.7 years

total population: 92% (2019 est.) male: 94.8% (2019 est.) female: 89.5% (2019 est.)

2.421 million BEIRUT (capital) (2023)

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 29.4 years (2025 est.) male: 35.6 years female: 36.9 years

noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese

-18.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

32% (2016)

2.68 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

total: 5,364,482 (2024 est.) male: 2,678,543 female: 2,685,939

the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut

-0.77% (2025 est.)

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.) 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

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

total: 11 years (2023 est.) male: 12 years female: 11 years (2014)

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

total: 34.1% (2025 est.) male: 43.8% (2025 est.) female: 25.4% (2025 est.)

2.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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

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) 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 the Terrorism reference guide

refugees: 765,390 (2024 est.) IDPs: 984,514 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 40,000 (2024 est.)

8 (2025)

OD

27 (2025)

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

total ports: 5 (2024) large: 1 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Bayrut, Sayda, Selaata, Sidon/zahrani Terminal, Tarabulus

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