Country Guide

Lebanon Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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


Geographic coordinates:
33 50 N, 35 50 E


Map references:
Middle East


Area:
total:10,400 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 170
land:10,230 sq km
water:170 sq km


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:454 km
border countries:Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km


Coastline:
225 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm

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


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


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


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


Land use:
arable land:10.72%
permanent crops:12.06%
other:77.22% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,040 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
4.5 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
4.5 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills


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


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

People and Society

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


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


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


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


Population:
5,882,562 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 110


Age structure:
0-14 years:25.2% (male 758,153/female 723,619)
15-24 years:17.2% (male 515,591/female 493,879)
25-54 years:44.1% (male 1,309,544/female 1,283,074)
55-64 years:6.9% (male 185,503/female 219,242)
65 years and over:9.4% (male 175,911/female 218,046) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:40.6 %
youth dependency ratio:28.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:12.3 %
potential support ratio:8.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:29.3 years
male:28.7 years
female:29.8 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
9.37% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 1


Birth rate:
14.8 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 133


Death rate:
4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 189


Net migration rate:
83.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 1


Urbanization:
urban population:87.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:0.86% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
BEIRUT (capital) 2.022 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
25 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:7.98 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 155
male:8.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female:7.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:77.22 yearscountry comparison to the world: 69
male:76.03 years
female:78.46 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 167


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
58% (2004)


Health expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
3.54 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
3.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 98.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 1.7% of population (2005 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 156


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 129


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 92


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 40


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
4.2% (2004)country comparison to the world: 98


Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 162

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:89.6%
male:93.4%
female:86% (2007 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:16.8%country comparison to the world: 76
male:14.6%
female:22.3% (2009)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form:Lebanon
local long form:Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form:Lubnan
former:Greater Lebanon


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Beirut
geographic coordinates:33 52 N, 35 30 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye


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


National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)


Constitution:
drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926; amended several times, last in 2004 (2013)


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


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


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


Executive branch:
chief of state:President (vacant); note - Parliament has tried six times to elect a president and failed; President Michel SULAYMAN's term expired on 24 May 2014; the prime minister and his cabinet are temporarily taking over the duties of the president
head of government:Prime Minister Tamam SALAM (since 6 April 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Samir MOQBIL (since 7 July 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly
elections:president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); first round of election held on 23 April 2014 (next to be held in 2020); the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
election results:23 April 2014 first round parliamentary vote - Samir GEAGEA 48, Henri HELOU 16, Amin GEMAYEL 1; note - 86 out of a possible 128 votes required to win election; five subsequent rounds have failed because there was no quorum; a seventh round is scheduled to take place 18 June 2014


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:percent of vote by group - March 8 Coalition 54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by group - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57; seats by party following 16 July 2012 byelection held to fill one seat - March 14 Coalition 72, March 8 Coalition 56


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 4 divisions, 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, 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 (6); Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts


Political parties and leaders:
Maronite Church [Patriarch Bishara al-Ra'i]
other:note - most sects retain militias and a number of militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps


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


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Antoine CHEDID (since 4 June 2008)
chancery:2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 939-6300
FAX:[1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general:Detroit, New York, Los Angeles


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador David HALE (since 6 September 2013)
embassy:Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality)
mailing address:P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070
telephone:[961] (4) 542600, 543600
FAX:[961] (4) 544136


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


National symbol(s):
cedar tree


National anthem:
name:'Kulluna lil-watan' (All Of Us, For Our Country!)

lyrics/music:Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
note:adopted 1927; the anthem was chosen following a nationwide competition

Economy

Economy - overview:
Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, complex customs procedures, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and weak intellectual property rights. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and derailed Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Following the civil war, Lebanon rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily, mostly from domestic banks, which saddled the government with a huge debt burden. Pledges of economic and financial reforms made at separate international donor conferences during the 2000s have mostly gone unfulfilled, including those made during the Paris III Donor Conference in 2007 following the July 2006 war. The collapse of the MIKATI government in early 2011 over its backing of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the conflict in neighboring Syria slowed economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-13, after four years of 8% average growth. In September 2011 the Cabinet endorsed a bill that would provide $1.2 billion in funding to improve Lebanon's downtrodden electricity sector, but fiscal limitations will test the government's ability to invest in other areas, such as water.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$64.31 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$63.36 billion (2012 est.)
$62.42 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$43.49 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
1.5% (2012 est.)
1.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$15,800 (2012 est.)
$15,800 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
24.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
29.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:82.3%
government consumption:14.9%
investment in fixed capital:31.2%
exports of goods and services:18.6%
imports of goods and services:-47%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:4.6%
industry:20%
services:75.4% (2013 est.)


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


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


Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Labor force:
1.481 million
country comparison to the world: 130
note:does not include as many as 1 million foreign workers (2007 est.)



Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%


Unemployment rate:
NA%


Population below poverty line:
28% (1999 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%


    Budget:
revenues:$9.487 billion
expenditures:$13.56 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
21.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-9.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202


Public debt:
120% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
119.6% of GDP (2012 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
6.4% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
3.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
10% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
7.25% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$5.419 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$4.712 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$97.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$80.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
$75.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$10.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$3.224 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
-$1.663 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$5.826 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$5.615 billion (2012 est.)


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


Exports - partners:
South Africa 19.3%, Switzerland 12.2%, Saudi Arabia 8%, UAE 7.9%, Syria 6.6%, Iraq 4.7% (2012)


Imports:
$20.97 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$20.33 billion (2012 est.)


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


Imports - partners:
US 11.2%, Italy 8.6%, China 8.3%, France 7.2%, Germany 5.6%, Turkey 4.5%, Greece 4.2% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$51.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$52.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$26.74 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$25.16 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -
1,507.5 (2013 est.)
1,507.5 (2012 est.)
1,507.5 (2010 est.)
1,507.5 (2009)
1,507.5 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
14.81 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Electricity - consumption:
14.19 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Electricity - imports:
1.245 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.314 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
87.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
12.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
106,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192


Refined petroleum products - imports:
120,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Natural gas - consumption:
150 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133


Natural gas - imports:
150 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
19.45 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
878,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 81


Telephones - mobile cellular:
4 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 122


Telephone system:
general assessment:repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic:two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus, Egypt, and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2011)



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


Internet country code:
.lb


Internet hosts:
64,926 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 91


Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99

Transportation

Airports
8 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 160


Airports - with paved runways
total:5
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:3
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:
1 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 88 km (2013)


Railways
total:401 kmcountry comparison to the world: 116
standard gauge:319 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:82 km 1.050-m gauge
note:rail system unusable because of the damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)


    Roadways
total:6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)country comparison to the world: 145

Merchant marine
total:29country comparison to the world: 85
by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 7, carrier 17, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned:2 (Syria 2)
registered in other countries:34 (Barbados 2, Cambodia 5, Comoros 2, Egypt 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 2, Liberia 1, Malta 6, Moldova 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Beirut, Tripoli
container port(s) (TEUs):Beirut (1,034,249)

Military

Military branches
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Lebanese Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnani) includes Lebanese Navy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Lebanese Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Lubnaniya)) (2013)


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


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,081,016
females age 16-49:1,115,349 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:920,825
females age 16-49:941,806 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:36,856
female:35,121 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
4.04% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 10
4.06% of GDP (2011)
4.04% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):447,328 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)); 1,107,550 (Syria) (2014)
IDPs:at least 20,000 (2007 Lebanese security forces' destruction of Palestinian refugee camp) (2013)



    Trafficking in persons



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