2015 Edition

Background

Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has historically influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.

Area

land

10,230 sq km

total

10,400 sq km

water

170 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-third the size of Maryland

Climate

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

Coastline

225 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

316.8 cu m/yr (2005)

total

1.31 cu km/yr (29%/11%/60%)

Geographic coordinates

33 50 N, 35 50 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,040 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Israel 81 km, Syria 403 km

total

484 km

Land use

arable land 11.9%; permanent crops 12.3%; permanent pasture 39.1%

agricultural land

63.3%

forest

13.4%

other

23.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

4.5 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

25.08% (male 793,837/female 757,120)

15-24 years

17.04% (male 539,232/female 514,394)

25-54 years

44.13% (male 1,378,852/female 1,350,506)

55-64 years

7.18% (male 205,933/female 237,849)

65 years and over

6.58% (male 179,983/female 226,995) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

14.59 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

7% (2000 est.)

total number

54,387

Death rate

4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12%

potential support ratio

8.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

47.3%

youth dependency ratio

35.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 99% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99% of population

urban: 1% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

note

many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.06% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,800 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

8.18 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.69 years (2015 est.)

male

76.18 years

total population

77.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.8% (2015 est.)

male

96%

total population

93.9%

Major urban areas - population

BEIRUT (capital) 2.226 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

30 years (2015 est.)

male

28.8 years

total

29.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Lebanese

noun

Lebanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.8% (2014)

Physicians density

3.2 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

6,184,701 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.86% (2015 est.)

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

note

18 religious sects recognized (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 80.7% of population

rural: 80.7% of population

total: 80.7% of population

urban: 19.3% of population

rural: 19.3% of population

total: 19.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2013)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

21.5% (2007 est.)

male

22.3%

total

22.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

87.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye

note

two new governorates - Aakkar and Baalbek-Hermel - have been legislated but not yet implemented

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

33 52 N, 35 30 E

name

Beirut

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926; amended several times, last in 2004 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Lebanese Republic

conventional short form

Lebanon

etymology

derives from the Semitic root "lbn" meaning "white" and refers to snow-capped Mount Lebanon

former

Greater Lebanon

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah

local short form

Lubnan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard Henry JONES (since 6 November 2015)

embassy

Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality)

FAX

[961] (4) 544136

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Antoine CHEDID (since 4 June 2008)

consulate(s) general

Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 939-6324

telephone

[1] (202) 939-6300

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and National Assembly

chief of state

President (vacant); note - President Michel SULAYMAN's term expired on 25 May 2014; the prime minister and his cabinet are temporarily assuming the duties of the president; as of December 2015, the National Assembly had failed to elect a president

election results

NA; note - the April 2014 parliamentary vote failed to meet the required two-thirds majority vote threshold; subsequent voting from April 2014 through January 2016 also failed to meet a quorum or was postponed

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); first round of election held on 23 April 2014 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Tamam SALAM (since 6 April 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Samir MOQBIL (since 7 July 2011)

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest 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; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab in Arabic or Assemblee Nationale in French (128 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - seats are apportioned among the Christian and Muslim denominations

election results

percent of vote by coalition - March 8 Coalition 54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by coalition - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57; seats by coalition following 16 July 2012 byelection held to fill one seat - March 14 Coalition 72, March 8 Coalition 56

elections

last held on 7 June 2009 (next delayed due to a failure to elect a new president)

note

Lebanon’s Constitution states the National Assembly cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA

name

"Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!)

note

adopted 1927; chosen following a nationwide competition

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

National symbol(s)

cedar tree; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Left Movement or DLM [Elias ATALLAH]

Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI]

Kata'ib Party [Sami GEMAYEL]

Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]

Marada Movement [Sulayman FRANJIEH]

Social Democratic Hunchakian Party [Hagop DIKRANIAN]

Amal Movement [Nabih BERRI]

Free Patriotic Movement [Gibran BASSIL]

Lebanese Democratic Party [Emir Talal ARSLAN]

Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH])

Syrian Ba'th Party [Abdel Mouin GHAZI]

Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]

Progressive Socialist Party or PSP [Walid JUNBLATT]

Tashnag or ARF [Hagop DHATCHERIAN]

Independent

Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Maronite Church [Patriarch Bishara al-Ra'i]

note

most sects retain militias and a number of militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$13.95 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$10.88 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (31 December 2010)

10% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.27% (31 December 2014 est.)

7.35% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$12.45 billion (2014 est.)

-$12.73 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$31.59 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$32.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

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. Spillover from the Syrian conflict, including the influx of more than 1 million Syrian refugees, has increased internal tension and slowed economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-13, after four years of averaging 8% growth. Syrian refugees have increased the labor supply, but pushed more Lebanese into unemployment. Chronic fiscal deficits have made Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio the third highest in the world; most of the debt is held internally by Lebanese banks. Weak economic growth limits tax revenues, while the largest government expenditures remain debt servicing and transfers to the electricity sector. These limitations constrain other government spending and limit the government’s ability to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, such as water, electricity, and transportation.

Exchange rates

Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -

1,507.5 (2014 est.)

1,507.5 (2013 est.)

1,507.5 (2012 est.)

1,507.5 (2011 est.)

1,507.5 (2010 est.)

Exports

$3.787 billion (2014 est.)

$4.499 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 10.8%, UAE 9.7%, Syria 8.7%, Iraq 7.6%, South Africa 7%, Switzerland 4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

22.9%

government consumption

12.5%

household consumption

89.5%

imports of goods and services

-52.7%

investment in fixed capital

27.2%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.5%

industry

24.8%

services

69.7% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,100 (2014 est.)

$17,700 (2013 est.)

$17,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2014 est.)

2.5% (2013 est.)

2.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$50.03 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$81.42 billion (2014 est.)

$79.82 billion (2013 est.)

$77.88 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

-2% of GDP (2014 est.)

-2.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

-0.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$18.99 billion (2014 est.)

$19.67 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 11.8%, Italy 7.7%, US 6.8%, France 6.2%, Germany 5.4%, Russia 4.5%, Greece 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2014 est.)

4.8% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.628 million

note

does not include as many as 1 million foreign workers (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$11.22 billion (30 December 2014 est.)

$10.55 billion (30 December 2013)

$10.42 billion (28 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

28.6% (2004 est.)

Public debt

134.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

132.9% of GDP (2013 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$49.61 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$50.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$48.69 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$45.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$89.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$83.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.12 billion (11 December 2014 est.)

$5.007 billion (11 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

16.44 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

12.94 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

90.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

9.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

323 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.26 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

13.99 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

125,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

126,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.lb

Internet users

percent of population

67.2% (2014 est.)

total

4 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 20, FM 30 (plus about a dozen unlicensed stations operating), shortwave 4 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per 100 persons

general assessment

repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

970,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

75 (2014 est.)

total

4.4 million

Television broadcast stations

12 (2009)

Airports

8 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

over 3,047 m

1

total

5

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

3

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

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)

total

29

Pipelines

gas 88 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Beirut (1,034,249)

major seaport(s)

Beirut, Tripoli

Railways

narrow gauge

82 km 1.050-m gauge

note

rail system unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)

standard gauge

319 km 1.435-m gauge

total

401 km

Roadways

total

6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,115,349 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,081,016

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

941,806 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

920,825

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

35,121 (2010 est.)

male

36,856

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 expenditures

4.04% of GDP (2012)

4.06% of GDP (2011)

4.04% of GDP (2010)

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)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

19,719 (2007 Lebanese security forces' destruction of Palestinian refugee camp) (2014)

refugees (country of origin)

449,957 (Palestinian refugees); 5,986 (Iraq) (2014); 1,070,189 (Syria) (2015)

stateless persons

undetermined (2014); note - tens of thousands of persons are stateless in Lebanon, including many Palestinian refugees and their descendants, Syrian Kurds denaturalized in Syria in 1962, children born to Lebanese women married to foreign or stateless men; most babies born to Syrian refugees, and Lebanese children whose births are unregistered

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Lebanon is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Eastern European women and children are transported through Lebanon for sexual exploitation in other Middle Eastern countries; women from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Togo, Cameroon, and Nigeria are recruited by agencies to work in domestic service but are often subject to conditions indicative of forced labor, including the withholding of passports, nonpayment of wages, restricted movement, threats, and abuse; Lebanon’s artiste visa program enabling women to work as dancers for three months in the adult entertainment industry sustains a significant sex trade; anecdotal information indicates some Lebanese children are victims of forced labor, such as street begging and commercial sexual exploitation; Syrian refugee women and children in Lebanon are at increased risked of sex trafficking

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Lebanon does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; in 2013, authorities conducted an increased number of investigations of human trafficking and prosecuted and convicted some trafficking offenders; the government identified and referred some trafficking victims to NGO-run safe houses but did not directly fund protective services; Lebanon’s sponsorship system and the withholding of passports continued to put domestic workers at risk of exploitation (2014)