2021 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, which 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

highest point

Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

1,250 m

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Israel 81 km, Syria 403 km

total

484 km

Land use

agricultural land

63.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 12.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 39.1% (2018 est.)

forest

13.4% (2018 est.)

other

23.3% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, and of these most live in and around the capital, Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley, on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains, have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

20.75% (male 581,015/female 554,175)

15-24 years

14.98% (male 417,739/female 401,357)

25-54 years

46.69% (male 1,296,250/female 1,257,273)

55-64 years

9.62% (male 250,653/female 275,670)

65 years and over

7.96% (male 187,001/female 248,479) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

13.35 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

8.4% (2018)

Death rate

5.57 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

11.2

potential support ratio

8.9 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.4

youth dependency ratio

37.2

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

note

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,700 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

7.78 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births

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, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80 years (2021 est.)

male

77.12 years

total population

78.53 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.3% (2018)

male

96.9%

total population

95.1%

Major infectious diseases

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Lebanon; as of 6 October 2021, Lebanon has reported a total of 626,926 cases of COVID-19 or 9,185.13 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 122.54 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 October 2021, 24.21% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Major urban areas - population

2.435 million BEIRUT (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

34.4 years (2020 est.)

male

33.1 years

total

33.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Lebanese

noun

Lebanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32% (2016)

Physicians density

2.1 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

5,261,372 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

the majority of the people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, and of these most live in and around the capital, Beirut; favorable growing conditions in the Bekaa Valley, on the southeastern side of the Lebanon Mountains, have attracted farmers and thus the area exhibits a smaller population density

Population growth rate

0.68% (2021 est.)

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.)

note

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2014)

male

12 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

21.4% (2019)

male

24.5%

total

23.4%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

89.1% of total population (2021)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

derived from the Canaanite or Phoenician word "ber'ot," meaning "the wells" or "fountain," which referred to the site's accessible water table

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

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2004

history

drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926

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 Dorothy SHEA (since 11 March 2020)

email address and website

BeirutACS@state.govhttps://lb.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Awkar-Facing the Municipality, Main Street, Beirut

FAX

[961] (4) 544-019

mailing address

6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC  20521-6070

telephone

[961] (04) 543-600

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Wael HACHEM (since 15 March 2021)

consulate(s) general

Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

email address and website

info@lebanonembassyus.orghttp://www.lebanonembassyus.org/

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 Michel AWN (since 31 October 2016)

election results

Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83 votes; note - in the initial election held on 23 April 2014, no candidate received the required two-thirds vote, and subsequent attempts failed because the Assembly lacked the necessary quorum to hold a vote; the president was finally elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in the first round and if needed absolute majority vote in a second round for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); last held on 31 October 2016 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; deputy prime minister determined during cabinet formation

head of government

Prime Minister Hassan DIAB (since 22 October 2020); note - the Lebanese Government is in "caretaker" status

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

parliamentary 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 courts

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

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 by listed-based proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); prior to 2017, the electoral system was by majoritarian vote

election results

percent of vote by coalition - NA; seats by coalition – Strong Lebanon Bloc (Free Patriotic Movement-led) 25; Future Bloc (Future Movement-led) 20; Development and Liberation Bloc (Amal Movement-led) 16; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc (Hizballah-led) 15; Strong Republic Bloc (Lebanese Forces-led) 15; Democratic Gathering (Progressive Socialist Party-led) 9; Independent Centre Bloc 4; National Bloc (Marada Movement-led) 3; Syrian Social Nationalist Party 3; Tashnaq 3; Kata’ib 3; other 8; independent 4;  composition - men 122, women 6, percent of women 4.6%

elections

last held on 6 May 2018 (next to be held in 2022)

note

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

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

Al-Ahbash or Association of Islamic Charitable Projects [Adnan TARABULSI]Amal Movement [Nabih BERRI]Azm Movement [Najib MIQATI]Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon [Fayiz SHUKR]Free Patriotic Movement or FPM [Gibran BASSIL]Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI]Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH]Islamic Actions Front [Sheikh Zuhayr al-JU’AYD]Kata'ib Party [Sami GEMAYEL]Lebanese Democratic Party [Talal ARSLAN]Lebanese Forces or LF [Samir JA'JA]Marada Movement [Sulayman FRANJIEH]Progressive Socialist Party or PSP [Walid JUNBLATT]Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party [Sabuh KALPAKIAN]Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Hanna al-NASHIF]Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation [Hagop PAKRADOUNIAN]

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

Agricultural products

potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, wheat, cucumbers, poultry, lemons

Budget

expenditures

15.38 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

11.62 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

RD (2020)

Moody's rating

C (2020)

Standard & Poors rating

D (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$11.18 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$12.37 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$33.655 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$33.077 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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 inadequate intellectual property rights protection. 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 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 "CEDRE" investment event hosted by France in April 2018 again rallied the international community to assist Lebanon with concessional financing and some grants for capital infrastructure improvements, conditioned upon long-delayed structural economic reforms in fiscal management, electricity tariffs, and transparent public procurement, among many others.The Syria conflict cut off one of Lebanon's major markets and a transport corridor through the Levant. The influx of nearly one million registered and an estimated 300,000 unregistered Syrian refugees has increased social tensions and heightened competition for low-skill jobs and public services. Lebanon continues to face several long-term structural weaknesses that predate the Syria crisis, notably, weak infrastructure, poor service delivery, institutionalized corruption, and bureaucratic over-regulation. Chronic fiscal deficits have increased Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio, the third highest in the world; most of the debt is held internally by Lebanese banks. These factors combined to slow economic growth to the 1-2% range in 2011-17, after four years of averaging 8% growth. Weak economic growth limits tax revenues, while the largest government expenditures remain debt servicing, salaries for government workers, and transfers to the electricity sector. These limitations constrain other government spending, limiting its ability to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements, such as water, electricity, and transportation. In early 2018, the Lebanese government signed long-awaited contract agreements with an international consortium for petroleum exploration and production as part of the country’s first offshore licensing round. Exploration is expected to begin in 2019.

Exchange rates

currency

Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

1,507.5 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1,507.5 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

1,506.5 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

1,513 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1,517.5 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$19.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$18.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, jewelry, shotguns, diamonds, scrap copper (2019)

Exports - partners

Switzerland 27%, United Arab Emirates 15%, South Korea 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Kuwait 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

23.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

13.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

87.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-46.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.9% (2017 est.)

industry

13.1% (2017 est.)

services

83% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.253 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2011

31.8 (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2018

$32.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$31.34 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, jewelry, gold (2019)

Imports - partners

United Arab Emirates 11%, China 10%, Italy 8%, Greece 8%, Turkey 7%, United States 6% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

-21.1% (2017 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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

4.4% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.8% (2019 est.)

Labor force

2.166 million (2016 est.)

note

note: excludes as many as 1 million foreign workers and refugees

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

39% NA (2009 est.)

industry

NA

services

NA

Population below poverty line

27.4% (2011 est.)

Public debt

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 2016

145.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

146.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$106.93 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$99.76 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$79.51 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

0.2% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

1.7% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

1.5% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$15,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$14,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$11,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$54.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$55.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2007

9.7% (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

21.4% (2019)

male

24.5%

total

23.4%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

15.71 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

69 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.346 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

17.59 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

154,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

151,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

6.33 (2020 est.)

total

432,070 (2020)

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

Internet users

percent of population

78.18% (2019 est.)

total

5.31 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 13 per 100 and 62 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)

general assessment

struggling with effects of the economic crisis compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Port of Beirut explosion in 2020; Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure is relatively weak and services are expensive; rural areas are less connected and experience frequent power cuts; state retains a monopoly over the Internet backbone and dominant ownership of the telecom industry; government backed improvements to fixed infrastructure; new landlines and fiber-optic networks provide faster DSL; limited 5G services; three international gateways through submarine cables; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE; UAE investment in tech solutions (2020)

international

country code - 961; landing points for the IMEWE, BERYTAR AND CADMOS submarine cable links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12.83 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

875,480 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

62.83 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

4,288,221 (2020)

Airports

total

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 (2019)

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

3

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OD

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, general cargo 31, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021)

total

48

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

56.57 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

2,981,937 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

21

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Pipelines

88 km gas (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Beirut (1,229,100) (2019)

major seaport(s)

Beirut, Tripoli

Railways

narrow gauge

82 km 1.050-m gauge (2017)

note

note: rail system is still unusable due to damage sustained from fighting in the 1980s and in 2006

standard gauge

319 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)

total

401 km (2017)

Roadways

total

21,705 km (2017)

Military - note

as of late 2021, the Lebanese military faced multiple challenges, including securing the border with war-torn Syria from infiltrations of militants linked to the Islamic State and al-Qa’ida terrorist groups and maintaining stability along its volatile border with Israel, where the Iranian-backed and Lebanon-based militant group Hizballah conducted a war with Israel in 2006 and tensions remained high, including occasional armed skirmishes; in 2021, the military also faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties undercut its ability to fully pay and supply personnel, which has sparked domestic and international fears that the armed forces may disintegrate  the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the country since 1978, originally under UNSCRs 425 and 426 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area; following the July-August 2006 war, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1701 enhancing UNIFIL and deciding that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; UNIFIL had about 10,000 personnel deployed in the country as of September 2021

Military and security forces

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces; Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Forces Directorate (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), Directorate for General Security (DGS; border control, some domestic security duties) (2021)

note

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have approximately 80,000 active troops (77,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LAF inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older equipment, largely from the US and European countries, particularly France and Germany; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments (mostly second hand equipment) to Lebanon (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

5.1% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

4.5% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

4.9% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

4.2% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2021)

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-controlled Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978

Illicit drugs

source country for amphetamine tablets destined for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya and Sudan; in 2021 authorities in various Near Eastern countries seized millions of captagon tablets that originated in Lebanon, prompting Lebanese authorities to conduct raids on captagon production facilities within the country 

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

7,000 (2020)

refugees (country of origin)

479,537 (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 844,056 (Syria) (2021)

stateless persons

undetermined (2016); 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

Terrorist group(s)

Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Hizballah; al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; PFLP-General Command; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

note

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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

24.8 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

3.37 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

30.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil deterioration, erosion; desertification; species loss; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills; waste-water management

Environment - international 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

Food insecurity

exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies

due to the ongoing financial and economic crisis - in August 2020, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia estimated that more than 55% of the population lived in poverty, up from 28% in 2019; current figures are likely to be higher due to a fall in households' purchasing power; the already worrisome economic conditions, with increasing unemployment, poverty, and skyrocketing inflation rates, have further worsened due to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the measures introduced to contain the spread of the disease (2021)

Land use

agricultural land

63.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 12.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 39.1% (2018 est.)

forest

13.4% (2018 est.)

other

23.3% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Lebanon; as of 6 October 2021, Lebanon has reported a total of 626,926 cases of COVID-19 or 9,185.13 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 122.54 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 October 2021, 24.21% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

4.503 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

700 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

900 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

240 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

89.1% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2.04 million tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

163,200 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

8% (2014 est.)