Lebanon

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

33 50 N, 35 50 E

Middle East

10,400 sq km

10,230 sq km

170 sq km

About one-third the size of Maryland

484 km

Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km

225 km

12 nm

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

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

Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

1,250 m

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

65.9% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)

13.8% (2023 est.)

20.3% (2023 est.)

1,040 sq km (2012)

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

Earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms

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

5,364,482 (2024 est.)

2,678,543

2,685,939

Lebanese (singular and plural)

Lebanese

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

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.

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.)

18.9% (male 519,352/female 495,591)

71.6% (male 1,939,311/female 1,900,574)

9.5% (2024 est.) (male 219,880/female 289,774)

50.3 (2024 est.)

39 (2024 est.)

11.3 (2024 est.)

8.8 (2024 est.)

29.4 years (2025 est.)

35.6 years

36.9 years

-0.77% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

89.4% of total population (2023)

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

2.421 million BEIRUT (capital) (2023)

1.05 male(s)/female

1.05 male(s)/female

1.02 male(s)/female

0.76 male(s)/female

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

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

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

7.3 deaths/1,000 live births

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births

79.2 years (2024 est.)

77.8 years

80.7 years

2.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)

1.07 (2025 est.)

Total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)

10.1% of GDP (2021)

15.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.68 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

32% (2016)

1.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

34.1% (2025 est.)

43.8% (2025 est.)

25.4% (2025 est.)

5.1% (2023 est.)

52.4% (2019 est.)

1.4% (2016)

6% (2016)

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

92% (2019 est.)

94.8% (2019 est.)

89.5% (2019 est.)

11 years (2023 est.)

12 years

11 years (2014)

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

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

Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

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

65.9% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)

13.8% (2023 est.)

20.3% (2023 est.)

89.4% of total population (2023)

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

17.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

375,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

17.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

7.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)

11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

105.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

2.04 million tons (2024 est.)

15% (2022 est.)

240 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

900 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

4.503 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Lebanese Republic

Lebanon

Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah

Lubnan

Greater Lebanon

Derives from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white," and probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains

Parliamentary democratic republic

Beirut

33 52 N, 35 30 E

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

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

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

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

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

Drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926

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

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

No

The father must be a citizen of Lebanon

Yes

Unknown

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

President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)

Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 8 February 2025)

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

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

9 January 2025

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

2031

National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)

Unicameral

128 (all directly elected)

Proportional representation

Full renewal

4 years

5/15/2022

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)

6.3%

May 2026

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)

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

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

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

Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025)

2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

[1] (202) 939-6300

[1] (202) 939-6324

Info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/

Detroit, New York, Los Angeles

Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025)

Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut

6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070

[961] (04) 543-600

[961] (4) 544-019

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

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)

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

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

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

Cedar tree

Red, white, green

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.

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

Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA

Adopted 1927

6 (all cultural)

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

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

$65.415 billion (2023 est.)

$65.917 billion (2022 est.)

$66.329 billion (2021 est.)

-0.8% (2023 est.)

-0.6% (2022 est.)

-7% (2021 est.)

$11,300 (2023 est.)

$11,500 (2022 est.)

$11,600 (2021 est.)

$20.079 billion (2023 est.)

45.2% (2024 est.)

221.3% (2023 est.)

171.2% (2022 est.)

1% (2023 est.)

2.1% (2023 est.)

42.4% (2023 est.)

136% (2023 est.)

5.2% (2023 est.)

1.9% (2023 est.)

0% (2023 est.)

30.6% (2023 est.)

-73.7% (2023 est.)

Potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, chicken, lemons/limes, wheat (2023)

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

0.1% (2023 est.)

1.939 million (2023 est.)

11.6% (2023 est.)

11.6% (2022 est.)

12.7% (2021 est.)

23.6% (2023 est.)

24.4% (2023 est.)

21.9% (2023 est.)

37.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

33.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

30.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

27.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

$12.73 billion (2021 est.)

$11.853 billion (2021 est.)

146.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

5.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

-$5.643 billion (2023 est.)

-$7.265 billion (2022 est.)

-$4.556 billion (2021 est.)

$11.77 billion (2023 est.)

$12.445 billion (2022 est.)

$9.684 billion (2021 est.)

UAE 26%, Egypt 7%, Turkey 5%, Iraq 5%, USA 4% (2023)

Jewelry, cars, diamonds, scrap iron, gold (2023)

$23.313 billion (2023 est.)

$24.536 billion (2022 est.)

$17.667 billion (2021 est.)

Switzerland 12%, China 11%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%, Italy 6% (2023)

Refined petroleum, gold, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)

$33.301 billion (2024 est.)

$27.49 billion (2023 est.)

$32.513 billion (2022 est.)

$41.936 billion (2023 est.)

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.)

100% (2022 est.)

5.161 million kW (2023 est.)

4.077 billion kWh (2023 est.)

797 million kWh (2021 est.)

436.839 million kWh (2023 est.)

52.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

47 metric tons (2022 est.)

164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

115,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

43.105 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

875,000 (2021 est.)

16 (2022 est.)

4.29 million (2021 est.)

77 (2021 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

84% (2023 est.)

419,000 (2022 est.)

7 (2022 est.)

OD

8 (2025)

27 (2025)

401 km (2017)

319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge

51 (2023)

Bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 30, oil tanker 1, other 17

5 (2024)

1

1

0

3

3

Bayrut, Sayda, Selaata, Sidon/zahrani Terminal, Tarabulus

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)

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.)

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)

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

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)

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)

765,390 (2024 est.)

984,514 (2024 est.)

40,000 (2024 est.)