Lebanon: Statistical Overview

Total Population: 5,805,962

Natural Increase: 0.6%

Density: 562 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 89.6%

Population of main cities (including suburbs): Beirut (1,650,000); Tripoli (450,000); Sidon (250,000); Zahlé (140,000); Tyre (125,000); Baalbek (85,000); Byblos (50,000); Hermel (40,000); Aley (30,000); Nabatieh (25,000); Zgharta (20,000); Halba (7,500)

Ethnic Origins: According to the Central Administration of Statistics of Lebanon, 79.8% of the population are Lebanese, where as 20.2% are non-Lebanese. Among the Lebanese population, nearly 95% are Arabs, about 4% are Armenians and the remaining 1% belong to other ethnic groups. The country encompasses a large mix of cultural and ethnic groups and includes immigrants from other Arab countries (mainly Palestinians, Syrians, Iraqis, and Egyptians) and from non-Arabic speaking Muslim countries. A portion of the Christian population identifies itself as Phoenician.

Official Language: Arabic

Other Languages Spoken: English and French are spoken by a large part of the population. Armenian 6% and Kurdish 1%.

Business Language(s): While Arabic is Lebanon's official language, English and French are widely spoken. Most Lebanese speak at least two or three languages, and visitors find NO problems communicating. Many establishments provide signs, menus, and information in both Arabic and English/French.

Religion: Muslim 67.8%, Christian 32.4%, Druze 4.5%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus

Area: 10,450 km²

Type of State: Republic based on confessionalism, parliamentary democracy. This means that each political position must be filled by a person of a particular denomination.

Type of Economy: Variable income, mixed economy based on resources and services..
Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, with hyperinflation, currency devaluation and a collapse of the banking system seriously affecting the population's standard of living and access to essential goods.

HDI*: 0.752/1

HDI (World Rank): 99/192

Telephone Code:
To call from Lebanon, dial 00
To call Lebanon, dial +961

Internet Suffix: .lb

Households with a computer: 79.7 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 20.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 83.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population