Lebanon,[c] officially theRepublic of Lebanon,[d] is a country in theLevant region ofWest Asia. Situated at the crossroads of theMediterranean Basin and theArabian Peninsula,[13] it is bordered bySyria to the north and east,Israel to the south, and theMediterranean Sea to the west;Cyprus lies a short distance from the coastline. Lebanon has a population of more than five million and an area of 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi).Beirut is the country's capital and largest city.
Lebanon as the name of an administrative unit (as opposed to the mountain range) that was introduced with theOttoman reforms of 1861 as theMount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (Arabic:متصرفية جبل لبنان;Turkish:Cebel-i Lübnan Mutasarrıflığı), continued in the name ofGreater Lebanon (Arabic:دولة لبنان الكبيرDawlat Lubnān al-Kabīr;French:État du Grand Liban) in 1920, and eventually in the name of the sovereignRepublic of Lebanon (Arabic:الجمهورية اللبنانيةal-Jumhūriyyah al-Lubnāniyyah) upon its independence in 1943.[citation needed]
Evidence of early settlement in Lebanon was found inByblos, considered among theoldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.[14] The evidence dates back to earlier than 5000 BC. Archaeologists discovered remnants of prehistoric huts with crushed limestone floors, primitive weapons, andburial jars left by theNeolithic andChalcolithic fishing communities who lived on the shore of theMediterranean Sea over 7,000 years ago.[35]
Lebanon was part of northernCanaan, and consequently became the homeland of Canaanite descendants, thePhoenicians, a seafaring people based in the coastal strip of the northernLevant who spread across the Mediterranean in the first millennium BC.[36] The most prominent Phoenician cities wereByblos,Sidon andTyre. According to theBible, KingHiram of Tyre collaborated closely withSolomon, supplying cedar logs forSolomon's Temple and sending skilled workers.[37] ThePhoenicians are credited with the invention of theoldest verified alphabet, which subsequently inspired theGreek alphabet and theLatin one thereafter.[38]
The region that is now Lebanon, as with the rest of Syria and much ofAnatolia, became a major center of Christianity in theRoman Empire during the early spread of the faith. During the late 4th and early 5th century, a hermit namedMaron established a monastic tradition focused on the importance ofmonotheism andasceticism near the Mediterranean mountain range known asMount Lebanon. The monks who followed Maron spread his teachings among Lebanese in the region. These Christians became known asMaronites and moved into the mountains to avoid religious persecution by Roman authorities.[40] During the frequentRoman–Persian Wars that lasted for many centuries, theSasanian Empire occupied what is now Lebanon from 619 till 629.[41]
Middle Ages
During the 7th century,Muslims conquered Syria from the Byzantines, incorporating the region, including modern-day Lebanon, under theIslamic Caliphate.[42] In the era ofUthman's caliphate (644–656), Islam gained significant influence in Damascus, led byMu'awiya, a relative of Uthman, serving as the governor. Mu'awiya sent forces to the coastal region of Lebanon, prompting conversions to Islam among the coastal population. However, the mountainous areas retained their Christian or other cultural practices.[37] Despite Islam and Arabic becoming officially dominant, the population's conversion from Christianity andSyriac language was gradual. The Maronite community, in particular, managed to maintain a large degree of autonomy despite the succession of rulers over Lebanon and Syria. The relative isolation of the Lebanese mountains meant the mountains served as a refuge in the times of religious and political crises in theLevant. As such, the mountains displayed religious diversity and the existence of several well-established sects and religions, notably,Maronites,Druze,Shiite Muslims,Ismailis,Alawites andJacobites.[43]
After the Islamic conquest, Mediterranean trade declined for three centuries due to conflicts with the Byzantines. The ports of Tyre, Sidon, Beirut, and Tripoli struggled to recover, sustaining small populations underUmayyad andAbbasid rule. Christians and Jews were often obligated to pay thejizya, or poll tax levied on non-Muslims.[42] During the 980s, theFatimid Caliphate took control of the Levant, including Mount Lebanon, resulting in the rejuvenation of Mediterranean trade along the Lebanese coast through renewed connections with Byzantium and Italy. This resurgence saw Tripoli and Tyre flourishing well into the 11th century, focusing on exports such as textiles, sugar, and glassware.[42]
During the 11th century, theDruze religion emerged from a branch ofShia Islam. The new religion gained followers in the southern portion of Mount Lebanon. The southern portion of Mount Lebanon was ruled by Druze feudal families till the early 14th century. The Maronite population increased gradually in Northern Mount Lebanon and the Druze have remained in Southern Mount Lebanon until the modern era.Keserwan,Jabal Amel and theBeqaa Valley was ruled by Shia feudal families under the Mamluks and the Ottoman Empire. Major cities on the coast,Sidon,Tyre,Acre,Tripoli,Beirut, and others, were directly administered by the Muslim Caliphs and the people became more fully absorbed by the Arab culture.
TheFall of Tripoli to the EgyptianMamluks and destruction of the Crusader state, the County of Tripoli, 1289
Following the fall of RomanAnatolia to the Muslim Turks, the Byzantines put out a call to the Pope in Rome for assistance in the 11th century. The result was a series of wars known as theCrusades launched by theFranks from Western Europe to reclaim the former Byzantine Christian territories in the Eastern Mediterranean, especiallySyria andPalestine (theLevant). TheFirst Crusade succeeded in temporarily establishing theKingdom of Jerusalem and theCounty of Tripoli as Roman Catholic Christian states along the coast.[44] These crusader states made a lasting impact on the region, though their control was limited, and the region returned to full Muslim control after two centuries following the conquest by the Mamluks.
Among the most lasting effects of the Crusades in this region was the contact between the Franks (i.e., the French) and the Maronites. Unlike most other Christian communities in theEastern Mediterranean, who swore allegiance toConstantinople or other local patriarchs, the Maronites proclaimed allegiance to the Pope in Rome. As such the Franks saw them as Roman Catholic brethren. These initial contacts led to centuries of support for the Maronites from France and Italy, even after the fall of the Crusader states in the region.
In 1516, Lebanon became part of theOttoman Empire, with governance administered indirectly through localemirs.[45] Lebanon's area was organized into provinces: Northern and Southern Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Baalbek and Beqaa Valley, andJabal Amil.
In 1590, Druze tribal leaderFakhr al-Din II succeededKorkmaz in southern Mount Lebanon and quickly asserted his authority as the paramount emir of the Druze in the Shouf region. Eventually, he was appointedSanjak-bey, overseeing various Ottoman sub-provinces and tax collection. Expanding his influence extensively, he even constructed a fort inPalmyra.[46] However, this expansion raised concerns for Ottoman Sultan Murad IV, leading to a punitive expedition in 1633. Fakhr al-Din II was captured, imprisoned for two years, and subsequently executed in April 1635, along with one of his sons.[47] Surviving members of his family continued to govern a reduced area under closer Ottoman supervision until the late 17th century. On the death of thelast Maan emir, various members of the Shihab clan ruled Mount Lebanon until 1830.
While the history of Druze-Christian relations in Lebanon has generally been marked by harmony and peaceful coexistence,[48][49][50][51] there were occasional periods of tension, notably during the1860 Mount Lebanon civil war, during which around 10,000 Christians were killed by the Druze.[52] Shortly afterwards, theEmirate of Mount Lebanon, which lasted about 400 years, was replaced by theMount Lebanon Mutasarrifate, as a result of a European-Ottoman treaty called theRèglement Organique. TheMount Lebanon Mutasarrifate[53][54][55] (1861–1918,Arabic:متصرفية جبل لبنان;Turkish:Cebel-i Lübnan Mutasarrıflığı) was one of theOttoman Empire's subdivisions following theTanzimat reform. After 1861 there existed an autonomous Mount Lebanon with a Christianmutasarrıf, which had been created as a homeland for theMaronites under European diplomatic pressure following the 1860 massacres. TheMaroniteCatholics and theDruze founded modern Lebanon in the early eighteenth century, through the ruling and social system known as the "Maronite-Druze dualism" in Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate.[56]
The Baalbek and Beqaa Valley and Jabal Amel was ruled intermittently by various Shia feudal families, especially theAl Ali Alsagheer in Jabal Amel that remained in power until 1865 when Ottomans took direct ruling of the region.Youssef Bey Karam,[60] a Lebanese nationalist played an influential role in Lebanon's independence during this era.
Lebanon experienced profound devastation in theFirst World War when theOttoman army assumed direct control, disrupting supplies and confiscating animals, ultimately leading to a severe famine.[45] During the war, approximately 100,000 people in Beirut and Mount Lebanon died due to starvation.[61]
French Mandate
Amidst the height of theFirst World War, theSykes–Picot Agreement of 1916, a secret pact between Britain and France, delineated Lebanon and its surrounding areas as regions open to potential French influence or control.[45] After theAllies emerged victorious in the war, theOttoman Empire ultimately collapsed, losing control over the area. Soon after the war, PatriarchElias Peter Hoayek, representing the Maronite Christians, successfully campaigned for an expanded territory at the 1919Paris Peace Conference, also including areas with significant Muslim and Druze populations in addition to the Christian-dominated Mount Lebanon.[45]
In 1920, KingFaisal I proclaimed theArab Kingdom of Syria's independence and asserted control over Lebanon. However, following a defeat to the French at theBattle of Maysalun, the kingdom was dissolved.[45] Around the same time, at theSan Remo Conference, tasked with deciding the fate of former Ottoman territories, it was determined that Syria and Lebanon would fall under French rule; shortly afterward, the formal division of territories took place in theTreaty of Sèvres, signed a few months later.[45]
On 1 September 1920,Greater Lebanon, orGrand Liban, was officially established under French control as aLeague of Nations Mandate, following the terms outlined in the proposedMandate for Syria and the Lebanon. Greater Lebanon united the regions of Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and the Bekaa, with Beirut as its designated capital.[62][45] These specified boundaries later evolved into the present-day configuration of Lebanon. This arrangement was later ratified in July 1922.[45] The Lebanese Republic was officially proclaimed on 1 September 1926, with theadoption of a constitution inspired by the French constitution on 23 May of the same year. While a Lebanese government was established, the country continued to be under French control.[45]
Lebanon gained a measure of independence while France was occupied by Germany.[63] GeneralHenri Dentz, theVichyHigh commissioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of the nation. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies throughSyria toIraq where they were used against British forces. The United Kingdom, fearing thatNazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon andSyria by pressure on the weak Vichy government,sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.[64]
After the fighting ended in Lebanon, GeneralCharles de Gaulle visited the area. Under political pressure from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gaulle recognized the independence of Lebanon. On 26 November 1941, GeneralGeorges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of theFree French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by imprisoning the new government. Lebanese nationalists declared a provisional government, and the British diplomatically intervened on their behalf. In the face of intense British pressure and protests by Lebanese nationalists, the French reluctantly released the government officials on 22 November 1943, and accepted the independence of Lebanon.[65]
Following the end of World War II in Europe the French mandate may be said to have been terminated without any formal action on the part of theLeague of Nations or its successor theUnited Nations. The mandate was ended by the declaration of the mandatory power, and of the new states themselves, of their independence, followed by a process of piecemeal unconditional recognition by other powers, culminating in formal admission to the United Nations. Article 78 of the UN Charter ended the status of tutelage for any member state: "The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which have become Members of the United Nations, relationship among which shall be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality."[66] So when the UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of theUnited Nations Charter by thefive permanent members, as both Syria and Lebanon were founding member states, the French mandate for both was legally terminated on that date and full independence attained.[67] The last French troops withdrew in December 1946.
Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stability and turmoil interspersed with prosperity built onBeirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.[69]
In May 1948, Lebanon supported neighboring Arab countries in awar against Israel. While some irregular forces crossed the border and carried out minor skirmishes against Israel, it was without the support of the Lebanese government, and Lebanese troops did not officially invade.[70] Lebanon agreed to support the forces with covering artillery fire, armored cars, volunteers and logistical support.[71] On 5–6 June 1948, the Lebanese army – led by the thenMinister of National Defense,Emir Majid Arslan – capturedAl-Malkiyya. This was Lebanon's only success in the war.[72]
100,000Palestinians fled to Lebanon because of the war. Israeldid not permit their return after the cease-fire.[73] As of 2017, between 174,000 and 450,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon with about half in refugee camps (although these are often decades old and resemble neighborhoods).[74] Often Palestinians are legally barred from owning property or performing certain occupations.[75] According toHuman Rights Watch, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in "appalling social and economic conditions."
In 1958, during the last months of PresidentCamille Chamoun's term,an insurrection broke out, instigated by Lebanese Muslims who wanted to make Lebanon a member of theUnited Arab Republic. Chamoun requested assistance, and 5,000United States Marines were briefly dispatched to Beirut on 15 July. After the crisis, a new government was formed, led by the popular former generalFouad Chehab.
Until the early 1970s, Lebanon was dubbed "the Switzerland of the Middle East" for its unique status as both a snow-capped holiday destination and secure banking hub forGulf Arabs.[76] Beirut was also nicknamed "the Paris of the Middle East."[77]
With the 1970defeat of thePLO in Jordan, many Palestinian militants relocated to Lebanon, increasing theirarmed campaign against Israel. The relocation of Palestinian bases also led to increasing sectarian tensions between Palestinians versus the Maronites and other Lebanese factions.
TheGreen Line that separated west and east Beirut, 1982
In 1975, following increasing sectarian tensions, largely boosted byPalestinian militant relocation into South Lebanon, a full-scale civil war broke out in Lebanon. TheLebanese Civil War pitted a coalition of Christian groups against the joint forces of thePLO, left-wing Druze and Muslim militias. In June 1976, Lebanese PresidentÉlias Sarkis asked for the Syrian Army to intervene on the side of the Christians and help restore peace.[78] In October 1976 theArab League agreed to establish a predominantly SyrianArab Deterrent Force, which was charged with restoring calm.[79] PLO attacks from Lebanon into Israel in 1977 and 1978 escalated tensions between the countries. On 11 March 1978, 11 Fatah fighters landed on a beach in northern Israel and hijacked two buses full of passengers on the Haifa – Tel-Aviv road, shooting at passing vehicles in what became known as theCoastal Road massacre. They killed 37 and wounded 76 Israelis before being killed in a firefight with Israeli forces.[80] Israel invaded Lebanon four days later inOperation Litani. TheIsraeli Army occupied most of the area south of theLitani River. TheUN Security Council passedResolution 425 calling for immediate Israeli withdrawal and creating theUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), charged with attempting to establish peace.
Map showing theBlue Line demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, established by the UN after the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 1978
Israeli forces withdrew later in 1978, but retained control of the southern region by managing a 19-kilometre-wide (12 mi) security zone along the border. These positions were held by theSouth Lebanon Army (SLA), a Christian militia under the leadership of MajorSaad Haddad backed by Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister,Likud'sMenachem Begin, compared the plight of the Christian minority in southern Lebanon (then about 5% of the population in SLA territory) to that of European Jews during World War II.[81] The PLO routinelyattacked Israel during the period of the cease-fire, with over 270 documented attacks.[82] People in Galilee regularly had to leave their homes during these shellings. Documents captured in PLO headquarters after the invasion showed they had come from Lebanon.[83] PLO leaderYasser Arafat refused to condemn these attacks on the grounds that the cease-fire was only relevant to Lebanon.[84]
In April 1980 the killing of two UNIFIL soldiers and the injuring of a third by the South Lebanon Army, nearAt Tiri, in the buffer zone led to theAt Tiri incident. On 17 July 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed multi-story apartment buildings in Beirut that contained offices of PLO associated groups. The Lebanese delegate to the United Nations Security Council claimed that 300 civilians had been killed and 800 wounded. The bombing led to worldwide condemnation, and a temporary embargo on the export of U.S. aircraft to Israel.[85] In August 1981, defense ministerAriel Sharon began to draw up plans to attack PLO military infrastructure in West Beirut, where PLO headquarters and command bunkers were located.[86]
In 1982,PLO attacks from Lebanon on Israel led toan Israeli invasion, aiming to support Lebanese forces in driving out the PLO. Amultinational force of American, French and Italian contingents (joined in 1983 by a British contingent) were deployed in Beirut afterthe Israeli siege of the city, to supervise the evacuation of the PLO. The civil war re-emerged in September 1982 after the assassination of Lebanese PresidentBachir Gemayel, an Israeli ally, and subsequent fighting. During this time a number of sectarian massacres occurred, such as inSabra and Shatila, and inseveral refugee camps.[87] The multinational force was withdrawn in the spring of 1984, followinga devastating bombing attack during the previous year.
During the early 1980s,Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist militant group and political party, came into existence through the efforts of Shiite clerics who werefinancially supported and trained by Iran. Arising in the aftermath of the 1982 war and drawing inspiration from theIslamic Revolution in Iran, Hezbollah actively engaged in combat against Israel as well assuicide attacks,car bombings and assassinations. Their objectives encompassed eliminating Israel, fighting for the Shia cause in the Lebanese civil war, ending Western presence in Lebanon, and establishing a ShiiteKhomeinistIslamic state.[88][42][89]
In the late 1980s, asAmine Gemayel's second term as president drew to an end, the Lebanesepound collapsed. At the end of 1987 US$1 was worth £L500. This meant the legal minimum wage was worth just $17 a month. Most goods in shops were priced in dollars. ASave the Children director estimated that 200,000–300,000 children were in need of assistance and were living almost entirely on bread, which was subsidized by the government. Those who could relied on foreign assistance. Hezbollah was receiving about $3–5 million a month fromIran.[90] In September 1988, the Parliament failed to elect a successor to President Gemayel as a result of differences between the Christians, Muslims, and Syrians. The Arab League Summit of May 1989 led to the formation of a Saudi–Moroccan–Algerian committee to solve the crisis. On 16 September 1989 the committee issued a peace plan which was accepted by all. A ceasefire was established, the ports and airports were re-opened and refugees began to return.[79]
In the same month, the Lebanese Parliament agreed to theTaif Agreement, which included an outline timetable for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and a formula for the de-confessionalization of the Lebanese political system.[79] The civil war ended at the end of 1990 after 16 years; it had caused massive loss of human life and property and devastated the country's economy. It is estimated that 150,000 people were killed and another 200,000 wounded.[91] Nearly a million civilians were displaced by the war, and some never returned.[92] Parts of Lebanon were left in ruins.[93] The Taif Agreement has still not been implemented in full and Lebanon's political system continues to be divided along sectarian lines. Conflict between Israel and Lebanese militants continued, leading to a series of violent events and clashes including theQana massacre.[94][95][96][97] In May 2000, Israeli forces fully withdrew from Lebanon.[98][95][99] Since then, 25 May is regarded by the Lebanese as theLiberation Day.[100][101][95] The internal political situation in Lebanon significantly changed in the early 2000s. After the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the death of former presidentHafez al-Assad in 2000, the Syrian military presence faced criticism and resistance from the Lebanese population.[102]
Demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005
On 14 February 2005, former Prime MinisterRafic Hariri was assassinated in acar bomb explosion.[103] Leaders of theMarch 14 Alliance accusedSyria of the attack,[104] while Syria and theMarch 8 Alliance claimed that Israel was behind the assassination. The Hariri assassination marked the beginning of a series of assassinations that resulted in the death of many prominent Lebanese figures.[nb 1] The assassination triggered theCedar Revolution, a series of demonstrations which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination. Under pressure from the West, Syria began withdrawing,[105] and by 26 April 2005 all Syrian soldiers had returned to Syria.[106]
On 12 July 2006,Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks andraids into Israeli territory, where they killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two others.[112] Israel responded withairstrikes andartillery fire on targets in Lebanon, and a ground invasion ofsouthern Lebanon, resulting in the2006 Lebanon War. The conflict was officially ended by theUNSC Resolution 1701 on 14 August 2006, which ordered a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the disarmament of Hezbollah.[113][114] Some 1,191 Lebanese[115] and 160 Israelis[116] werekilled in the conflict. Beirut's southern suburb was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes.[117]
In 2007, theNahr al-Bared refugee camp became the center of the2007 Lebanon conflict between the Lebanese Army andFatah al-Islam. At least 169 soldiers, 287 insurgents and 47 civilians were killed in the battle. Funds for the reconstruction of the area have been slow to materialize.[118] Between 2006 and 2008,a series of protests led by groups opposed to the pro-Western Prime MinisterFouad Siniora demanded the creation of a national unity government, over which the mostly Shia opposition groups would have veto power. WhenÉmile Lahoud's presidential term ended in October 2007, the opposition refused to vote for a successor unless a power-sharing deal was reached, leaving Lebanon without a president.
On 9 May 2008,Hezbollah andAmal forces, sparked by a government declaration that Hezbollah's communications network was illegal, seized westernBeirut,[119][120] the most important Sunni center in Lebanon, leading to anintrastate military conflict.[121] The Lebanese government denounced the violence as a coup attempt.[122] At least 62 people died in the resulting clashes between pro-government and opposition militias.[123] On 21 May 2008, the signing of theDoha Agreement ended the fighting.[119][123] As part of the accord, which ended 18 months of political paralysis,[124]Michel Suleiman became president and a national unity government was established, granting a veto to the opposition.[119] The agreement was a victory for opposition forces, as the government caved in to all their main demands.[123]
In early January 2011, thenational unity government collapsed due to growing tensions stemming from theSpecial Tribunal for Lebanon, which was expected to indict Hezbollah members for the Hariri assassination.[125] The parliament electedNajib Mikati, the candidate for the Hezbollah-ledMarch 8 Alliance, Prime Minister of Lebanon, making him responsible for forming a new government.[126] Hezbollah leaderHassan Nasrallah later accused Israel of assassinating Hariri.[127] A report leaked by theAl-Akhbar newspaper in November 2010 stated that Hezbollah had drafted plans for a violent takeover of the country in case the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued an indictment against its members.[128]
In 2012, theSyrian civil war threatened to spill over in Lebanon, causingincidents of sectarian violence and armed clashes betweenSunnis andAlawites in Tripoli.[129] According toUNHCR, the number ofSyrian refugees in Lebanon increased from around 250,000 in early 2013 to 1,000,000 in late 2014.[130] In 2013, TheLebanese Forces Party, theKataeb Party and theFree Patriotic Movement voiced concerns that the country's sectarian based political system is being undermined by the influx of Syrian refugees.[131] On 6 May 2015,UNHCR suspended registration of Syrian refugees at the request of the Lebanese government.[132] In February 2016, the Lebanese government signed the Lebanon Compact, granting a minimum of €400 million of support for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese citizens.[133] As of October 2016, the government estimated that the country hosts 1.5 million Syrians.[134]
The2019 protests were non-sectarian, crossing the Sunni–Shia Muslim / Christian sociological and religious divide.
On 17 October 2019, the first of a series of mass civil demonstrations erupted;[135][136][137] they were initially triggered by planned taxes on gasoline, tobacco and online phone calls such as throughWhatsApp,[138][139][140] but quickly expanded into a country-wide condemnation ofsectarian rule,[141] astagnant economy and liquidity crisis, unemployment, endemic corruption in the public sector,[141] legislation (such as banking secrecy) that is perceived to shield the ruling class from accountability[142][143] and failures from the government to provide basic services such as electricity, water and sanitation.[144]
Women protesters forming a line between riot police and protesters in Riad el Solh,Beirut; 19 November 2019
As a result of the protests, Lebanon entered a political crisis, with Prime MinisterSaad Hariri tendering his resignation and echoing protestors' demands for a government of independent specialists.[145] Other politicians targeted by the protests have remained in power. On 19 December 2019, former Minister of EducationHassan Diab was designated the next prime minister and tasked with forming a new cabinet.[146] Protests and acts ofcivil disobedience have since continued, with protesters denouncing and condemning the designation of Diab as prime minister.[147][148][149] Lebanon is suffering the worsteconomic crisis in decades.[150][151] Lebanon is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to see its inflation rate exceed 50% for 30 consecutive days, according to Steve H. Hanke, professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University.[152] On 4 August 2020,an explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon's main port, destroyed the surrounding areas, killing over 200 people, and injuring thousands more. The cause of the explosion was later determined to be 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been unsafely stored, and accidentally set on fire that Tuesday afternoon.[153] Protests resumed within days following the explosion, which resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and hiscabinet on 10 August 2020, nonetheless continuing to stay in office in acaretaker capacity.[154] Demonstrations continued into 2021 with Lebanese blocking the roads with burned tires protesting against the poverty and the economic crisis.
On 11 March 2021 thecaretaker minister of energyRaymond Ghajar warned that Lebanon was threatened with "total darkness" at the end of March if no money was secured to buy fuel for power stations.[155] In August 2021, alarge fuel explosion in northern Lebanon killed 28 people.[156] September saw the formation of anew cabinet led by former prime ministerNajib Mikati.[157] On 9 October 2021, the entire nation lost power for 24 hours after its two main power stations ran out of power due to the currency and fuel shortage.[158] Days later,sectarian violence in Beirut killed a number of people in the deadliest clashes in the country since 2008.[159] By January 2022,BBC News reported that the crisis in Lebanon had deepened further, with the value of theLebanese pound plummeting and ascheduled general election expected to be delayed indefinitely.[160] The postponement of parliamentary elections was said to prolong the political deadlock in the country. TheEuropean Parliament called Lebanon's present situation a 'man-made disaster caused by a handful of men across the political class'.[161]
In May 2022, Lebanon held its firstelection since a painful economic crisis dragged it to the brink of becoming afailed state. Lebanon's crisis has been so severe that more than 80 percent of the population is now considered poor by theUnited Nations.[162] In the election the Shia MuslimHezbollah movement (and its allies) lost their parliamentary majority. Hezbollah did not lose any of its seats, but its allies lost seats. Hezbollah's ally, PresidentMichel Aoun'sFree Patriotic Movement, was no longer the biggest Christian party after the election. A rival Christian party, theLebanese Forces led bySamir Geagea, became the largest Christian-based party in parliament. The SunniFuture Movement, led by former prime ministerSaad Hariri, did not participate in the election, leaving a political vacuum for other Sunni politicians to fill.[163][164][165] The Lebanese crisis became so severe that multiple boats left the coast holding migrants in a desperate run from the country. Many proved unsuccessful and fatal. In April 2022, 6 people died and around 50 people were rescued after an overloaded boat sunk inTripoli.[166] And on 22 September, at least 94 people were killed when a boat carrying migrants from Lebanon capsized off Syria's coast. 9 people survived. Many were declared missing and some were found either dead or injured. Dead bodies were sent to nearby hospitals. 40 people are still missing as of 24 September.[167] On 1 February 2023, thecentral bank of Lebanon devalued theLebanese pound by 90% amid the ongoingfinancial crisis.[168] This was the first time Lebanon had devalued its official exchange rate in 25 years.[169] As of 2023, Lebanon is considered to have become afailed state, suffering from chronic poverty, economic mismanagement and a banking collapse.[170]
TheIsrael–Hamas war sparked arenewed Israel–Hezbollah conflict.[171] Hezbollah has said it will not stop attacking Israel until Israel ceases its attacks inGaza.[172] Starting with the Israeliexplosion of Lebanese pagers and walkie talkies in September 2024,[173] the conflict escalated severely,[174] with the23 September 2024 Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon killing at least 558 people,[175] and sparking a mass exodus from southern Lebanon.[176] On 27 September 2024, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah waskilled in an Israeli airstrike.[177] On 1 October 2024,Lebanon was invaded by Israel with the objective of destroying infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the south of the country.[178] In November 2024, aceasefire deal was signed between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah to end 13 months of conflict. According to the agreement, Hezbollah was given 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon and Israeli forces were obliged to withdraw from the area over the same period.[179]The fall of Assad’s Baathist regime in Syria was another blow to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which was alredy weakened because of Israeli military actions.[180] The Syrian regime change in December 2024 was said to start a new chapter in Lebanese politics.[181] In January 2025,Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army commander, was elected Lebanese 14thpresident after a two-year vacancy.[182] In February 2025, Prime MinisterNawaf Salam, former president of theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ), formed a new government of 24 ministers after two-year caretaker cabinet.[183] On 26 February 2025, Lebanon's government of Nawaf Salam won a confidence vote in parliament.[184]
Lebanon is located in West Asia between latitudes33° and35° N and longitudes35° and37° E. Its land straddles the "northwest of theArabian Plate".[185] The country's surface area is 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi) of which 10,230 square kilometres (3,950 sq mi) island. Lebanon has a coastline and border of 225 kilometres (140 mi) on theMediterranean Sea to the west, a 375 kilometres (233 mi) border shared withSyria to the north and east and a 79 kilometres (49 mi) long border with Israel to the south.[186] Theborder with the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights is disputed by Lebanon in a small area calledShebaa Farms.[187]
Lebanon from space. Snow cover can be seen on the westernMount Lebanon and easternAnti-Lebanon mountain ranges.
Lebanon is divided into four distinctphysiographic regions: the coastal plain, theLebanon mountain range, theBeqaa Valley and theAnti-Lebanon Mountains. The narrow and discontinuouscoastal plain stretches from the Syrian border in the north where it widens to form theAkkar plain toRas al-Naqoura at the border with Israel in the south. The fertile coastal plain is formed of marine sediments and river depositedalluvium alternating with sandy bays and rocky beaches. Lebanon's mountains rise steeply parallel to the Mediterranean coast and form a ridge oflimestone andsandstone that runs for most of the country's length.
The mountain range varies in width between 10 km (6 mi) and 56 km (35 mi); it is carved by narrow and deep gorges. The Lebanon mountains peak at 3,088 metres (10,131 ft)above sea level inQurnat as Sawda' inNorth Lebanon and gradually slope to the south before rising again to a height of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) inMount Sannine. The Beqaa valley sits between the Lebanon mountains in the west and the Anti-Lebanon range in the east; it is a part of theGreat Rift Valley system. The valley is 180 km (112 mi) long and 10 to 26 km (6 to 16 mi) wide, its fertile soil is formed by alluvial deposits. The Anti-Lebanon range runs parallel to the Lebanon mountains, its highest peak is inMount Hermon at 2,814 metres (9,232 ft).[186]
Lebanon has a moderateMediterranean climate. In coastal areas, winters are generally cool and rainy whilst summers are hot and humid. In more elevated areas, temperatures usually drop below freezing during the winter with heavy snow cover that remains until early summer on the higher mountaintops.[186][189] Although most of Lebanon receives a relatively large amount of rainfall, when measured annually in comparison to its arid surroundings, certain areas in north-eastern Lebanon receives only little because of therain shadow created by the high peaks of the western mountain range.[190]Storm Adam 2025 saw severe polar weather system affecting Lebanon with low tempertures and snow expected to fall at elevations as low as 300 meters above sea level.[191]
In ancient times, Lebanon was covered by large forests ofcedar trees, the national emblem of the country.[192] Millennia of deforestation have altered the hydrology in Mount Lebanon and changed the regional climate adversely.[193] As of 2012, forests covered 13.4% of the Lebanese land area;[194] they are under constant threat fromwildfires caused by the long dry summer season.[195]
As a result of longstanding exploitation, few old cedar trees remain in pockets of forests in Lebanon, but there is an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests. The Lebanese approach has emphasized natural regeneration over planting by creating the right conditions forgermination and growth. The Lebanese state has created several nature reserves that contain cedars, including theShouf Biosphere Reserve, the Jaj Cedar Reserve, theTannourine Reserve, the Ammouaa and Karm Shbat Reserves in the Akkar district, and the Forest of theCedars of God nearBsharri.[196][197][198] Lebanon had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.76/10, ranking it 141st globally out of 172 countries.[199]
In 2010, the Environment Ministry set a 10-year plan to increase the national forest coverage by 20%, which is equivalent to the planting of two million new trees each year.[200] The plan, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by theU.S. Forest Service (USFS), through the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), was inaugurated in 2011 by planting cedar, pine, wild almond, juniper, fir, oak and other seedlings, in ten regions around Lebanon.[200] As of 2016, forests covered 13.6% of Lebanon, and other wooded lands represented a further 11%.[201] Since 2011, over 600,000 trees, including cedars and other native species, have been planted throughout the country as part of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI).[202]
Beirut and Mount Lebanon have been facing a severe garbage crisis. After the closure of the Bourj Hammoud dump in 1997, the al-Naameh dumpsite was opened by the government in 1998. The al-Naameh dumpsite was planned to contain 2 million tons of waste for a limited period of six years at the most. It was designed to be a temporary solution, while the government would have devised a long-term plan. Sixteen years later al-Naameh was still open and exceeded its capacity by 13 million tons. In July 2015 the residents of the area, already protesting in the recent years, forced the closure of the dumpsite. The inefficiency of the government, as well as the corruption inside of the waste management company Sukleen in charge of managing the garbage in Lebanon, have resulted in piles of garbage blocking streets in Mount Lebanon and Beirut.[204]
Mount Lebanon is a mountain range in Lebanon. It averages above 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in elevation.
In December 2015, the Lebanese government signed an agreement with Chinook Industrial Mining, part owned byChinook Sciences, to export over 100,000 tons of untreated waste fromBeirut and the surrounding area. The waste had accumulated in temporary locations following the government closure of the county's largest land fill site five months earlier. The contract was jointly signed with Howa International which has offices in the Netherlands and Germany. The contract is reported to cost $212 per ton. The waste, which is compacted and infectious, would have to be sorted and was estimated to be enough to fill 2,000 containers.[205] Initial reports that the waste was to be exported toSierra Leone have been denied by diplomats.[206]
In February 2016, the government withdrew from negotiations after it was revealed that documents relating to the export of the trash to Russia were forgeries.[207] On 19 March 2016, the Cabinet reopened the Naameh landfill for 60 days in line with a plan it passed a few days earlier to end the trash crisis. The plan also stipulates the establishment of landfills inBourj Hammoud and Costa Brava, east and south of Beirut respectively. Sukleen trucks began removing piled garbage from Karantina and heading to Naameh. Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk announced during a chat with activists that over 8,000 tons of garbage had been collected up to that point in only 24 hours as part of the government's trash plan. The plan's execution was ongoing at last report.[208] In 2017, Human Rights Watch found that Lebanon's garbage crisis, andopen burning of waste in particular, was posing a health risk to residents and violating the state's obligations under international law.[209]
In September 2018, Lebanon's parliament passed a law that banned open dumping and burning of waste. Despite penalties set in case of violations, Lebanese municipalities have been openly burning the waste, putting the lives of people in danger. In October 2018,Human Rights Watch researchers witnessed the open burning of dumps in al-Qantara andQabrikha.[210] On Sunday 13 October 2019 at night, a series of about 100forest fires according toLebanese Civil Defense, broke out and spread over large areas of Lebanon's forests. Lebanese Prime MinisterSaad Al-Hariri confirmed his contact with a number of countries to send assistance via helicopters and firefighting planes,[211] Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey and Greece participated in firefighting. According to press reports on Tuesday (15 October), fire has decreased in different places due to the rains.[212] Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis has precipitated electricity shortages, prompting an increased reliance on diesel generators and subsequently contributing to environmental deterioration and health hazards. The scarcity of power has led to a heightened contamination of water sources. The compromised infrastructure, marked by sewage infiltrating drinking water, has given rise to significant health concerns, including an increase in cases ofHepatitis A. The health service, grappling with workforce shortages due to emigration, struggles amid a growing public health crisis.[213]
Until 1975,Freedom House considered Lebanon to be among only two (together with Israel)politically free countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.[220] The country lost this status with the outbreak of the Civil War, and has not regained it since. Lebanon was rated "Partly Free" in 2013. Even so, Freedom House still ranks Lebanon as among the most democratic nations in the Arab world.[220] According to theV-Dem Democracy indices Lebanon is 2023 the second mostelectoral democratic country in the Middle East.[221]
Until 2005,Palestinians were forbidden to work in over 70 jobs because they did not haveLebanese citizenship. After liberalization laws were passed in 2007, the number of banned jobs dropped to around 20.[73] In 2010, Palestinians were granted the same rights to work as other foreigners in the country.[222] Lebanon's national legislature is theunicameralParliament of Lebanon. Its 128 seats aredivided equally between Christians and Muslims, proportionately between the 18 different denominations and proportionately between its 26 regions.[223] Prior to 1990, the ratio stood at 6:5 in favor of Christians, but theTaif Agreement, which put an end to the 1975–1990 civil war, adjusted the ratio to grant equal representation to followers of the two religions.[216]
One of many protests in Beirut
The Parliament is elected for a four-year term by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation.[11] The executive branch consists of the President, thehead of state, and the Prime Minister, thehead of government. The parliament elects the president for a non-renewable six-year term by a two-thirds majority. The president appoints the Prime Minister,[224] following consultations with the parliament. The president and the prime minister form a cabinet, which must also adhere to the sectarian distribution set out by confessionalism.
In an unprecedented move, the Lebanese parliament has extended its own term twice amid protests, the last being on 5 November 2014,[225] an act which comes in direct contradiction with democracy and article #42 of the Lebanese constitution as no elections have taken place.[6] Lebanon was without a President between May 2014 and October 2016.[226][227] Nationwide elections were finally scheduled forMay 2018.[228] As of August 2019, the Lebanese cabinet included two ministers directly affiliated withHezbollah, in addition to a close but officially non-member minister.[229] The most recent parliamentaryelections were held on 15 May 2022.[230]
Lebanon is divided into ninegovernorates (muḥāfaẓāt,Arabic:محافظات; singularmuḥāfaẓah,Arabic:محافظة) which are further subdivided into twenty-five districts (aqdyah,Arabic:أقضية; singular:qadāʾArabic:قضاء).[231] The districts themselves are also divided into several municipalities, each enclosing a group of cities or villages. The governorates and their respective districts are listed below:
Lebanon concluded negotiations on an association agreement with the European Union in late 2001, and both sides initialed the accord in January 2002. It is included in the European Union'sEuropean Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which aims at bringing the EU and its neighbours closer. Lebanon also has bilateral trade agreements with several Arab states and is working toward accession to theWorld Trade Organization.
Lebanon enjoys good relations with virtually all of the other Arab countries (despite historic tensions withLibya andSyria), and hosted anArab League Summit inMarch 2002 for the first time in over 35 years. Lebanon is a member of theFrancophonie countries and hosted the Francophonie Summit in October 2002 as well as theJeux de la Francophonie in2009.
TheLebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has 72,000 active personnel,[232] including 1,100 in the air force, and 1,000 in the navy.[233] The LAF is considered less powerful and influential thanHezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has 20,000 active fighters and 20,000 in reserves and is supplied with advanced weaponry, including rockets and drones fromIran.[234][235]
The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities, and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.[236]
Lebanon is a major recipient of foreign military aid.[237] With over $400 million since 2005, it is the second largest per capita recipient ofAmerican military aid behind Israel.[238]
Hezbollah effectively controls large portions of southern Lebanon, and has greater military strength than the Lebanese armed forces.[239] The government of Lebanon has been unable or unwilling to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel, and violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.[240] Many Islamist and Palestinian militias operate in refugee camps because of an agreement that prevents the Lebanese Army from entering them. Many people wanted by the Lebanese government are believed to have taken refuge in the camp as a result of the lack of Lebanese authority.[citation needed]
There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and set of religious courts.[241] The Lebanese legal system is based on theFrench system, and is acivil law country, with the exception for matters related to personal status (succession, marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.), which are governed by a separate set of laws designed for each sectarian community. For instance, the Islamic personal status laws are inspired by theSharia law.[242] For Muslims, these tribunals deal with questions of marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance and wills. For non-Muslims, personal status jurisdiction is split: the law of inheritance and wills falls under national civil jurisdiction, while Christian and Jewish religious courts are competent for marriage, divorce, and custody. Catholics can additionally appeal before theVatican Rota court.[243]
The most notable set of codified laws is the Code des Obligations et des Contrats promulgated in 1932 and equivalent to theFrench Civil Code.[242]Capital punishment is still de facto used to sanction certain crimes, but no longer enforced.[clarification needed][242] The Lebanese court system consists of three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation. The Constitutional Council rules on constitutionality of laws and electoral frauds. There also is a system of religious courts having jurisdiction over personal status matters within their own communities, with rules on matters such as marriage and inheritance.[244]
In 1990, article 95 was amended to provide that the parliament shall take necessary measures to abolish political structure based on religious affiliation, but that until such time only the highest positions in public civil service, including the judiciary, military, security forces, public and mixed institutions, shall be divided equally betweenChristians andMuslims without regard to the denominational affiliation within each community.[245]
Male homosexuality is illegal in Lebanon.[246] Discrimination againstLGBTQ people in Lebanon is widespread.[247][248] According to 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center, 85% of Lebanese respondents believe thathomosexuality should not be accepted by society.[249]
A gender and sexuality conference, held annually in Lebanon, since 2013, was moved abroad in 2019 after a religious group on Facebook called for the organizers' arrest and the cancellation of the conference for "inciting immorality." General Security Forces shut down the 2018 conference and indefinitely denied non-Lebanese LGBT activists who attended the conference permission to re-enter the country.[250]
Lebanon's constitution states that 'the economic system is free and ensures private initiative and the right to private property'. Lebanon's economy follows alaissez-faire model.[251] Most of the economy isdollarized, and the country has no restrictions on the movement of capital across its borders.[251] The Lebanese government's intervention in foreign trade is minimal.[251] TheInvestment Development Authority of Lebanon was established with the aim of promoting investment in Lebanon. In 2001, Investment Law No.360[252] was enacted to reinforce the organisation's mission.
Lebanon is now suffering the worsteconomic crisis in decades.[150][151] As of 2023, the GDP has shrunk by 40% since 2018, and the currency has experienced a significant depreciation of 95%.[253] The annual inflation rate exceeds 200%, rendering the minimum wage equivalent to approximately $1 per day.[254] This was the first time Lebanon had devalued its official exchange rate in 25 years.[169] According to the United Nations, three out of every four Lebanese individuals fall below the poverty line.[254] The crisis stems from a long-termPonzi scheme by theCentral Bank of Lebanon, borrowing dollars at high interest rates to sustain deficits and maintain a currency peg. By 2019, insufficient new deposits led to an unsustainable situation, resulting in weeks-long bank closures, arbitrary capital controls, and ultimately, the country's default in 2020.[255]
Throughout the Ottoman and French mandatory periods and into the 1960s, Lebanon experienced prosperity, serving as a hub for banking, financial services, and a key distribution center for the Middle East. The local economy thrived with a foundation in industries related to food processing, clothing, jewelry, and carpets. This prosperity was later marred by four decades of conflict.[215] Following the end of the civil war, Lebanon has developed a service-based economy centered around finance, real estate, and tourism.[256] Nearly 65% of the Lebanese workforce attain employment in the services sector.[257] The GDP contribution, accordingly, amounts to roughly 67.3% of the annual Lebanese GDP.[16] However, dependence on the tourism and banking sectors leaves the economy vulnerable to political instability.[258]
The urban population in Lebanon is noted for its commercial enterprise.[259] Emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world.[260] In 2008, Remittances from Lebanese abroad totalled $8.2 billion[261] and account for one-fifth of the country's economy.[262] In 2005, Lebanon had the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States.[263]
Agriculture
Theagricultural sector in Lebanon employs 20–25% of the totalworkforce,[264] and contributed 3.1% to the country's GDP,[265] as of 2020. Lebanon has the highest proportion of cultivable land in the Arab world.[266] Major crops include apples, peaches, oranges, and lemons.[16] A significant portion of the country's factories, approximately one-third, is dedicated to producing packaged food items, ranging from poultry to pickles.[264] However, despite favorable conditions for farming and diverse microclimates, the country depends on food imports, constituting 80% of its consumption. This is mainly attributed to the small scale of many farms, preventing the benefits of economies of scale.[264] The ongoing economic crisis and devaluation of the Lebanese pound have also negatively impacted the agricultural sector, particularly through elevated costs for essential imports such as seeds and fertilizers. This economic strain compounds existing burdens for farmers, including escalating debts and inefficient agricultural practices. Consequently, farmers are observing a decline in revenues and encountering difficulties in meeting loan repayment obligations.[264][267]
Industry in Lebanon is mainly limited to small businesses that reassemble and package imported parts. In 2004, industry ranked second in workforce, with 26% of the Lebanese working population,[257] and second in GDP contribution, with 21% of Lebanon's GDP.[16]
Oil has recently been discovered inland and in the seabed between Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt and talks are underway betweenCyprus andEgypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources. The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas.[269] On 10 May 2013, the Lebanese minister of energy and water clarified that seismic images of the Lebanese sea bed are undergoing detailed explanation of their contents and that up till now, approximately 10% have been covered. Preliminary inspection of the results showed, with over 50% probability, that 10% of Lebanon's exclusive economic zone held up to 660 million barrels of oil and up to 30×1012 cu ft of gas.[270]
Lebanon has asignificant drug industry, including both production and trade. Western intelligence estimate an annual production of over 4 million pounds ofhashish and 20,000 pounds ofheroin, generating profits exceeding $4 billion. In recent decades, Hezbollah has intensified its engagement in the drug economy, with narcotics serving as a significant revenue stream for the group. Despite some of the harvest being retained for local use, a significant amount is smuggled worldwide. Despite ongoing efforts, the government's inability to control the drug-producing Beqaa Valley and address illicitCaptagon factories allows for the persistent occurrence of drug trades, impacting Lebanon's economy and regional stability.[271][272][273]
In 1960, a science club from a university in Beirut started a Lebanese space program called "the Lebanese Rocket Society". They achieved great success until 1966 where the program was stopped because of both war and external pressure.[279][280]
Development
In the 1950s, GDP growth was the second highest in the world. Despite having no oil reserves, Lebanon, as the Arab world's banking center[281] and among its trading center, had a high national income.[282]
Lebanese real GDP 1970–2017
The1975–1990 civil war heavily damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure,[233] cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a West Asianentrepôt and banking hub.[11] The subsequent period of relative peace enabled the central government to restore control inBeirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange.[283]
Port of Beirut
Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable stability, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete,[284] and increasing numbers of tourists poured into the nation's resorts.[285] The economy witnessed growth, with bank assets reaching over 75 billion US dollars,[286]Market capitalization was also at an all-time high, estimated at $10.9 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2006.[286] The month-long2006 war severely damaged Lebanon's fragile economy, especially the tourism sector. According to a preliminary report published by the LebaneseMinistry of Finance on 30 August 2006, a major economic decline was expected as a result of the fighting.[287]
Over the course of 2008 Lebanon rebuilt its infrastructure mainly in the real estate and tourism sectors, resulting in a comparatively robust post war economy. Major contributors to the reconstruction of Lebanon includeSaudi Arabia (with US$1.5 billion pledged),[288] the European Union (with about $1 billion)[289] and a few other Persian Gulf countries with contributions of up to $800 million.[290]
The tourism industry accounts for about 10% ofGDP.[291] Lebanon attracted around 1,333,000 tourists in 2008, thus placing it as 79th out of 191 countries.[292] In 2009,The New York Times ranked Beirut the No. 1 travel destination worldwide due to its nightlife and hospitality.[293] In January 2010, theMinistry of Tourism announced that 1,851,081 tourists had visited Lebanon in 2009, a 39% increase from 2008.[294] In 2009, Lebanon hosted the largest number of tourists to date, eclipsing the previous record set before theLebanese Civil War.[295] Tourist arrivals reached two million in 2010, but fell by 37% for the first 10 months of 2012, a decline caused by the war in neighbouring Syria.[291]
In 2011,Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Japan were the three most popular origin countries of foreign tourists to Lebanon.[296] In summer, a considerable number of visitors to Lebanon consists of Lebanese expatriates coming to visit their hometowns.[255] In 2012, it was reported that an influx of Japanese tourists had caused a rise in popularity ofJapanese cuisine in Lebanon.[297]
Lebanon had an estimated population of 5,592,631 in 2021, with the number ofLebanese nationals estimated at 4,680,212 in July;[298][299] however, no official census has been conducted since 1932 due to the sensitiveconfessional political balance between Lebanon's various religious groups.[300] Identifying all Lebanese as ethnicallyArab is a widely employed example ofpanethnicity, as the Lebanese "are descended from many different peoples who are either indigenous, or have occupied, invaded, or settled this corner of the world", making Lebanon, "a mosaic of closely interrelated cultures".[e][303]
Thefertility rate fell from 5.00 in 1971 to 1.75 in 2004. Fertility rates vary considerably among the different religious groups: in 2004, it was 2.10 forShiites, 1.76 forSunnis and 1.61 forMaronites.[304]
Lebanese people have a long history of emigration stretching back to the 19th century; including partial ancestry, more Lebanese live outside the country than in Lebanon itself. The country has experienced a series of migration waves since independence: over 1.8 million people emigrated from the country between 1975 and 2011.[304] Consequently, millions ofpeople of Lebanese descent are spread throughout the world, especially inLatin America;[305]Brazil andArgentina have the largest Lebanese communities,[306] with the former having the largest population in the world, at 5-7 million. North America likewise hosts a large diaspora, particularly inCanada (approximately 250,000–700,000) and the United States (around 2 million).[307] Australia is home to over 270,000Lebanese.[308]
Large numbers of Lebanese migrated toWest Africa,[309] particularly to theIvory Coast (100,000)[310] andSenegal (30,000).[311] The Persian Gulf hosts many Lebanese expatriates,[312] led by Saudi Arabia with 269,000 Lebanese citizens.[313] Around a third of the Lebanese workforce, about 350,000, reportedly live in Gulf countries according to some sources.[314] Over 50% of the Lebanese diaspora are Christian, partly due to the large period of Christian emigration before 1943.[315]
Lebanon has the largest number of refugees per capita in the world.[316] As of 2024,[317] Lebanon hosted over 1.6 millionrefugees andasylum seekers: 449,957 fromPalestine,[11] 100,000 fromIraq,[318] over 1.1 million fromSyria,[11][319] and at least 4,000 fromSudan.[320] According to the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia of the United Nations, among the Syrian refugees, 71% live in poverty and 80% lack legal residency.[321] Other estimates put the Syrian refugee population at 1.5 million in 2024,[316] compared to over 1.25 million according to a 2013 estimate by the United Nations.[130]
In the last three decades, lengthy and destructivearmed conflicts have ravaged the country. The majority of Lebanese have been affected by armed conflict; those with direct personal experience include 75% of the population, and most others report suffering a range of hardships. In total, almost the entire population (96%) has been affected insome way – either personally or because of the wider consequences of armed conflict.[322]
Distribution of main religious groups of Lebanon according to 2009 municipal election data[323]
Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in West Asia and the Mediterranean.[324] Because the relative sizes of different religions and religious sects remains a sensitive issue, a national census has not been conducted since 1932.[325] There are 18 state-recognized religious sects: fourMuslim, 12Christian, oneDruze, and oneJewish.[325] The Lebanese government counts itsDruze citizens as part of itsMuslim population,[326] although mostDruze today do not identify asMuslims.[327][328]
It is believed that there has been a decline in the ratio of Christians to Muslims over the past 60 years, due to higher emigration rates of Christians, and a higher birth rate in the Muslim population.[325] When the last census was held in 1932, Christians made up 53% of Lebanon's population.[304] In 1956, it was estimated that the population was 54% Christian and 44% Muslim.[304]
A demographic study conducted[when?] by the research firm Statistics Lebanon found that approximately 27% of the population wasSunni, 27%Shia, 21%Maronite, 8%Greek Orthodox, 5%Druze, 5%Melkite, and 1%Protestant, with the remaining 6% mostly belonging to smaller non-native to Lebanon Christian denominations.[325] TheCIA World Factbook estimates (2020) the following (data does not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations):Muslim 67.8% (31.9%Sunni, 31.2%Shia, smaller percentages ofAlawites andIsmailis),Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group),Druze 4.5%, and very small numbers ofJews,Baha'is,Buddhists, andHindus.[329] Other sources likeEuronews[330] or theMadrid-based diaryLa Razón[331] estimate the percentage of Christians to be around 53%. A study based on voter registration numbers shows that by 2011, the Christian population was stable compared to that of previous years, making up 34.35% of the population; Muslims, the Druze included, were 65.47% of the population.[332] TheWorld Values Survey of 2014 put the percentage ofatheists in Lebanon at 3.3%.[333] Survey data indicates a decrease in religious faith within Lebanon, especially noticeable among young people.[334]
Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which theFrench language is to be used".[1] The majority of Lebanese people speakLebanese Arabic, which is grouped in a larger category calledLevantine Arabic, whileModern Standard Arabic is mostly used in magazines, newspapers, and formal broadcast media.Lebanese Sign Language is the language of the Deaf community.
There is also significant presenceof French, andof English. Almost 40% of Lebanese are considered francophone, and another 15% "partial francophone", and 70% of Lebanon's secondary schools use French as a second language of instruction.[339] By comparison, English is used as a secondary language in 30% of Lebanon's secondary schools.[339] The use of French is a legacy of France's historic ties to the region, including itsLeague of Nations mandate over Lebanon following World War I; as of 2005[update], some 20% of the population used French on a daily basis.[340] The use of Arabic by Lebanon's educated youth is declining, as they usually prefer to speak in French and, to a lesser extent, English, which are seen as more fashionable.[341][342]
English is increasingly used in science and business interactions.[343][344]Lebanese citizens ofArmenian,Greek, orAssyrian descent often speak their ancestral languages with varying degrees of fluency. As of 2009[update], there were around 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, or around 5% of the population.[345]
According to surveys from the World Economic Forum's 2013 Global Information Technology Report, Lebanon has been ranked globally as the fourth best country for math and science education, and as the tenth best overall for quality of education. In quality of management schools, the country was ranked 13th worldwide.[346]
The United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871 in 2008. The index, which is determined by the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio, ranked the country 88th out of the 177 countries participating.[347] All Lebanese schools are required to follow a prescribed curriculum designed by theMinistry of Education. Some of the 1400 private schools offerIB programs,[348] and may also add more courses to their curriculum with approval from the Ministry of Education. The first eight years of education are, by law, compulsory.[16]
In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 7.03% of the country's GDP. In 2009, there were 31.29 physicians and 19.71 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants.[360] The life expectancy at birth was 72.59 years in 2011, or 70.48 years for males and 74.80 years for females.[361] By the end of the civil war, only one-third of the country's public hospitals were operational, each with an average of 20 beds. By 2009, the country had 28 public hospitals, with a total of 2,550 beds.[362] At public hospitals, hospitalized uninsured patients pay 5% of the bill, in comparison with 15% in private hospitals, with the Ministry of Public Health reimbursing the remainder.[362] The Ministry of Public Health contracts with 138 private hospitals and 25 public hospitals.[363]
In 2011, there were 236,643 subsidized admissions to hospitals; 164,244 in private hospitals, and 72,399 in public hospitals. More patients visit private hospitals than public hospitals, because the private beds supply is higher.[363] According to the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, the top 10 leading causes of reported hospital deaths in 2017 were: malignant neoplasm of bronchus or lung (4.6%), Acutemyocardial infarction (3%),pneumonia (2.2%), exposure to unspecified factor, unspecified place (2.1%),acute kidney injury (1.4%), intra-cerebral hemorrhage (1.2%), malignant neoplasm of colon (1.2%), malignant neoplasm of pancreas (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of prostate (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of bladder (0.8%).[364]
Recently,[when?] there has been an increase in foodborne illnesses in Lebanon. This has raised public awareness on the importance of food safety, including in the realms of food storage, preservation, and preparation. More restaurants are seeking information and compliance withInternational Organization for Standardization.[365]
Mental health
TheAsfouriyeh Hospital, founded in 1896 in Lebanon, is considered the first modern mental health hospital in the Middle East. The devastating impact of theLebanese Civil War led to the hospital's closure in 1982.[366]
The culture of Lebanon reflects the legacy of various civilizations spanning thousands of years. Originally home to theCanaanite-Phoenicians, and then subsequently conquered and occupied by theAssyrians, thePersians, theGreeks, theRomans, the Arabs, the Crusaders, theOttoman Turks and most recently the French, Lebanese culture has over the millennia evolved by borrowing from all of these groups. Lebanon's diverse population, composed of different ethnic and religious groups, has further contributed to the country's festivals, musical styles and literature as well as cuisine. Despite the ethnic, linguistic, religious and denominational diversity of the Lebanese, they "share an almost common culture".[367]Lebanese Arabic is universally spoken while food, music, and literature are deep-rooted "in wider Mediterranean and Levantine norms".[367]
Arts
In visual arts,Moustafa Farroukh was among Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century. Formally trained in Rome and Paris, he exhibited in venues from Paris to New York to Beirut over his career.[368] Many more contemporary artists are active, such asWalid Raad, a contemporary media artist residing in New York.[369] In the field of photography, theArab Image Foundation has a collection of over 400,000 photographs from Lebanon and the Middle East. The photographs can be viewed in a research center and various events and publications have been produced in Lebanon and worldwide to promote the collection.
Literature
In literature,Kahlil Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behindShakespeare andLaozi.[370] He is particularly known for his bookThe Prophet (1923), which has been translated into over twenty different languages.[371]Ameen Rihani was a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist ofArab nationalism.Mikhail Naimy is widely recognized as among the most important figures in modern Arabic letters and among the most important spiritual writers of the 20th century. Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; includingElias Khoury,Amin Maalouf,Hanan al-Shaykh, andGeorges Schéhadé.
While traditional folk music remains popular in Lebanon, modern music reconciling Western and traditional Arabic styles, pop, andfusion are rapidly advancing in popularity.[372] Lebanese artists likeFairuz,Majida El Roumi,Wadih El Safi,Sabah,Julia Boutros orNajwa Karam are widely known and appreciated in Lebanon and in the Arab world. Radio stations feature a variety of music, including traditional Lebanese, classical Arabic, Armenian[373] and modern French, English, American, andLatin tunes.[374]
Media and cinema
Thecinema of Lebanon, according to film critic and historian, Roy Armes, was the only cinema in the Arabic-speaking region, besides the dominantEgyptian cinema,[375][376] that could amount to a national cinema.[377] Cinema in Lebanon has been in existence since the 1920s, and the country has produced over 500 films with many films including Egyptian filmmakers and film stars.[378] Themedia of Lebanon is not only a regional center of production but also the most liberal and free in the Arab world.[379] According to Press freedom'sReporters Without Borders, "the media have more freedom in Lebanon than in any other Arab country".[380] Despite its small population and geographic size, Lebanon plays an influential role in the production of information in the Arab world and is "at the core of a regional media network with global implications".[381]
Lebanon celebrates national and bothChristian andMuslim holidays. Christian holidays are celebrated following both theGregorian calendar andJulian calendar.Greek Orthodox (with the exception of Easter),Catholics,Protestants, andMelkite Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar and thus celebrate Christmas on 25 December. ArmenianApostolic Christians celebrate Christmas on 6 January, as they follow the Julian Calendar. Muslim holidays are followed based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslim holidays that are celebrated include Eid al-Fitr (the three-day feast at the end of the Ramadan month), Eid al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice) which is celebrated during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and also celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God, the Birth of the Islamic prophetMuhammad, and Ashura (the Shiite Day of Mourning). Lebanon's National Holidays include Workers Day, Independence Day, and Martyrs Day. Music festivals, often hosted at historical sites, are a customary element of Lebanese culture.[382] Among the most famous areBaalbeck International Festival,Byblos International Festival,Beiteddine International Festival, Jounieh International Festival, Broumana Festival, Batroun International Festival, Ehmej Festival, Dhour Chwer Festival and Tyr Festival.[382][383] These festivals are promoted by Lebanon'sMinistry of Tourism. Lebanon hosts about 15 concerts from international performers each year, ranking 1st for nightlife in the Middle East, and 6th worldwide.[384]
Lebanese cuisine is similar to those of many countries in theEastern Mediterranean, such as Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. The Lebanese national dishes are thekibbe, a meat pie made from finely mincedlamb andburghul (crackedwheat), and thetabbouleh, a salad made fromparsley,tomatoes, andburghul wheat. Lebanese restaurant meals begin with a wide array ofmezze – small savoury dishes, such as dips, salads, and pastries. The mezze are typically followed by a selection of grilledmeat orfish. In general, meals are finished withArabic coffee and freshfruit, though sometimes a selection of traditional sweets will be offered as well.
Lebanon has sixski resorts. The country's unique geography makes it possible to go skiing in the morning and swimming in theMediterranean Sea in the afternoon.[385] At the competitive level, basketball andfootball are among Lebanon's most popular sports.Canoeing,cycling,rafting,climbing, swimming, sailing andcaving are among the other common leisure sports in Lebanon. TheBeirut Marathon is held every fall, drawing top runners from Lebanon and abroad.[386]
Football is also among the more popular sports in the country. The top football league is theLebanese Premier League, whose most successful clubs areAl Ansar FC andNejmeh SC. In recent years, Lebanon has hosted theAFC Asian Cup[396] and thePan Arab Games.[397] Lebanon hosted the2009 Jeux de la Francophonie,[398] andhave participated in everyOlympic Games since its independence, winning a total of four medals.[399] Water sports have also shown to be very active in the past years, in Lebanon. Since 2012 and with the emergence of the Lebanon Water Festival NGO, more emphasis has been placed on those sports, and Lebanon has been pushed forward as a water sport destination internationally.[400] They host different contests and water show sports that encourage their fans to participate and win big.[401]
^TheMaronite andMelkite communities are known to oppose being characterized as Arab,[4][5] but from a statistical perspective are often counted as such.
Hajjar, George (2002)."Aspects of Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Lebanon"(PDF).hartsem.edu. Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved27 March 2021.In recent years, the Melkites, like the Maronites, have denied affiliation with Arab ethnicity, race and culture.
^McGowen, Afaf Sabeh (1989)."Historical Setting". In Collelo, Thomas (ed.).Lebanon: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (3rd ed.).Washington, D.C.: The Division.OCLC18907889. Retrieved24 July 2009.
^abDumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2006).Cities of the Middle East and North Africa. ABC-CLIO. p. 104.ISBN978-1-57607-919-5.Archaeological excavations at Byblos indicate that the site has been continually inhabited since at least 5000 B.C.
^Metzger, Bruce M.; Coogan, Michael D. (2004).The Oxford guide to people and places of the Bible. Oxford University Press. p. 178.ISBN978-0-19-517610-0.
^Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2006).Cities of the Middle East and North Africa. ABC-CLIO. p. 104.ISBN1-57607-919-8.Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved22 July 2009.Archaeological excavations at Byblos indicate that the site has been continually inhabited since at least 5000 B.C.
^"Byblos".Encyclopaedia Britannica.Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved14 March 2018.
^abcNajem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad; Najem, Tom (2021).Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 2–8.ISBN978-1-5381-2043-9.
^A Companion to the Ancient Greek Language, article by Roger D. Woodward (ed. Egbert J. Bakker, 2010, Wiley-Blackwell).
^Page, Melvin Eugene; Sonnenburg, Penny M. (2003).Colonialism. Abc-Clio.ISBN9781576073353.Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved25 December 2014.
^abcdHarris, William W. (2015).Lebanon: A History, 600–2011. Studies in Middle Eastern history. New York, N.Y: Oxford University Press. pp. 3–28, 232, 247.ISBN978-0-19-518111-1.
^abcdefghiNajem, Tom; Amore, Roy C. (2021). "Chronology; Introduction".Historical Dictionary of Lebanon (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. xxi–xxxv,2–9.ISBN978-1-5381-2043-9.
^Gorton, T.J. (25 April 2013).Renaissance Emir. Quartet Books. pp. 160–161.ISBN9780704372979.
^Gorton, T.J. (25 April 2013).Renaissance Emir. Quartet Books. pp. 195–210.ISBN9780704372979.
^Hazran, Yusri (2013).The Druze Community and the Lebanese State: Between Confrontation and Reconciliation. Routledge. p. 32.ISBN9781317931737.the Druze had been able to live in harmony with the Christian
^Artzi, Pinḥas (1984).Confrontation and Coexistence. Bar-Ilan University Press. p. 166.ISBN9789652260499... Europeans who visited the area during this period related that the Druze "love the Christians more than the other believers," and that they "hate the Turks, the Muslims and the Arabs [Bedouin] with an intense hatred.
^CHURCHILL (1862).The Druzes and the Maronites. Montserrat Abbey Library. p. 25...the Druzes and Christians lived together in the most perfect harmony and good-will..
^Hobby (1985).Near East/South Asia Report. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. p. 53.the Druzes and the Christians in the Shuf Mountains in the past lived in complete harmony..
^"Lebanon".Library of Congress Country Studies. December 1987.Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved14 April 2019.
^Salwa C. Nassar Foundation (1969).Cultural resources in Lebanon. Beirut: Librarie du Liban. p. 74.
^Winslow, Charles (1996).Lebanon: war and politics in a fragmented society. Routledge. p. 291.ISBN978-0-415-14403-2.
^Deeb, Marius (2013).Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah: The Unholy Alliance and Its War on Lebanon. Hoover Press.ISBN9780817916664.the Maronites and the Druze, who founded Lebanon in the early eighteenth century.
^Tetz Rooke (2013)."Writing the Boundary: "Khitat al-Shăm" by Muhammad Kurd ʹAli". In Hiroyuki (ed.).Concept Of Territory In Islamic Thought. Routledge. p. 178.ISBN978-1-136-18453-6.His [(Thongchai Winichakul's)] study shows that the modern map in some cases predicted the nation instead of just recording it; rather than describing existing borders it created the reality it was assumed to depict. The power of the map over the mind was great:"[H]ow could a nation resist being found if a nineteenth-century map had predicted it?" In the Middle East, Lebanon seems to offer a corresponding example. When the idea of a Greater Lebanon in 1908 was put forward in a book by Bulus Nujaym, a Lebanese Maronite writing under the pseudonym of M. Jouplain, he suggested that the natural boundaries of Lebanon were exactly the same as drawn in the 1861 and 1863 staff maps of the French military expedition to Syria, maps that added territories on the northern, eastern and southern borders, plus the city of Beirut, to the Mutasarrifiyya of Mount Lebanon. In this case, too, the prior existence of a European military map seems to have created a fact on the ground.
^Barr, James (27 October 2011).A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle that Shaped the Middle East. London: Simon & Schuster.ISBN978-1-84983-903-7.OCLC990782374.
^"Background Note: Lebanon".Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. U.S. Department of State. January 2009.Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved31 January 2010.
^Salem, Paul (1 November 2006)."The Future of Lebanon". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived fromthe original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved17 January 2013.
^Ross, Oakland (9 October 2007)."Language of murder makes itself understood".Toronto Star.Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved2 February 2009.Like a wound that just won't heal, a large expanse patch of fresh asphalt still mottles the grey surface of Rue Minet el-Hosn, where the street veers west around St. George Bay. The patch marks the exact spot where a massive truck bomb exploded 14 February 2005, killing prime minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others and gouging a deep crater in the road.
^"Press Release SC/8353" (Press release). United Nations – Security Council. 7 April 2005.Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved19 January 2009.
^abcdEtheredge, Laura S (2011).Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan – Middle East: region in transition. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 85–159.ISBN978-1-61530-414-1.
^بيروت, واس- (15 October 2019)."الأمطار تشارك في إطفاء حرائق لبنان" [Rain participates in extinguishing the fires of Lebanon].Al Yaum (in Arabic).Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved14 March 2023.
^abCohen, Saul Bernard (2015). "Chapter 12: The Middle East Shatterbelt".Geopolitics: the geography of international relations (3rd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 402.ISBN978-1-4422-2349-3.
^Lijphart, Arend.Multiethnic democracy, in S. Lipset (ed.), "The Encyclopedia of Democracy". London, Routledge, 1995, Volume III, pp. 853–865ISBN0871878887.
^abJean Hayek et al, 1999. The Structure, Properties, and Main Foundations of the Lebanese Economy. InThe Scientific Series in Geography, Grade 11, 110–114. Beirut: Dar Habib.
^"Lebanon".Canadian International Development Agency. Government of Canada. 28 May 2009. Archived fromthe original(Governmental) on 30 May 2008. Retrieved24 August 2009.
Hajjar, George (2002)."Aspects of Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Lebanon"(PDF).hartsem.edu. Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved27 March 2021.In recent years, the Melkites, like the Maronites, have denied affiliation with Arab ethnicity, race and culture.
^Dralonge, Richard N. (2008).Economics and Geopolitics of the Middle East. New York: Nova Science Publishers. p. 150.ISBN978-1-60456-076-3.Lebanon, with a population of 3.8 million, has the most religiously diverse society in the Middle East, comprising 17 recognized religious sects.
^abcd"Lebanon".International Religious Freedom Report 2010. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved24 June 2017.
^J. Stewart, Dona (2008).The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33.ISBN9781135980795.Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.
^"WVS Database".World Values Survey. Institute for Comparative Survey Research. March 2015.Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved8 January 2016.
^abcMcGowen, Afaf Sabeh (1989)."Glossary". In Collelo, Thomas (ed.).Lebanon: A Country Study. Area Handbook Series (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: The Division.OCLC18907889. Retrieved30 September 2010.
^Acocella, Joan (31 December 2007)."Prophet Motive".The New Yorker.Archived from the original on 16 March 2019. Retrieved14 April 2019 – via www.newyorker.com.
^Sheehan, Sean; Latif Zawiah (30 August 2007)."Arts".Lebanon. Cultures of the World (2 ed.). Marshall Cavendish Children's Books. p. 105.ISBN978-0-7614-2081-1. Retrieved19 September 2009.
^McKenzie, Robert.Comparing Media from Around the World, Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2006, p. 372ISBN0-205-40242-9
^abSheehan, Sean; Latif (30 August 2007)."Leisure".Lebanon. Cultures of the World. Vol. 13. Zawiah. Marshall Cavendish Children's Books. p. 123.ISBN978-0-7614-2081-1.
Coogan, Michael D.; Smith, Mark S. (15 March 2012).Stories from Ancient Canaan, Second Edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.ISBN978-0-664-23242-9.
Arkadiusz, Plonka.L’idée de langue libanaise d’après Sa‘īd ‘Aql, Paris, Geuthner, 2004 (French)ISBN2-7053-3739-3
Firzli, Nicola Y.Al-Baath wa-Lubnân [Arabic only] ("The Baath and Lebanon"). Beirut: Dar-al-Tali'a Books, 1973
Fisk, Robert.Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon. New York: Nation Books, 2002.
Glass, Charles, "Tribes with Flags: A Dangerous Passage Through the Chaos of the Middle East", Atlantic Monthly Press (New York) and Picador (London), 1990ISBN0-436-18130-4
Gorton, TJ and Feghali Gorton, AG.Lebanon: through Writers' Eyes. London: Eland Books, 2009.
Norton, Augustus R.Amal and the Shi'a: Struggle for the Soul of Lebanon. Austin and London: University of Texas Press, 1987.
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Salibi, Kamal.A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990.
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