| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 21,428 (2011)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Beirut (Greater Beirut),Tripoli | |
| Languages | |
| French,Lebanese Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| PredominantlyRoman Catholic | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Lebanese |
| Part ofa series of articles on the |
| French people |
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Africa Asia Middle East Europe
North America
South America Oceania 1Overseas parts of France properMigration of minorities inFrance (i.e.Basques) can be considered as separate (ethnically) or French migration (by nationality). |
French people in Lebanon (orFrench Lebanese) areFrench citizens resident inLebanon, including many binationals and persons of mixed ancestry. French statistics estimated that there were around 23,000 French citizens living in Lebanon in 2020.[2] There are neither official Lebanese statistics nor any scientific information regarding their spoken languages and supposed religious affiliations.
In the 13th century, theking of France,Louis IX pledged to protect the Maronites.[2] In the 16th century,Francis I of France forged an alliance with the sultan of theOttoman Empire,Suleiman the Magnificent; the Ottomans controlled the region and granted the French monarch the role of "protector of eastern Christians".[2] In the 19th century, FrenchJesuits established schools in Lebanon as well asSaint Joseph University, established in 1875.[2] According to Alex Issa, the French played a major role in the education of the Christian elite of Lebanon, amongst other things, teaching the elites French history and the French language.[2] After the defeat of the Ottoman empire in theFirst World War, a French mandate was established overLebanon in theTreaty of Sèvres of1920.[2] In 1943, Lebanon became independent from France.[2] In 1989 following Syrian attacks on Lebanon, France sent an armada to protect 6000 French citizens according to the French government and according to theNew York Times, unofficially to protect the Christian population of Lebanon.[3]
For the elections at theAssembly of French Citizens Abroad, Lebanon is part of the Beirut electoral district, including alsoSyria,Iraq andJordan, where there are small French communities. The three representatives elected on 18 June 2006 (4,156 votes in total, 3,787 in Lebanon) are all members of right-wing groups in the Assembly:Jean-Louis Mainguy (born in 1953 inBeirut, Union of Democrats, Independents and Liberals),Denise Revers-Haddad (born in 1940 inVarennes-Jarcy, Rally of French Citizens Abroad) andMarcel Laugel (born in 1931 inAlgiers, thenFrench Algeria, Union of Democrats, Independents and Liberals).[4]
For theJune 2012 French legislative election, Lebanon is part of a largeconstituency for French residents overseas, thetenth, including Central, Eastern and Southern Africa and much of the Middle East. On December 31, 2011, there were 21,428 registered French electors in Lebanon out of 147,997 for the whole constituency.[5] Out of 11 candidates presently known, only two are – at least partially – living in Lebanon, none from the two main parties.[6]
At theFrench National Assembly, there were two French Lebanese deputies for the 2007-2012 mandate,Henri Jibrayel (member of theSocialist Party) andÉlie Aboud (born in Beirut in 1959, member of theUnion for a Popular Movement). In the 2007-2012 Union for a Popular Movement governments, there was a French Lebanese member,Éric Besson, whose mother is Lebanese.
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1 TheLebanese people has the most religious diversity of all peoples in theMiddle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects recognized by theConstitution of Lebanon. 2 Under the terms of theConstitution of Lebanon, the Druze community is designated as a part of the Lebanese Muslim community. | |||||||
