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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 700,000[1][2][3][4] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Caracas,Maracaibo,Valencia,Maracay,Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz,Ciudad Guayana,Margarita Island,Punto Fijo | |
| Languages | |
| Spanish,Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Overwhelmingly CatholicChristian, someDruze[5] andMuslims |
| Part ofa series of articles on |
| Lebanese people |
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Communities Native communities outside of Lebanon: Europe Overseas
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ALebanese Venezuelan is aVenezuelan citizen ofLebanese origin or descent. There are around 750,000 people of Lebanese ancestry.[6][7][8][4]
Lebanese immigration to Venezuela started when the first wave began to arrive to the country during 1862, in the last months of theFederal War. Once disembarked in the ports of Venezuela, they were classified by the authorities asTurks, because they had only been issued passports with that nationality. According to research, two of the entry points wereMargarita Island andPuerto Cabello. The first contingent of Lebanese settled in these ports and also inCumaná,La Guaira andPunto Fijo, from where they spread to the interior of the country. They worked mainly in the commercial sector, helping to develop this sector in the national economy that until the moment presented little progress.[9]
The second wave of Lebanese immigration developed after 1918. After the defeat of theOttoman Empire inWorld War I, theFrench Mandate of Syria was established, with one of its subdivisions being theState of Greater Lebanon. The harsh conditions of the postwar period once again motivated the Lebanese to embark on a path similar to that of the 19th century towards the American continent, including Venezuela.
Despite the fact that the Lebanese had arrived in Venezuela on several occasions, it was not until the mid-1960s and early 1970s that immigration became more forceful, since at that time Venezuela had many employment opportunities and of good living.
The Lebanese were able to maintain their traditions and their identity already in Venezuelan territory, which they prioritize in relation to the education of young people in their community.
In religion, the majority of Lebanese-Venezuelans areChristians who belong to theMaronite Catholic Church,Roman Catholic,Eastern Orthodox andMelkite Catholic. A scant number areMuslims.
Venezuela is home of the largestDruze communities outside the Middle East,[10] theDruze community are estimated around 60,000,[11] and they are mostlyLebanese andSyrian.
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