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Lebanon: Quick Facts

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News •

Lebanon Faces Economic ‘Catastrophe’ After War and Years of Mismanagement • Nov. 11, 2026, 4:18 AM ET (New York Times)
US to deport Lebanon's Detroit consul-general over terror support • Nov. 7, 2026, 11:46 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)
‘It’s in our blood’: Lebanon, Ukraine and Syria rugby league teams fly the flag despite horrors of war at home • Nov. 6, 2026, 10:12 AM ET (The Guardian)
Lebanese flag raised at Windsor City Hall to mark heritage month • Nov. 5, 2026, 2:20 PM ET (CTV News)
Lebanon's Christians face mounting hostility as sectarian divisions deepen • Nov. 3, 2026, 10:46 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Facts

Also Known As Lubnān • Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Lubnāniyyah • Republic of Lebanon
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Nawaf Salam
Capital Beirut
Population (2026 est.) 5,821,000
Head Of State President: Joseph Aoun
Form Of Government unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [1281])
Official Language Arabic2
Official Religion none
Official Name الجمهورية اللبنانية (Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Lubnāniyyah; “Lebanese Republic”)
Total Area (Sq Km) 10,452
Total Area (Sq Mi) 4,036
Monetary Unit Lebanese pound (LBP)
Population Rank (2026) 117
Population Projection 2030 5,938,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 1,442.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 556.9
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 89.6% • Rural: (2024) 10.4%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2021) 71.2 years • Female: (2021) 77.5 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2023) 21,374
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2023) 3,700
1By law, one-half of the membership is Christian and one-half is Muslim/Druze.2A law determines French usage per article 11 of the constitution. In 2004 about 20% of the population spoke French in their daily lives.

Photos

Lebanon
Map of Lebanon showing its national boundaries, internal administrative divisions, and major cities. Neighboring countries Israel and Syria are labeled, with the Mediterranean Sea to the west. A locator inset highlights Lebanon's position in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Cafe in a narrow alley in central Beirut, Lebanon, with colorful umbrellas hanging overhead and people sitting at tables enjoying coffee.
Map showing Lebanon's location in the eastern Mediterranean region of the Middle East, bordered by Syria and Israel, with neighboring countries such as Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran also labeled. The capital city, Beirut, is marked within Lebanon.
Map of Lebanon highlighting physical features such as the Lebanon Mountains, Anti-Lebanon Mountains, Bekaa Valley, major rivers including the Litani and Orontes, and Lake Qaraoun. Key locations like Beirut, Byblos, Tyre, and Baalbek are marked. The map also shows neighboring countries Israel and Syria, the Golan Heights, and includes a small locator inset for regional context.
cedar of Lebanon
Beirut: oil on Ramlat al-Bayḍāʾ beach
Map of Lebanon color-coded by population density, with the highest density shown in dark red around Beirut and lower densities in lighter shades across other regions. Major cities including Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, and Tyre are marked, and governorate boundaries are outlined.
Ruins at Anjar
A row of ancient stone columns from the ruins of Tyre stands amid grass and wildflowers, with modern buildings of Tyre, Lebanon visible in the background.
National anthem of Lebanon
See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah
Lebanese militia and political leader
Saad al-Hariri
Saad al-Hariri
prime minister of Lebanon
General Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon, wearing a suit and red tie, speaks at the podium with United Nations emblem and microphones in front of a green marble background.
Michel Aoun
president of Lebanon
Joseph Aoun
Joseph Aoun
president of Lebanon
Najib Mikati
Najib Mikati
prime minister of Lebanon
Rafic al-Hariri
Rafic al-Hariri
prime minister of Lebanon
default image
Camille Chamoun
president of Lebanon
default image
Fuad Chehab
president of Lebanon
default image
Bashīr Shihāb II
ruler of Lebanon
default image
Suleiman Franjieh
president of Lebanon
default image
Fakhr al-Dīn II
Lebanese leader
default image
Bishara al-Khuri
president of Lebanon
Lahoud, Émile
Émile Lahoud
president of Lebanon
default image
Charles Hélou
president of Lebanon
default image
ʿAbbās al-Mūsawī
Lebanese cleric and militant
default image
Hamid Franjieh
Lebanese politician
default image
Riad al-Sulh
Lebanese statesman

Related Places

A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.
Asia
continent
Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut
national capital, Lebanon
The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities
Middle East
region, Asia, Africa, and Europe
Tyre, Lebanon
Tyre
town and historical site, Lebanon
Baalbek: Temple of Bacchus
Baalbek
archaeological site, Lebanon
Tripoli: Great Mosque
Tripoli
Lebanon
Sidon, Lebanon: Crusader castle
Sidon
Lebanon
Bekaa (Al-Biqāʿ) Valley, Lebanon
Bekaa valley
valley, Lebanon
Lebanon
Nabatieh
Lebanon
Zaḥlah
Zaḥlah
Lebanon
default image
Marj ʿUyūn
Lebanon
Obelisk Temple at Byblos, Lebanon
Byblos
ancient city, Lebanon
Litani River
Litani River
river, Lebanon
default image
Al-Kalb River
river, Lebanon
Cedars of Lebanon
Lebanon Mountains
mountain range, Lebanon

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