Which religious communities make up Lebanon’s diverse population?

Lebanon is characterized by a uniquely diverse religious landscape, a feature deeply intertwined with its social and political structure. Because the country has not held an official census since 1932, the exact proportions of its religious communities remain a sensitive and variable matter.12

The population is primarily composed of the following groups:

• Muslims: The two largest religious groups in the country are Shiʿi Muslims and Sunni Muslims, each comprising more than one-fourth of the population.13
• Christians: Maronites, a Roman Catholic Eastern rite group, make up more than one-fifth of the population. Other Christian communities present include the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholics.13
• Druze: The Druze constitute a smaller percentage of the population but maintain an influential role in Lebanese society.13
• Other: There is also a very small Jewish minority.13

The Lebanese political system formally recognizes this diversity through a power-sharing arrangement among these sectarian groups.45