Why has Lebanon not held an official census since 1932?

Lebanon has not conducted an official census since 1932 primarily because the country’s government and social structure are deeply and formally intertwined with its religious composition.1

Because political power in Lebanon is apportioned based on sectarian balance—including specific quotas for parliamentary seats and high-level public offices—the relative proportions of the country’s various religious communities are considered a highly sensitive matter. Conducting an official census would reveal current demographic data that could disrupt the established political equilibrium and the delicate power-sharing arrangements between Christian and Muslim groups. Consequently, the country relies on estimates rather than official census data to manage its confessional composition.21