Lebanon
Country Guide

Explore Lebanon

Lebanon with its capital Beirut is located in Asia (Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 10,401 square kilometers (about one-third the size of Maryland) with a population of 6,229,790. Arabic, French, English and Armenian are the languages spoken by people in Lebanon (consider regional differences). Did you know that is sharing borders with Israel and Syria.

Lebanon is a small country (10,452 sq km or 4076 sq mi in area with 3.7 million inhabitants) within the Middle East region with its capital being Beirut. The Lebanese people have had to adapt to the political turmoil. Lebanon is easily the party capital of the Middle East. Beirut features many different and distinct nightlife neighborhoods, such as Gemmayze district, mostly full of bars and restaurants, or the Monot Street which features nightclubs and bars. Lebanon is also known for it's open-air nightclubs such as Sky Bar, White, and Isis. Greater Beirut is a sleepless city, as the great majority of it open 24 hours a day.

Popular Destinations in Lebanon

Administrative regions of Lebanon

• Beyrouth
• Mohafazat Aakkar
• Mohafazat Baalbek-Hermel
• Mohafazat Beqaa
• Mohafazat Liban-Nord
• Mohafazat Liban-Sud
• Mohafazat Mont-Liban
• Mohafazat Nabatiye

About the country

The terrain is narrow coastal plain having El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. The average density of population is about 599 per km². The climate in Lebanon can be described as Mediterraneanmild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers, the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows. Possible natural disasters include dust storms, sandstorms earthquakes

To reach someone Lebanon dial +961 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".lb". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Pound is LBP.

Three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.

Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has historically influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 169)	10,400	sq km
Land (World Rank: 165)	10,230	sq km
Water (World Rank: 136)	170	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 39)	39.10	%
Comparative	about one-third the size of Maryland
Coastline
225
Landborder
484
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 63)	3,088	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 38)	63.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 95)	11.90	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 20)	12.30	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 39)	39.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 90)	1,040	sq km
Map reference
Middle East
Environment
Issues	- air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes - deforestation - desertification - pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills - soil erosion
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution - Wetlands
Agreement signed	- Environmental Modification - Marine Life Conservation
Hazzards	- dust storms, sandstorms - earthquakes
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain
narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 107)	6,229,790
Deathrate (World Rank: 191)	0.50	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 134)	1.43	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 224)	-1.10	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 184)	-2.03	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 166)	1.72	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 110)	29.90
Female (World Rank: 108)	31.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 108)	768,282
0 14 female (World Rank: 107)	732,773
15 24 male (World Rank: 106)	523,380
15 24 female (World Rank: 105)	499,582
25 54 male (World Rank: 105)	1,412,110
25 54 female (World Rank: 105)	1,378,460
55 64 male (World Rank: 105)	232,198
55 64 female (World Rank: 105)	260,685
65 x male (World Rank: 106)	183,995
65 x female (World Rank: 109)	238,321
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 157)	0.74	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 65)	78	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 90)	79	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 52)	77	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 64)	2.38
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 61)	3.50
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 123)	80.70	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 19)	32.00	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 68)	99.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 80)	17,320,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 76)	15,660,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 87)	268,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 71)	87.20	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 110)	12.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 137)	0.90	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 69)	143,000	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 44)	148,800	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 111)	150,100,000	m³
Import (World Rank: 15)	0	m³
Carbon footprint
16000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 151)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 10)	5	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 94)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 189)	-10	% of GDP
National symbol
cedar tree
National colours
white
Adjective
Lebanese
Noun
Lebanese (singular and plural)
Background
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has historically influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
Flag description
three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 89)	85,110,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 176)	1.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 88)	19,100	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 121)	5.70	%
Source industry (World Rank: 144)	21.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 53)	73.30	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 122)	2,166,000
In poverty (World Rank: 71)	28.60	%
Products
Industries	- banking - cement - chemical products - food processing - furniture products - jewelry - metal fabricating - mineral - oil refining - textiles - tourism - wine - wood
Agriculture	- apples - citrus - goats - grapes - olives - potatoes - sheep - tobacco - tomatoes - vegetables
Exports	- base metals - chemicals - construction minerals - consumer goods - electric power machinery - fruit - jewelry - paper - switchgear - textile fibers - tobacco - vegetables
Imports	- cars - chemicals - clothing - consumer goods - electrical machinery - equipment - live animals - meat - medicinal products - paper - petroleum products - textile fabrics - tobacco

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 75)	1,068,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 104)	17.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 167)	78.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 79)	4,747,540
Population (World Rank: 60)	76.10	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 147)	5.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 159)	3.00
Heliports (World Rank: 89)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 120)	401
Road
Total length (World Rank: 147)	6,970

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