Home/Countries/Lebanon

Middle East

Lebanon

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria.

Muslim population67.8%of the population

Population5.9 millionpeople (current)

CapitalBeirutUTC+2 · daylight saving in summer

Currency89,500 = $1Lebanese pounds (LBP) (2024)

Country basics

Lebanon is a republic on the eastern Mediterranean between Syria and Israel, with two mountain ranges.

Lebanon is a republic with Beirut as its capital and Arabic as its official language, and public offices are allocated among religious communities. The pound is the currency, and banking, remittances and re-export trade shape the economy.

Official name

Lebanese Republic

Region

Asia · Western Asia

Government

Unitary parliamentary republic under confessionalism

Time zonesCheck the offset for your own city

UTC+02:00

Driving side

Right

Phone code

+961

Currency

Lebanese pound (LBP, ل.ل)

Member of

Arab League; UN

Website

https://www.presidency.gov.lb

Faith and language

Religions

Muslim 67.8% (31.9% Sunni, 31.2% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 4.5%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus

Languages

Arabic; French

People and cities

Population

5.9 million (current)

Median ageHalf the population is younger than this

29.4 years (2025)

Living in cities

89.4% (2023)

Largest cities

Beirut (capital) 2.421 million

Money and cost of living

Exchange rateYearly average; check today’s rate before you budget

89,500 Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar (2024)

Income per personGDP per person, adjusted for local prices (2021 dollars)

$11,300 (2023)

InflationHow much prices rose over the year

45.2% (2024)

Unemployment

11.6% (2023)

Spent on foodShare of an average household’s spending

37.1% (2023)

Health and daily life

Life expectancy

79.2 years (2024)

Doctors

2.68 per 1,000 people (2020)

Hospital beds

2.7 per 1,000 people (2021)

Safe drinking water

92.6% of people (2022)

Electricity

100% of people (2022)

Internet users

84% of people (2023)

Literacy

92% of adults (2019)

Land and climate

Climate

Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows

SizeAbout one-third the size of Maryland

10,452 sq km

Natural hazards

Earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms

National holiday

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)