Introduction
Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991. Under the Ta’if Accord—the blueprint for national reconciliation—the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Area (total): 10,452 sq km
Land: 10,230 sq km
Water: 170 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 454 km total – Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa’ (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
Land use: arable land 21%, permanent crops 9%, permanent pastures 1%, forests and woodland 8%, other 61%
Irrigated land: 860 sq km
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills.
Environment—international agreements: party to Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, and Ship Pollution conventions; has signed but not ratified agreements on Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, and Marine Life Conservation.
Geography—note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity.
People
Population: 3,562,699 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0–14 years 30%, 15–64 years 64%, 65 years and over 6%
Population growth rate: 1.61% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.5 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: 0.94 male(s)/female (total population)
Infant mortality rate: 30.53 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 70.93 years total (male 68.34, female 73.66)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman
Nationality: Lebanese (singular and plural)
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (Alawite/Nusayri, Druze, Isma’ilite, Shi’a, Sunni), Christian 30% (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widely understood
Literacy (age 15+): 86.4% total – male 90.8%, female 82.2%
Government
Country name: Lebanese Republic (Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah), short form Lubnan
Government type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat): Al Biqa’, Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males, authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch: cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly; by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi’a Muslim
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis Alnuwab), 128 seats, members elected on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three for civil and commercial cases, one for criminal cases); Constitutional Council rules on constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed
Political parties: political party activity is organized largely along sectarian lines, with numerous groupings motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: AL, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, among others
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy
The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon’s economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon’s position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities.
Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon’s economy made significant gains following the launch of “Horizon 2000,” a major government reconstruction program.
Progress has also been made in rebuilding Lebanon’s physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere managed the reconstruction of Beirut’s central business district, the stock market reopened, and international banks and insurance companies returned to the market. The government has continued to face challenges related to public debt, currency stability, and the broader economic environment.
GDP (PPP): $15.8 billion (est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (est.)
GDP per capita (PPP): $4,500 (est.)
GDP by sector: agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73%
Inflation rate: 5% (est.)
Labor force: 1 million (plus up to 1 million foreign workers)
Labor force by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%, agriculture 7%
Unemployment rate: 18% (est.)
Budget: revenues $4.9 billion, expenditures $7.9 billion (est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating
Electricity production: 8.4 billion kWh, primarily from fossil fuel with a hydroelectric share
Agriculture—products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats
Exports: $711 million f.o.b. – foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, metal products, electrical equipment, jewelry, paper products
Exports—partners: Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Syria, US, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey
Imports: $7.5 billion c.i.f. – foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, textiles, metals, fuels
Imports—partners: Italy, US, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, UK, Syria
Debt—external: $3 billion (est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $3.5 billion (multi-year pledges)
Currency: Lebanese pound (£L) = 100 piasters
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephone system: primarily microwave radio relay and cable, substantially rebuilt following civil-war-era damage
International links: satellite earth stations (Intelsat – Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean regions), submarine coaxial cables, and microwave radio relay to Syria
Radio broadcast stations: AM, FM, and shortwave stations, including numerous local and regional broadcasters
Television broadcast stations: multiple national and regional stations
Transportation
Railways: 222 km, standard gauge (Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways: 6,270 km, all paved
Pipelines: crude oil, 72 km (not currently in operation)
Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina’, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine: a mixed fleet including bulk carriers, general cargo vessels, container ships, and roll-on/roll-off vessels
Airports: 9 total, including 7 with paved runways
Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower – availability: males age 15–49 approximately 925,834
Military manpower – fit for service: males age 15–49 approximately 573,093
Military expenditures: $445 million, approximately 5% of GDP
Note: demographic and economic figures above reflect historical estimates compiled from public country-profile sources and may not reflect current conditions. For up-to-date guidance on doing business or investing in Lebanon, please contact Mattar Law Firm.
