Capital
Beirut

Language
Arabic is the official and predominant language and French is widely spoken. English and Armenian are less common.

Area size
10452 sq. km

Area comparison
Cyprus, Qatar, Jamaica

Population
2005, 3.6 million
2004, 3.7 million
2002, 3.6 million

Future population estimates
4.7 million (2050)

PEOPLE

Language
Arabic is the official and predominant language and French is widely spoken. English and Armenian are less common.

Population
2005, 3.6 million
2004, 3.7 million
2002, 3.6 million

Future population estimates
4.7 million (2050)

Ethnic groups
Lebanese Arabs 80 percent. There is a significant Palestinian minority, as well as Armenians, Syrians, Kurds and Europeans. (2005/2006)

Religion
Muslims make up more than half of the population, with a Shia majority. There is a large Christian population, predominantly Catholic and Maronite but also Orthodox Christians. There is a sizeable Druze minority. (2005/2006)

Percentage urban population
2003, 87.5 percent
2002, 87.2 percent

Year women granted right to vote
1952

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
90 (2002-2003)

Percentage of population under 15
2003, 29.5 percent
2002, 29.6 percent

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +2

Climate description
Warm, hot and humid summers along the coast, while winters are mild with rain. Inland, summers are drier, cool and fresh, with snow on higher peaks between December and April.

Currency
Lebanese pound

Telephone dialling code
(+) 961

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy
2003, 72.0 years
2002, 73.5 years

Life expectancy - male
69.8 years (2003)

Life expectancy - female
74.2 years (2003)

Infant mortality
2003, 27 per 1,000 live births
2002, 28 per 1,000 live births

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
2003, 31 per 1,000 live births
2002, 32 per 1,000 live births

Births attended by skilled personnel
89 percent (1995-2003)

Maternal mortality
150 per 100,000 live births (2000)

Human development index (HDI rank)
2005, 81 (2005)
2005 80 (2004)

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
3 percent (1995-2003)

Percentage of undernourished population
3 percent (2000-2002 average)

Population with access to improved water
2002, 100 percent (2005)
2000 100 percent (2004)

Population with access to improved sanitation
2002, 99 percent (2005)
2000, 98 percent (2004)

Literacy - average
2003, 86.5 percent (2005)
2002, No data available percent

Literacy - male
2003, 92.4 percent (2005)
2002, 92.4 percent (2004)

Literacy - female
2003, 81.0 percent (2005)
2002, 81.0 percent (2004)

Landlines telephones
2004, 178 per 1,000 people (2005)
2003, 200 per 1,000 people (2005)
2002, 199 per 1,000 people (2004)

Cellular telephone subscribers
2005, 277 per 1,000 people (2006)
2004, 250 per 1,000 people (2005)
2003, 234 per 1,000 people (2005)

Internet users
2004, 169 per 1,000 people (2005)
2004, 143 per 1,000 people (2004)
2002, 117.1 per 1,000 people (2004)

Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 145=most corrupt)
2005, 83 (joint)
2004, 97

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method
2004, 6010 current US$ (2006)
2003, 5220 current US$ (2006)

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP
2004, 21.8 current US$ billions (2006)
2003, 19.9 current US$ billions (2006)

Annual GDP growth
2004, 6.3 percent (2006)
2003, 4.9 percent (2006) Annual inflation
2.9 percent (2004)

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians
1990-2004, 325 per 100,000 people (2005)
1990-2003, 274 per 100,000 people (2004)

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
2005, No data available percent
2003, 0.1 percent (2006)

Malaria
No risk (2004-2005)

TB cases
2004, 11 per 100,000 people (2006)
2003, 12 per 100,000 people (2005)
2002, 14 per 100,000 people (2004)

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here
2005, 18323
2004, 19866
2003, 24932

Number of refugees residing here
2005, 1078
2004, 1753
2003, 2522

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
256000 (2006)

Landmine casualties per year
2004, 14 (2005)
2003, 26 (2004)
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Signatory to landmine convention?
No

Percentage of GDP spent on military
4.3 percent (2003)

Percentage of GDP spent on education
2.7 percent (2000-2002)

Percentage of GDP spent on health
3.5 percent (2002)

References:
• New Internationalist World Guide 2005/2006
• U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division
• UNDP - Human Development Report
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Transparency International
• World Bank Data Profile Tables
• U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS)
• U.N. World Health Organisation (WHO)
• Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Landmine Monitor Report