Lebanon: Sovereign state in Western Asia

It has borders with Israel to the south and Syria to the east and north. It also shares a maritime border with Cyprus to the northwest.

Republic of Lebanon ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱللُّبْنَانِيَّةُ (Arabic) al-Jumhūriyya al-Lubnāniyya République libanaise (French)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: كلّنا للوطن  (Arabic) Koullouna lilouataan lil oula lil alam English: All of us! For our Country!
Location of Lebanon (in green)
Capital and largest city	Beirut 33°54′N 35°32′E / 33.900°N 35.533°E / 33.900; 35.533
Official languages	Arabic
Recognised languages	French English
Local vernacular	Lebanese Arabic
Ethnic groups	95% Arab 4% Armenian 1% Other
Religion (Estimated)	Islam ~28.7% Sunni ~28.4% Shi'a ~0.6% Other (Alawite & Ismaili) Christianity ~22% Maronite Catholic ~8% Greek Orthodox ~5% Melkite Catholic ~4% Armenian (Apostolic & Catholic) ~1% Minorities (Jacobite, Syriac Catholic, ACOE, Chaldean, Latin Catholic, and Coptic) ~1% Evangelical Druzism ~5.2% Druze
Demonym(s)	Lebanese
Government	Unitary confessionalist parliamentary republic
• President	Michel Aoun
• Prime Minister	Najib Mikati
• Speaker of the Parliament	Nabih Berri
Legislature	Parliament
Establishment
• Greater Lebanon	1 September 1920
• Constitution	23 May 1926
• Independence declared	22 November 1943
• French mandate ended	24 October 1945
• Withdrawal of French forces	17 April 1946
• Israeli troops withdrawn	24 May 2000
• Syrian troops withdrawn	30 April 2005
Area
• Total	10,452 km2 (4,036 sq mi) (161st)
• Water (%)	1.8
Population
• 2021 estimate	5,592,631 (109th)
• Density	560/km2 (1,450.4/sq mi) (21st)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$91 billion
• Per capita	$11,562 (66th)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$18 billion (82nd)
• Per capita	$2,745
Gini (2011)	31.8 medium
HDI (2019)	0.744 high · 92nd
Currency	Lebanese pound (LBP)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+961
ISO 3166 code	LB
Internet TLD	.lb

Lebanon was named Phoenicia under the Roman Empire. Some of the biggest temples in Antiquity were there at Heliopolis. In the eighth century Arabs conquered Phoenicia and imposed their religion Islam. But many areas in the mountains remained Christian as the "Maronites". However, the Christians who remained in the mountains became Arabized and started identifying themselves as "Arab Christians".

Lebanon has been independent since 1943. Its capital city is Beirut.

Lebanon has two chains of mountains. It has a long coastline. The area of Lebanon is 10,452 square kilometers.

The Cedar tree is the national symbol of Lebanon because many of them grow in the Lebanon Mountains.

Around 5.2 million people live in Lebanon.

Around 14 million Lebanese people live outside Lebanon.

About 68% of Lebanese people are Muslim and 32% are Christian.

The official language of Lebanon is Arabic and it is the most common language. French, English, and Armenian are also common languages.

Lebanon is divided into six governorates. These are divided into 25 districts. The districts are also divided into several municipalities. The governorates and their districts are listed below:

• Beirut Governorate
  • The Beirut Governorate is not divided into districts and is limited to the city of Beirut
• Nabatieh Governorate (Jabal Amel)
  • Bint Jbeil
  • Hasbaya
  • Marjeyoun
  • Nabatieh
• Beqaa Governorate
  • Baalbek
  • Hermel
  • Rashaya
  • Western Beqaa (al-Beqaa al-Gharbi)
  • Zahle
• North Governorate (al-Shamal)
  • Akkar
  • Batroun
  • Bsharri
  • Koura
  • Miniyeh-Danniyeh
  • Tripoli
  • Zgharta
• Mount Lebanon Governorate (Jabal Lubnan)
  • Aley
  • Baabda
  • Byblos (Jbeil)
  • Chouf
  • Keserwan
  • Matn
• South Governorate (al-Janoub)
  • Jezzine
  • Sidon (Saida)
  • Tyre (Sur)

 

• Lebanese Civil War
• 2020 Beirut explosion
• List of rivers of Lebanon
• Lebanon at the Olympics
• Lebanon national football team
• Heliopolis (Roman Phoenicia)