Lebanon

Introduction

Capital: Beirut

Population

Total Population: 4,097,076

Annual growth rate: 1.0%

Density: 400 inhabitant/km²

Urban population: 86.8%

Population of main cities including suburbs: Beirut (1,380,000); Tripoli (230,000); Sidon (160,000).

Ethnic Origins: The population is 95% Arab and 4% Armenian. The Christian population tends to identify with the Phoenicians and refuses to be classified as "Arab".

Official Language: Arabic

Other languages spoken: English and French are spoken by a large part of the population.
Armenian 6% and Kurdish 1%.

Business language: French and Arabic

Religion: Muslims (Shiites and Sunni): 59,7%; Christians (Orthodox, Armenians, Gregorians): 39%; Other religions: 1,3%.

Local time:

It is %T:%M %A in Beirut

Exchange rate on :

National currency:
Lebanese Pound (LBP)

Country overview

Type of State: A Republic based on confessionalist, parliamentary democracy. This means that each political position must be filled by a person of a particular denomination.

Type of economy: Upper-middle-income economy.
It is heavily dependent on foreign trade for importing consumer goods and raw materials.

HDI*: 0,796/1

HDI (world rank): 78th/177

Note: (*) The HDI, Human Development Index, is an indicator which synthesizes several data such as life expectancy, level of education, professional careers, access to culture etc.

Telecommunication

Telephone code:
To call from Lebanon, dial 00
To call in Lebanon, dial +961

Internet suffix: .lb

Telephone lines: 16.8 per 100 inhabitants

Internet users: 37.7 per 100 inhabitants

Access to electricity: 100% of the population

Foreign trade in figures

Foreign trade indicators	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Imports of goods (millions USD)	6,528	8,502	9,239	9,345	11,926
Exports of goods (millions USD)	1,733	2,050	2,652	3,207	4,077
Imports of services (millions USD)	6,488	8,230	7,895	8,734	9,986
Exports of services (millions USD)	9,462	9,704	10,858	11,565	12,527