Political leadership

President Michel Aoun (since 31 October 2016)

Prime Minister Hassan Diab (since 21 January 2020)

Land

Total 10,400 sq km; Land 10,230 sq km; Water 170 sq Km; (country comparison to the world: 169)

Boundaries

total: 484 km

Border countries

Israel 81 km, Syria 403 km

Coastline

225 km

Population

6.10 million (July 2018 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.32%; 15-64 years: 69.65%; 65+: 7.03% (2018 est.)

Population growth rate

-2.1% (July 2017 – July 2018)

Urbanisation

88.6% of total population (2018)

Major cities

BEIRUT (capital) 2.385 million (2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions

Muslim 57.7% (28.7% Sunni, 28.4% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 36.2% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 5.2%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha’is, Buddhists, and Hindus (2017 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy

(Age 15+ Can Read and Write) total population: 93.9% male: 96% female: 91.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP

$43.78 billion (2017); $42.91 billion (2016)

GDP growth

2.02% (2017); 2% (2016)

GDP per capita

$7,197.6 (2017 est.); $7,144.0 (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.64% (2017 est.); 6.58% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

Unavailable

Public debt

146.8% of GDP (2017 est.); 145.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate

4.5% (2017)