About Lebanon

 

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Area

10,400 sq km

Population

3,826,018 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.7%; 15-64 years: 66.4%; 65+ years: 6.9%

Median age

27.34 years

Population growth rate

1.26% (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions

Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant), other 1.3%. Note: 17 religious sects recognized

Languages

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy

(Age 15 and over can read and write) total population: 87.4% male: 93.1%; female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

Government type

Republic

Capital

Beirut

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly

Judicial Branch

Four Courts of Cassation; Constitutional Council; Supreme Council

Gross Domestic Product

$18.83 billion (2004 est.), per capita: $5,000 (2004 est.)

GDP Growth Rate

4 % (2004 est.)