Population and Demographics

No official census of Lebanon has been taken since 1932, reflecting the political sensitivity in Lebanon over confessional (i.e. religious) balance. It is estimated that 39% are Christians (mostly Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Melkite Greek Catholics, Chaldean Catholic), 35% are Shia Muslims, 21% are Sunni Muslims and 5% are Druze . A small minority of Jews live in central Beirut, Byblos and Bhamdoun. Lebanon has a population of Kurds (also known as Mhallami or Mardinli), estimated to be between 75,000 and 100,000 and considered to be part of the Sunni population.

The number of those inhabiting Lebanon proper was estimated at 3,925,502 in July 2007. There are approximately 16 million people of Lebanese descent, spread all over the world, Brazil being the country with the biggest Lebanese community abroad. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Venezuela and the US also have large Lebanese communities.

A total of 394,532 Palestinian refugees have registered in Lebanon with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (unrwa) since 1948. Government restrictions on Palestinian refugees have made it impossible for them to own property and prior to June 7, 2005 there were 72 professions that they were not allowed to practice in Lebanon.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 3,925,502
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 26.2% (male 525,199/female 504,240)
  • 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,255,624/female 1,361,265)
  • 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 125,904/female 153,270)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 28.3 years
  • Male: 27.2 years
  • Female: 29.5 years
• Population Growth Rate: 1.198%
• Birth Rate: 18.08 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.042 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.821 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.944 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 23.39 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 20.71 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 73.15 years
  • Male: 70.67 years
  • Female: 75.77 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 1.88 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 2,800
• Ethnic Groups:
  Note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians
  • Arab 95%
  • Armenian 4%
  • Other 1%
• Religions:
  • Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri)
  • Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant)
  • Other 1.3%
  • 17 religious sects recognised
• Languages:
  • Arabic (official)
  • French
  • English
  • Armenian
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 87.4%
  • Male: 93.1%
  • Female: 82.2%