Religion in Lebanon - wikipedia Religion in Lebanon Saint George Maronite Cathedral and the Mohammad Al - Amin Mosque, Beirut. Religion in Lebanon ( est. 2014 ) Islam ( 54 % ) Christianity ( 41 % ) Druze ( 5 % ) Breakdown of sects of Lebanon 's religions Religion / denomination Percent Shia Islam 27 % Sunni Islam 27 % Maronite Catholic 20 % Greek Orthodox 8 % Melkite Catholic 5 % Druze 5 % Armenian Apostolic 4 % Protestants 1 % other Christian denomination minorities 2 % Graph showing a breakdown of the various main religious groups in Lebanon, 2008. Lebanon has several different main religions. The country has the most religiously diverse society of all states within the Middle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects. The main two religions are Islam ( Shia and Sunni ) with 54 % of followers and Christianity ( the Maronite Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church ) with 40.4 % of followers. There is also the Druze minority religion, which under the Lebanese political division ( Parliament of Lebanon Seat Allocation ) the Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities ( Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili ). Lebanon thus differs from other Middle Eastern countries where the Muslims are overwhelming majority and more resembles Bosnia - Herzegovina and Albania, both in Southeastern Europe, in having a diverse mix of Muslims and Christians that each make up approximately half the country 's population. Contents 1 Population by religious affiliation 2 Current political and religious issues 3 Geographical distribution of sects in Lebanon 3.1 Lebanese Muslims 3.2 Lebanese Christians 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References Population by religious affiliation No official census has been taken since 1932, reflecting the political sensitivity in Lebanon over confessional ( i.e. religious ) balance. As a result, the religious affiliation of the Lebanese population is very difficult to establish with certainty and various sources are used to get the possible estimate of the population by religious affiliation. The following are different sources that do not pretend to be fully representative of the religious affiliation of the people of Lebanon. The most recent study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut - based research firm, found that approximately Lebanon 's population is estimated to be 54 % Muslim ( 27 % Shia ; 27 % Sunni ), 5.6 % Druze, who do not consider themselves to be Muslims, 40.4 % Christian ( 21 % Maronite, 8 % Greek Orthodox, 5 % Melkite, 1 % Protestant and 5.4 % other Christian denominations non-native to Lebanon like Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt ). The CIA World Factbook estimates the following : Muslim 54 % ( 27 % Shia, 27 % Sunni ), Christian 40.5 % ( includes 21 % Maronite Catholic, 8 % Greek Orthodox, 5 % Melkite, 1 % Protestant, 5.5 % other Christian ), Druze 5.6 %, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, and Mormons. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems provides source for the registered voters in Lebanon for 2011 ( it has to be noted that voter registration does not include people under 18 and unregistered voters ) that puts the numbers as following : Sunni Islam 27.65 %, Shia Islam 27.34 %, Maronite Catholic 21.05 %, Greek Orthodox 7.34 %, Druze 5.74 %, Melkite Catholic 4.76 %, Armenian Apostolic 2.64 %, other Christian Minorities 1.28 %, Alawite Shia Islam 0.88 %, Armenian Catholic 0.62 %, Evangelical Protestant 0.53 %, and other 0.18 % of the population. Lebanon also has a Jewish population, estimated at less than 100. Legally registered Muslims form around 54 % of the population ( Shias, Sunnis, Alawites ). Legally registered Christians form up to 41 % ( Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Melkites, Armenians, Evangelical Protestants, other ). Druze form around 5 %. Current political and religious issues hide This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( March 2018 ) This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( February 2016 ) Listing the largest community in the Lebanese electorate, per qada and / or `` minor district ''. Green = Sunni Purple = Shia Blue = Druze Yellow = Maronite Orange = Greek Orthodox Red = Armenian Orthodox Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite, the Prime Minister must be a Sunnite, and the Speaker of Parliament must be a Shiite. Although Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person 's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages conducted in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities. Non-religion is not recognized by the state, the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible in 2009 to have the religious sect removed from the Lebanese identity card. This does not, however, deny the religious authorities complete control over civil family issues inside the country. Geographical distribution of sects in Lebanon Estimated distribution of main religious groups, 1991, based on a map by GlobalSecurity.org Lebanon religious groups distribution An estimate of the area distribution of Lebanon 's main religious groups Maps of religion distribution in Lebanon Lebanese Muslims Main article : Islam in Lebanon Lebanese Muslims Year Percent 1932 49 % 1985 75 % 59 % 2012 59.5 % Sects of Islam in Lebanon ( 2012 ) Muslim denomination percent Shia Muslims 27 % Sunni Muslims 27 % Lebanese Muslims are divided into many sects like Shiites, Sunnites, Druze, Alawites, and Ismailis. Lebanese Shiites are concentrated in Southern Lebanon, Baalbek District, Hermel District and the south Beirut ( southern parts of Greater Beirut ). Lebanese Sunnites are mainly residents of the major cities : west Beirut, Tripoli, and Sidon. Sunnis are also present in rural areas including Akkar, Ikleem al Kharoub, and the western Beqaa Valley. Lebanese Druze are concentrated south of Mount Lebanon, in the Hasbaya District and Chouf District. Under the Lebanese political division ( Parliament of Lebanon Seat Allocation ) the Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities ( Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili ). Lebanese Christians Main article : Christianity in Lebanon Lebanese Christians Year Percent 1932 51 % 1985 25 % 41 % 2012 40.5 % Sects of Christianity in Lebanon ( 2012 ) Christianity denomination percent Maronite Catholic 21 % Greek Orthodox 8 % Melkite Catholic 5 % Armenian Orthodox 4 % Protestants 1 % other Christian minorities 2 % Lebanese Christians are divided into many sects like Maronites, Orthodox, Melkites, and Protestants. Lebanese Maronites are concentrated in the north Beirut ( northern parts of Greater Beirut ), northern part of Mount Lebanon Governorate, southern part of North Governorate, parts of Beqaa Governorate and South Governorate. Lebanese Orthodox are concentrated in the north Beirut ( northern parts of Greater Beirut ), Lebanese North areas including Zgharta, Bsharre, Koura, and Batroun. Lebanese Protestants are concentrated mainly within the area of Beirut and Greater Beirut. The other Lebanese Christians are concentrated also in similar areas like in east Beirut ( northern parts of Greater Beirut ), Mount Lebanon, Zahlé, and Jezzine. Gallery Detail of the dome of the Khatem al - Anbiyaa Mosque in downtown Beirut Saint George Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in downtown Beirut Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Nejme Square St. Elie and St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Beirut Druze Prophet of Job Shrine See also Christianity in Lebanon Islam in Lebanon Secularism in Lebanon Irreligion in Lebanon Freedom of religion in Lebanon Freemasonry in Lebanon Demographics of Lebanon References Jump up ^ Alfred B. Prados ( June 8, 2006 ). 8, 2006 ) Update. pdf `` Lebanon '' Check url = value ( help ) ( PDF ). The Library of Congress. Retrieved June 11, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Inc, Ibp ( 3 March 2012 ). `` Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments ''. Int'l Business Publications. Retrieved 10 July 2016 -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ `` Lebanon : A Country Study ''. US Library of Congress. Section : Population. Jump up ^ Country Studies. `` Lebanon Population ''. Retrieved November 25, 2006. Jump up ^ `` Statistics Lebanon Beirut - based research firm ''. Jump up ^ `` Lebanon ''. ( Sept 2017 est. ) Jump up ^ `` Elections in Lebanon '' ( PDF ). International Foundation for Electoral Systems. 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2017. Jump up ^ Piero Gheddo ( 2009 - 02 - 13 ) LEBANON Religious affiliation to disappear from Lebanese documents -- Asia News. Asianews.it. Retrieved on 2013 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ Religious Affiliation Can Be Removed From Lebanese ID Cards. Barcode Nation ( 2009 - 02 - 25 ). Retrieved on 2013 - 09 - 26. ^ Jump up to : agency, united states. central intelligence. `` Contemporary distribution of Lebanon 's main religious groups ''. Retrieved 10 July 2016. ^ Jump up to : ( 1 ) ^ Jump up to : ( 2 ) ^ Jump up to : `` Lebanon ''. Retrieved 10 July 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Lebanon ''. Retrieved 10 July 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` The World Factbook ''. Retrieved 10 July 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Middle East : : LEBANON ''. CIA The World Factbook. Jump up ^ Lebanon Maronites Overview World Directory of Minorities. June 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2013. Religion in Asia Sovereign states Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus East Timor ( Timor - Leste ) Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen States with limited recognition Abkhazia Artsakh Northern Cyprus Palestine South Ossetia Taiwan Dependencies and other territories British Indian Ocean Territory Christmas Island Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands Hong Kong Macau Demographics of Lebanon Religion Christianity Catholics Armenian Catholics Assyrian Catholics Chaldean Catholics Latin Catholics Maronite Catholics Melkite Catholics Syriac Catholics Eastern Orthodox Greek Orthodox Oriental Orthodox Armenian Apostolics Coptic Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Protestants Islam Shiites Shiite Twelvers Alawite Shiites Ismaili Shiites Sunnites Druzites Judaism Jews Ethnic minorities, refugees and foreign nationals Armenians Assyrians Bulgarians Canadians French Greeks Indians Iranians Iraqis Italians Kurds Pakistanis Palestinians Poles Russians Sri Lankans Syrians Turks Lebanon has the most religiously diverse society of all states within the Middle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects recognized by the Constitution of Lebanon. Under the terms of the Constitution of Lebanon, the Druze ( Druzite ) community is designated as a part of the Lebanese Islamic community. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religion_in_Lebanon&oldid=842805626 '' Categories : Religion in Lebanon Hidden categories : Pages with URL errors Articles to be expanded from March 2018 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles needing additional references from February 2016 All articles needing additional references Articles with multiple maintenance issues Talk Contents About Wikipedia Cymraeg Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Português Русский 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 24 May 2018, at 20 : 10. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. 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Question: what is the most common religion in lebanon
Answer: Islam