# Lebanese diaspora

Lebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries. There are more people of Lebanese origin living outside Lebanon than within the country (4.6 million citizens). The diaspora population consists of Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Jews. The Christians trace their origin to several waves of emigration, starting with the exodus that followed the 1860 Lebanon conflict in Ottoman Empire.
Under the current Lebanese nationality law, the Lebanese diaspora do not have an automatic right to return to Lebanon. Varying degrees of assimilation and a high degree of inter-ethnic marriages in the Lebanese diaspora communities, regardless of religious affiliation, have caused many of the Lebanese diaspora not to have passed fluency in Arabic to their children, although most still maintain a Lebanese national identity. Several factors have caused Lebanese emigration, including civil wars, attacks on Lebanese sovereignty and land by Israel and Syria, and political and economic crises.
The largest diaspora by far resides in Brazil, with between 5 and 7 million, followed by Colombia and Argentina, with about 1 to 3 million each.

## Demographics

Although there are no reliable figures, the diaspora is estimated to be around 4 to 14 million people, far more than the internal population of Lebanon of around 4.6 million citizens in 2020. According to other estimates, the number of Lebanese living outside the country is thought to at least double the number of citizens living inside, which means at least 8 million people. Of the diaspora, 1.2 million are Lebanese citizens.

## History

The Lebanese diaspora has always been a target to the Lebanese state to create institutional connection. In 1960, the World Lebanese Cultural Union was established under the authority of the President Fouad Chehab.
France has always been an important destination for the Lebanese diaspora, because Lebanon used to be administrated by the French after WWI and because the French language is massively spoken in Lebanon.
The Lebanese diaspora, while historically trade-related, has more recently been linked to the Lebanese Civil War, with many Lebanese emigrating to Western countries. Because of the economic opportunities, many Lebanese have also worked in the Arab World, most notably Arab states of the Persian Gulf such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The Americas have long been a destination for Lebanese migration, with the Lebanese arriving in some countries at least as early as the nineteenth century. The largest concentration of Lebanese outside the Middle East is in Brazil, which has, according to some sources, at least 6 million Brazilians of Lebanese ancestry, making Brazil's population of Lebanese greater than the entire population of Lebanon. According to research conducted by IBGE in 2008, covering only the states of Amazonas, Paraíba, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso and Distrito Federal, 0.9% of white Brazilian respondents said they had family origins in the Middle East.
There are also other large Lebanese communities elsewhere in Latin America, including Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Paraguay and Venezuela. Many Lebanese have also been settled for quite some time in the United States, Australia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and in the European Union member states. In addition, sizable populations exist in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, as well as West Africa, particularly Ivory Coast and Ghana.
A law passed in 2008 permitted Lebanese abroad to vote in Lebanese elections, starting in 2013.

## Business networks and economic impacts

Lebanese diaspora is often viewed as one of the most successful and influential diasporas in the world. Many Lebanese entrepreneurs and business people worldwide have proved very successful in all kinds of sectors and contexts. Lebanese abroad are considered "rich, educated and influential." Remittances from Lebanese abroad to family members within the country were estimated at $8.9 billion in 2014 and accounted for 18% of the country's economy. However, there remains a great untapped potential for further collaboration and cooperation between the diaspora and the Lebanese in their home country. Foreign direct investment is below 7% of the GDP, and almost half the Lebanese population is in tertiary education.
Throughout its history, the Lebanese diaspora used the Lebanese identity to create strong networks to help its members out. Over the course of time, immigration has indeed yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. Lebanese migrants play an important role in assisting Lebanon and its people through financial support, touristic visits, starting businesses and trades.
In West Africa, dozens of Lebanese entrepreneurs have established diverse business concerns in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and other countries, and are viewed as business dynasties contributing to the development of the local economies in the region.

## Lebanese populations in the diaspora

The list below contains approximate figures for people of full or partial Lebanese descent by country of residence, largely taken from the iLoubnan diaspora map. Additional reliable cites have been provided where possible. Additional estimates have been included where they can be cited; where applicable, these are used in place of the iLoubnan figures. The figure below uses the data from the list and calculates the amount of Lebanese residents as a percentage of the total population of the respective country.
| Country | Estimate | Upper estimate | Region | Country article in English Wikipedia | List of personalities of Lebanese origin |
| Brazil | 2,000,000 according to research conducted by IBGE in 2008, covering only the states of Amazonas, Paraíba, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso and Distrito Federal, 0.9% of white Brazilian respondents said they had family origins in the Middle East | 5,800,000-7,000,000 (Brazilian/Lebanese governments) | Latin America | Lebanese Brazilian | Brazil |
| Argentina | 1,200,000 – 3,000,000 | 3,200,000 | Latin America | Lebanese Argentine | Argentina |
| Colombia | 125,000 – 1,200,000 | 2,500,000 | Latin America | Lebanese Colombian | Colombia |
| United States | 440,279 | 450,000 | North America | Lebanese American | United States |
| Venezuela | 340,000 | 340,000 | Latin America | Lebanese Venezuelan | Venezuela |
| France | 300,000 | 375,000 | European Union | Lebanese French | France |
| Australia | 340,000 | 390,000 | Oceania | Lebanese Australian | Australia |
| Canada | 190,275 | 250,000 – 270,000 | North America | Lebanese Canadian | Canada |
| Germany | 147,000 | ca. 200,000 | European Union | Lebanese German | Germany |
| Saudi Arabia | 120,000 | | Arab World | Lebanese people in Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |
| Syria | 105,000 | | Middle-East | Lebanese people in Syria | Syria |
| Ecuador | 100,000 | 250,000 | Latin America | Lebanese Ecuadorian | Ecuador |
| Ivory Coast | 100,000 | 300,000 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese people in Ivory Coast | |
| Mexico | 100,000 | 120,000 | North America | Lebanese Mexican | Mexico |
| Dominican Republic | 80,000 | 500,000 | Latin America | Arab Dominicans | |
| United Arab Emirates | 80,000 | | Arab World | Lebanese people in the United Arab Emirates | United Arab Emirates |
| Uruguay | 53,000 | 70,000 | Latin America | Lebanese Uruguayan | Uruguay |
| Senegal | 50,000 | 150,000 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese Senegalese | |
| Kuwait | 41,775 | 106,000 | Arab World | Lebanese people in Kuwait | |
| Nigeria | 30,000 | 30,000 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese Nigerian | |
| Sweden | 26,906 | | European Union | Lebanese people in Sweden | Sweden |
| Denmark | 26,705 | | European Union | Lebanese people in Denmark | Denmark |
| DR Congo | 25,000 | | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese people in Democratic Republic of the Congo | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Qatar | 25,000 | | Arab World | Lebanese people in Qatar | |
| Spain | 11,820 | | European Union | Lebanese People in Spain | Spain |
| New Zealand | 8,500 | | Oceania | Lebanese New Zealander | |
| South Africa | 5,800 | 20,000 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese people in South Africa | South Africa |
| Israel | 3,500 (2021) | | Middle East | Lebanese in Israel | |
| Sierra Leone | 3,000 | 3,000 | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese people in Sierra Leone | |
| Liberia | 3,000 | | | | |
| Belgium | 2,400 | 5,000 | European Union | Lebanese people in Belgium | Belgium |
| Caribbean | 545,200 | | Latin America | Lebanese Jamaican | Caribbean · Cuba · Haiti · Jamaica |
| Rest of Latin America, ex. Caribbean | 181,800 | | Latin America | Lebanese Chileans | Chile · Dutch Antilles |
| Rest of GCC | 105,000 | | Arab World | | |
| Rest of European Union | 96,781 | | European Union | Lebanese British · Lebanese Bulgarian** · Lebanese Greek | Bulgaria · · Germany · Italy · Monaco · Netherlands · Switzerland · UK |
| Scandinavia | 108,220 | | European Union | Lebanese Swedish | Sweden · Denmark |
| Rest of Sub-Saharan Africa | 42,510 | | Sub-Saharan Africa | Lebanese Sierra Leonean | Ghana · Sierra Leone |
| North Africa | 14,000 | | North Africa | Lebanese Egyptian | Egypt |
| Asia | 2,600 | | Asia | | |
Note: An important percentage of Middle-Easterners in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Portugal and Spain are of Lebanese ancestry. They are denoted ** for this purpose.

## Outreach to the Lebanese diaspora by the Lebanese government

The Lebanese government increasingly sees the diaspora as a critical resource for investment and new immigrants. A 2016 television ad tried to entice Lebanese in the United States to move to Lebanon to help improve the standard of living.
The Lebanese government launched the DiasporaID program in August 2017 to better connect Lebanese abroad to Lebanon itself. Funding for the project was provided by USAID with an objective of improving foreign investment in Lebanon.
On August 8, 2017, Lebanese President Michel Aoun advocated children of Lebanese in the diaspora take on Lebanese citizenship during a speech to the Maronite Diaspora Institution at Baabda Palace.

## Notable persons of Lebanese descent
### Notable persons of Lebanese descent

Famous scientists of Lebanese descent include: Peter Medawar (Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine), Elias Corey (Nobel Prize in Chemistry), Ardem Patapoutian (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Michael Atiyah (Fields Medalist, Mathematics), Michael DeBakey (medical innovator), Mona Nemer (Canada's Chief Science Advisor) and geneticists Huda Zoghbi, Anthony Atala and Joanne Chory. Famous writers include William Peter Blatty, Nelly Sfeir Gonzalez, film director Alex Garland, Nassim Nicholas Taleb and screenwriters and film producers Geoff Johns, Tony Thomas, Ronald Schwary, Tomas Langmann, Mario Kassar and Michael Tadross.
Prominent members of the Lebanese diaspora include Presidents and vice-presidents, e.g. Juan Lechin (Bolivia), Michel Temer (Brazil), Julio Teodoro Salem, Abdalá Bucaram, Alberto Dahik, Jamil Mahuad (all in Ecuador), Jacobo Majluta Azar, Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic), Julio Cesar Turbay (Colombia), Alberto Abdala (Uruguay) and Mario Abdo (former president of Paraguay). Other famous politicians include Ralph Nader, 2000, 2004 and 2008 US presidential candidate, Alex Azar former United States Secretary of Health, Spencer Abraham former United States Secretary of Energy, Mark Esper former United States Secretary of Defense, John Sununu former White House Chief of Staff, Darrell Issa US politician, George J. Mitchell US Politician and Peace Envoy, Charlie Crist Governor of Florida, Philip Habib US Politician and Peace Envoy, Victoria Reggie Kennedy American lawyer and diplomat, politician and author Jeanine Pirro, US Representative Donna Shalala, US Representative Ray Lahood, Governor of São Paulo State in Brazil Paulo Maluf, Edward Seaga Prime Minister of Jamaica and Benjamin Miguel Harb Bolivian politician and lawyer.
Notable military and astronauts include US army general John Abizaid, Navy Seal and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Monsoor as well as astronaut and Congressional Space Medal of Honor recipient Christa McAuliffe. Computer scientists include Richard Rashid, Tony Fadell and Jean Paoli.
Famous businessmen of Lebanese descent include Carlos Slim Helú, Carlos Ghosn, Nicolas Hayek, John J. Mack, Jacques Nasser, Debra Cafaro, Joseph J Jacobs, Joe Jamail, Swiss-Lebanese banker Salim Sfeir, Swiss-Brazilian banker Edmond Safra, Mauricio Gonzalez Sfeir, Lucie Salhany, Kevin O' Leary, Marcus Lemonis, Canadian industrial psychologist Gad Saad, and famous names in entertainment like Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas, Salma Hayek, Shakira, Jenna Dewan, Terrence Malick, Tom Shadyac, Tony Shalhoub, Kathy Najimy, Tiffany, Jim Backus, Jane Wiedlin, Kristy McNichol, Zoe Saldana, James Stacy, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Amy Yasbeck, Khrystyne Haje, Skandar Keynes, Jace Norman, Morena Baccarin, Barbara Mori, Omar Sharif, Ricardo Darin, Xavier Dolan, Damian Bichir, Paul Anka, Emilio Stefan, Drake's long time producers and Grammy winners Noah "40" Shebib and Oliver El-Khatib, Alfredo Bojalil, Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared, guitarists Dick Dale, Tommy Bolin and G. E. Smith, Armand Van Helden, Tyler Joseph, Jack Barakat, Bazzi, Thomas Rhett, Patrick Gemayel, comedian el Gran Sandy, Uruguayan actress Dahd Sfeir, Mika, models Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Daniella Sarahyba and Zaira Nara; Miss Universe Bolivia Lenka Nemer, and sportsmen like Doug Flutie, Rony Seikaly, Marcos Bagdhatis, Sammy Giammalva, professional tennis player and coach, Patrick Maroon, Johnny Manziel, surfers Kelly Slater and Maya Gabeira, winner of the Indy 500 Bobby Rahal, Carlos Alberto captain of Brazil 1970 world cup champion, FIFA World Cup record holder Mario Zagallo, Bolivian national goalkeeper Jose Issa, chess Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade and Olympic medalists Jordyn Wieber, Florencia Habif, Matt Abood, Thaisa Daher and Beatriz Haddad Maia, top-10 woman tennis professional.

## Lebanese food in the diaspora

Lebanese cuisine has ingrained itself as a staple in a multitude of cultures, wherever people from the Lebanese diaspora emigrated. Examples include Brazil, Canada and the United States. The language of food can contribute to feelings of cultural belonging, as shown through literary analysis. It has served as both a source of identity and income for people of the Lebanese diaspora everywhere around the world.