Lebanon

**Lebanon** is a country in the Middle East, in Western Asia, next to the Mediterranean Sea. It has borders with Israel to the south and Syria to the east and north. It also shares a maritime border with Cyprus to the northwest, away from the country's short distance.

## History & Data

Lebanon was named _Phoenicia_ under the Roman Empire. Some of the biggest temples in Antiquity were there at Heliopolis. In the 7th century Arabs conquered Phoenicia and imposed their religion Islam. But many areas in the mountains remained Christian as the "Maronites". However, the Christians who remained in the mountains became Arabized and started identifying themselves as "Arab Christians".

Lebanon has been independent since 22 November 1943. Its capital city is Beirut.

Lebanon has two chains of mountains. It has a long coastline. The area of Lebanon is 10,452 square kilometers (4,036 square miles).

The Cedar tree is the national symbol of Lebanon because many of them grow in the Lebanon Mountains.

## Population of Lebanon

Around 5.2 million people live in Lebanon.

Around 14 million Lebanese people live outside Lebanon.

## The people of Lebanon

About 51% of Lebanese people are Muslim and 44% are Christian with the remaining 5% being Druze. Within the Muslim population, Shias make up the majority with Sunnis being the minority.

The official language of Lebanon is Arabic and it is the most common language. French, English, and Armenian are also common languages.

## Governorates and districts

Lebanon is divided into six governorates.  These are divided into 25 districts. The districts are also divided into several municipalities. The governorates and their districts are listed below:

- Beirut Governorate
    - The Beirut Governorate is not divided into districts and is limited to the city of Beirut
- Nabatieh Governorate (_Jabal Amel_)
    - Bint Jbeil
    - Hasbaya
    - Marjeyoun
    - Nabatieh
- Beqaa Governorate
    - Baalbek
    - Hermel
    - Rashaya
    - Western Beqaa (_al-Beqaa al-Gharbi_)
    - Zahle
- North Governorate (_al-Shamal_)
    - Akkar
    - Batroun
    - Bsharri
    - Koura
    - Miniyeh-Danniyeh
    - Tripoli
    - Zgharta
- Mount Lebanon Governorate (_Jabal Lubnan_)
    - Aley
    - Baabda
    - Byblos (_Jbeil_)
    - Chouf
    - Keserwan
    - Matn
- South Governorate (_al-Janoub_)
    - Jezzine
    - Sidon (_Saida_)
    - Tyre (_Sur_)

## Related pages

- Lebanese Civil War
- 2020 Beirut explosion
- List of rivers of Lebanon
- Lebanon at the Olympics
- Lebanon national football team
- Heliopolis (Roman Phoenicia)

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Lebanon
- **name**:
_al-Jumhūriyya al-Lubnāniyya_

- **common name**: Lebanon
- **image flag**: Flag of Lebanon.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Lebanon.svg
- **national anthem**:
_Koullouna lilouataan lil oula lil alam_
<small>English: All of us! For our Country!</small><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;"></div>
- **image map**: File:Lebanon_(orthographic_projection).svg
- **image map caption**: <small>Location of Lebanon (in green)</small>
- **image map2**:
- **capital**: Beirut
- **largest city**: Beirut
- **official languages**: Arabic language, Arabic
- **languages**: Lebanese Arabic
- **languages type**: Local vernacular
- **recognised languages**: * French language, French
* English language, English
- **demonym**: Lebanese people, Lebanese
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Confessionalism (politics), confessionalist parliamentary republic
- **leader title1**: President of Lebanon, President
- **leader name1**: Joseph Aoun
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Lebanon, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Nawaf Salam
- **leader title3**: Legislative Speaker of Lebanon, Speaker of the Parliament
- **leader name3**: Nabih Berri
- **legislature**: Parliament of Lebanon, Parliament
- **established event1**: Greater Lebanon
- **established date1**: 1 September 1920
- **established event2**: Constitution of Lebanon, Constitution
- **established date2**: 23 May 1926
- **established event3**: Independence declared
- **established date3**: 22 November 1943
- **established event4**: French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, French mandate ended
- **established date4**: 24 October 1945
- **established event5**: Withdrawal of Allies of World War II, French forces
- **established date5**: 17 April 1946
- **established event6**: Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon#Withdrawal from South Lebanon (1999–2000), Israeli troops withdrawn
- **established date6**: 24 May 2000
- **established event7**: Cedar Revolution#Withdrawal of Syrian troops, Syrian troops withdrawn
- **established date7**: 30 April 2005
- **area km2**: 10452
- **area label**: Total
- **area rank**: 161st
- **area sq mi**: 4036
- **percent water**: 1.8
- **population estimate rank**: 109th
- **population density km2**: 560
- **population density sq mi**: 1,450
- **population density rank**: 21st
- **gdp ppp**: $91 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2020
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $11,562
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 66th
- **gdp nominal**: $18 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2020
- **gdp nominal rank**: 82nd
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $2,745
- **gini**: 31.8
- **gini year**: 2011
- **gini change**: decrease
- **hdi**: 0.744
- **hdi year**: 2019
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 92nd
- **currency**: Lebanese pound
- **currency code**: LBP
- **time zone**: Eastern European Time, EET
- **utc offset**: +2
- **utc offset dst**: +3
- **time zone dst**: Eastern European Summer Time, EEST
- **drives on**: Right
- **calling code**: Telephone numbers in Lebanon, +961
- **cctld**: .lb
- **religion year**: Estimated