Lebanon

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Lebanon
Arabic: lubnān

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History

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MAJOR CITIES

Beirut (1.5 million)
Tripoli (210,000)
Zahle (60,000)
Sayda (50,000)
Tyre (30,000)
Baalbek (30,000)
Bint Jbeil (20,000)

All figures are 2003 estimates.

STATUS

Independent republic, but under great control and partial occupation of Syria. Lebanon is divided into 6 governorates (muhafaza(t)).
Day of independence: November 22, 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration).

GOVERNMENT

Head of state: President Emile Lahoud.
Prime minister: Fouad Saniora. There are 15 ministeries.
Speaker of parliament: Nabih Berri.
The president of Lebanon must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of parliament a Shi'i Muslim.
National Assembly: 128 members.

GEOGRAPHY

Inhabitants: 3.75 million (2005 estimate).
Population growth rate: 1.4%
Total area: 10,452 km²
Density: 359 per km²
Water: 170 km²
Border: 454 km (Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km).
Coastline: 225 km.
Highest point: Qurnat as-Sawda 3,088 m
Arable land: 17.6%
Capital: Beirut

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

World rank (of 177): 78
Index (1.0 max): 0.774
Explanation

DEMOGRAPHY

Ethnic groups: Arabs (Phoenicians), Armenians and others.
Languages: Arabic (official), Armenian, English.
Religions: Christianity, Sunni Islam, Shi'i Islam, Druze, Isma'ili Islam, Alawites.

ECONOMY

Currency: Pounds
1,000 Pounds=US$0.66. US$1=1,510 Pounds (June 2003)

CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY

Lebanon is one of the smallest countries of the Middle East, and the change in nature is not connected to geographical distances, but altitudes. Lebanon is historically defined from the mountains, which have provided for protection for the local population.

While some areas can be arid, the valleys between the mountains are green.