Geography
Area: 10,452 sq. km. (4,015 sq. mi.), about the size of Connecticut.
Cities: Capital--Beirut (pop. 1.5 million). Other cities--Tripoli
(275,000), Sidon (110,000), Tyre (60,000), Zahleh (68,000).
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain backed by the Lebanon Mountains, the
fertile Bekaa Valley, and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, which extend
to the Syrian border. Land--61% urban, desert, or waste; 21%
agricultural; 8% forested.
Climate: Typically Mediterranean, resembling that of southern
California.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lebanese (sing. and pl.).
Population (2005 est.): 3.8 million.
Annual growth rate (2005 est.): 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%.
Religions: Christian (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic,
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic, other), Muslim
(Sunni, Shi'a, other), and Druze.
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian.
Education: Years compulsory--8. Attendance--99%.
Literacy--87.4%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--24.5/1,000 (2005). Life
expectancy--male, 70.1 yrs; female 75.2 yrs.
Work force (1.6 million excluding foreign labor, 2001): Industry,
commerce, services--70%; agriculture--20%; government--10%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: November 22, 1943.
Constitution: May 26, 1926 (amended).
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state, elected by
simple majority of parliament for 6-year term), council of ministers
(appointed). Legislative--unicameral parliament (128-member
Chamber of Deputies elected for 4-year and renewable terms; last
election May 29-June 19, 2005. Judicial--secular and
religious courts; combination of Ottoman, civil, and canon law;
limited judicial review of legislative acts.
Administrative subdivisions: Six governorates, each headed by a
governor: Beirut, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, Mount Lebanon,
Nabatiyah, and Bekaa.
Political parties: Organized along sectarian lines around
individuals whose followers are motivated primarily by religious,
clan, and ethnic considerations.
Suffrage: 21 years; compulsory for men, authorized for women with
elementary education.
Economy
GDP (2004): $18.83 billion.
Annual growth rate (2004): 4.0%.
GDP per capita (2004): $5,000.
Natural resources: Limestone, water.
Agriculture (11.7% of GDP): Products--citrus, potatoes,
grapes, tomatoes, olives, apples, sugar beets, tobacco, sheep,
goats.
Industry (21.0% of GDP): Types--construction material, food
processing, textiles and readymade garments, furniture, oil
refining, mineral and chemical products, jewelry.
Services (67.3% of GDP): Types--banking, tourism, medical
care, education.
Trade (2004): Exports--$1.783 billion (f.o.b.). Major
markets--Switzerland, U.A.E., Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France, and
U.S. Imports--$8.162 billion (f.o.b.). Major suppliers--Italy,
France, Germany, China, U.S., Syria, and U.K.
.