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Introduction : One of the world’s smallest sovereign states, the 

Middle Eastern republic of Lebanon is situated on a long, narrow 

strip of land on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea in 

western Asia. Lebanon extends roughly 135 miles (217 kilometers) 

in length and measures approximately 25 to 55 miles (40 to 89 

kilometers) in width. Lebanon is bordered on the north and east 

by Syria and on the south by Israel. Beirut is the capital and 

largest city. Area 4,036 square miles (10,452 square kilometers). 

Population (2013 est.) 4,132,000.

Land: Lebanon is a rugged land with two mountain ranges that are 

almost parallel. The Lebanon Mountains extend the length of the 

country close to the narrow Mediterranean coastal plain. In the 

east the Anti-Lebanon Mountains rise along the Syrian border. 

Between the two mountain ranges lies the high, fertile Bekaa 

Valley. The valley receives water from Lebanon’s chief river, the 

Litani. The Litani flows southward, then abruptly turns westward, 

runs through a deep gorge in the Lebanon Mountains, and empties 

into the Mediterranean Sea.

Climate: Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast has warm, dry 

summers and mild, rainy winters. Summers in the Bekaa 

Valley are hot and dry, and winters are cool. During 

winter, high winds and heavy rains and snows lash the 

mountains, particularly the western slopes.

Agriculture: Plant life in Lebanon varies with altitude and climate. 

Large groves of orange and olive trees thrive in the rich coastal 

soil, and farmers also grow bananas, figs, grapes, and other fruits 

there. Apples and potatoes are raised in the foothills. The Bekaa 

Valley is an equally rich farming region, producing tobacco, 

vegetables, cotton, grains, and mulberries. In the mountains much 

of the soil is barren. Erosion has destroyed almost all the natural 

vegetation, leaving only scattered bush and scrub. The cedars for 

which Lebanon is famous remain only in protected groves.

Population: Population density in Lebanon is high, but the 

people are unevenly distributed—the greatest densities are in 

urban areas, where roughly nine-tenths of the population resides. 

Most Lebanese are Arabs. About one-eighth of the population is 

Palestinian Arab, and there are small minorities of Kurds and 

Armenians. Arabic is the official language, but French and English 

also are spoken.

Diversity: Lebanon is noted for its diverse religious communities, of 

which there are about 17 that are officially recognized. The majority are 

Arabic and all speak Arabic, though some minorities also use their 

communal languages periodically. Muslims make up more than half of 

the 

population; roughly half of them 

are Sunnis and half are Shiʿites. 

More than one-third of the people 

follow some form of Christianity. 

Maronites make up the largest 

Christian community, and there are 

small minorities of Greek Catholics, 

Armenian Apostolic, Greek 

Orthodox, and other Christian 

denominations. There is a small 

but strong community of Druzes, 

an independent religious sect with 

ancient origins in the Middle East. 

Lebanon also has small 

communities of Muslim Kurds and 

Jews.

Education: Nearly nine-tenths of the people can read and 

write, thanks to Lebanon’s excellent educational system. 

Opportunities for higher education are available at a large 

number of institutions, including St. Joseph University, the 

American University of Beirut, the Lebanese University, 

and the Beirut Arab University.

Economy: The Lebanese economy has traditionally been based 

on trade, most notably because of Beirut’s role as a major 

shipping port and its position as the banking center of the Middle 

East. However, the economy was badly disrupted in the late 

20th century by violence from civil war and foreign occupations. 

In 1993 the Lebanese government implemented a $20 billion 

reconstruction program aimed at infrastructure and economic 

repair. Services now form the largest economic sector, 

employing most of the labor force. Industry is also 

important—key products include cement, food products, wood 

products, and textiles. Agriculture is a relatively small though 

vital sector.

The Lebanese pound is their 

currency. 

1,000,000 Lebanese pounds is 

equivalent to $660.94 for us.

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