By Natalie Weger
Introduction
Lebanon is a Middle East country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterraen Sea, bordered by Syria and Israel. Its capital and biggest city is Beirut, which, according to World Population Review, is home to almost 2.5 million people, while Lebanon itself holds a population of about 6.8 million people. Lebanon is a sovereign state, which means that it possesses full control over its population, territory, affairs, and government.
Land and Climate
Lebanon is known to have a very diverse landscape that undergoes different changes throughout the year. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, its most notable features include: “a narrow coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea, the Lebanon Mountains, Bekaa valley, and the Anti-Lebanon and Hermon ranges running parallel to the Lebanese Mountains.” With Lebanon’s Mediterranean climate, they have hot and dry summers coupled with cool and wet winters and the warmer months tend to last longer than the cold ones (Weather Online).
Government
Lebanon became a unitary multiparty republic with a parliamentary system in 1926, when its constitution was created under the French mandate. However, Lebanon declared itself independent from France in 1943. The Lebanon government includes three main leaders, who are divided by religion. The president has to be a Maronite Christain; the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim; and the speaker of the parliament must be a Shia Muslim. Lately, the Lebanon government has been receiving harsh criticism from its citizens, who have protested against its corrupt system. Read more about the Lebanon protests here.
Economics
Even before the Beirut explosion hit, Lebanon was living through one of its toughest economic crises in years. According to the International Monetary Fund, Lebanon’s economy would shrink by 12 percent this year, which is significantly worse than the Middle East and Central Asia’s 4 percent drop. Additionally, the country’s banking system is collapsing and its inflation rates are rapidly increasing (CNN News).
The World Bank predicted that in 2020, 45 percent of Lebanon’s population would live below the poverty line.
Ethnic and Religious Composition
Lebanon is composed of multiple religious, ethnic and kinship groups. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Lebanese are composed of a mixture of Phoenician, Greek, Armenian, and Arab elements. Armenian and Kurdish populations are also part of the bigger Lebanese community. In 2017, Statistics Lebanon estimated that 57.7 percent of the Lebanon population is Muslim and 36.2 of the population is Christian. Additionally, although Lebanon’s official language is Arabic, Encyclopedia Britannica confirmed that Armenian, Kurdish, English, and French are spoken there as well.
Culture
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Lebanon is known for its Mediterraen cultures, including Phoenician, Greek and Arab. Its culture is known to be rich and diverse, whether it be through ethnic and religious traditions, cuisine, clothing, and more.
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