Lebanon

Beirut serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Lebanon, positioned in Western Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Tripoli, Sidon, Tyre — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Beirut rebuilt itself from the destruction of the 1975-1990 civil war in a regeneration whose architectural ambition and nightlife culture made it 'the Paris of the Middle East' for a decade before the 2019 economic collapse and 2020 port explosion — 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonating to create the largest non-nuclear explosion in history, killing 218 people and destroying a third of the city.

With a population of approximately 5.3M, Lebanon is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The principal languages spoken are Arabic, French, which reflect the country's cultural heritage and open doors to a wide international community. Internationally, Lebanon is reached via the dialling code +961. Lebanese society is organised around 18 officially recognised religious communities — Sunni, Shia, Maronite Christian, Greek Orthodox, and others — whose power-sharing constitution (the 1943 National Pact) was designed as a temporary arrangement and became a permanent framework, creating a system where every government appointment is calibrated to maintain sectarian balance and every politician represents a community rather than a programme.

Lebanon spans 10,452 km², in the Western Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 33.8°N, 35.8°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the Lebanese pound (ل.ل), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Lebanon's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+02:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

Football / Basketball holds a special place in the heart of Lebanon's national identity. Basketball is Lebanon's second sport after football, with the national team's multiple Asia Cup titles making Lebanon the most successful Asian basketball nation outside China and the Philippines — a success built on the Lebanese diaspora's global presence, with NBA-quality players choosing Lebanon over their adopted country's national team through the Lebanese citizenship laws that confer rights based on heritage.

The highest point in Lebanon is Qornet es Sawda, rising to 3,088 metres above sea level. The Cedars of God forest near Bcharre preserves a grove of ancient cedar trees (Cedrus libani) some over 3,000 years old — the remnant of forests that once covered Lebanese mountains referenced in the Epic of Gilgamesh and used in Solomon's Temple construction, now protected as one of Lebanon's UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a country where the cedar appears on the national flag and currency.