The Middle East’s Most Diverse Religious Mosaic
Lebanon is among the Middle East’s most religiously diverse countries — 18 officially recognised sects (Maronite Christian, Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Druze, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and many more). This diversity is institutionalised in a confessional political system where the President is always Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament Shia Muslim.
Since 2019, Lebanon has been in a catastrophic economic collapse — the World Bank called it one of the three worst financial crises anywhere since the mid-1800s. The currency has lost over 98% of its value; 80% of the population is below the poverty line. The August 2020 Beirut port explosion — one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history — killed over 220 and devastated central Beirut.
Despite these traumas, Lebanon retains extraordinary cultural richness — Byblos (one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities), Phoenician heritage, exceptional cuisine, and a literary tradition (Khalil Gibran, Amin Maalouf) that has reached global audiences.
A Brief History
The ancient Phoenicians (3000-539 BC) were based in what is now Lebanon and developed the first alphabet. Successive rule by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arab caliphates, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomans (1516-1918). French mandate 1920-1943.
Civil war (1975-1990) killed an estimated 150,000-200,000. Israeli invasion 1982, occupation until 2000. Hezbollah has grown into a significant political and military force. Economic collapse since 2019.
Geography and Climate
Lebanon covers 10,452 km². Mediterranean coast, parallel mountain ranges (Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains), the Bekaa Valley between them.
Culture, Language and Religion
Arabic is official; French and English widely used. Religion: complex mosaic of 18 officially recognised sects.
The Economy
Lebanon’s economy has collapsed since 2019. Banking, tourism, and services historically dominant; now devastated.
UNESCO Sites
Lebanon has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre, the Ouadi Qadisha and Forest of the Cedars of God, and the Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (at risk).
Travel Guide
Travel subject to current situation; Hezbollah-Israel exchanges have periodically disrupted.
Surprising Facts
- Byblos is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities — settled for over 7,000 years, and the probable origin of our word “Bible”.
- Lebanon has 18 officially recognised religious sects.
- Lebanese people outside Lebanon outnumber those in Lebanon by roughly 2:1 (diaspora of about 10 million vs 5.4 million domestic).
- The Beirut port explosion of 4 August 2020 was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate — one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever.
- Lebanon has no railway — the last passenger train ran in the 1970s; wartime destruction and economic issues prevented restoration.
- The Lebanese cedar appears on the national flag and is the national symbol — though the great cedar forests of antiquity have been largely deforested.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.