Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French separated out the region of Lebanon in 1920, and granted this area independence in 1943. A lengthy civil war (1975-90) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections. Most militias have been reduced or disbanded, with the exception of Hizballah, designated by the US State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and Palestinian militant groups. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000 and the passage in September 2004 of UNSCR 1559 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 22 others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"), and Syria withdrew the remainder of its military forces in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. In July 2006, Hizballah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers leading to a 34-day conflict with Israel in which approximately 1,200 Lebanese civilians were killed. UNSCR 1701 ended the war in August 2006, and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed throughout the country for the first time in decades, charged with securing Lebanon's borders against weapons smuggling and maintaining a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon with the help of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The LAF in May-September 2007 battled Sunni extremist group Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, winning a decisive victory, but destroying the camp and displacing 30,000 Palestinian residents. Lebanese politicians in November 2007 were unable to agree on a successor to Emile LAHUD when he stepped down as president, creating a political vacuum until the election of LAF Commander Gen. Michel SULAYMAN in May 2008 and the formation of a new unity government in July 2008. Legislative elections in June 2009 again produced victory for the bloc led by Sa'ad HARIRI, but a period of prolonged negotiation over the composition of the cabinet ensued. A national unity government was finally formed in November 2009 and approved by the National Assembly the following month. In January 2010, Lebanon assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term. Inspired by the popular revolts that began in late 2010 against dictatorships across the Middle East and North Africa, marches and demonstrations in Lebanon were directed instead against sectarian politics. Protesters saw the country's religious sectarian politics as the primary cause of Lebanon's anemic government. The first protests in late February 2011, although limited in size, gained some traction.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`33 50 N, 35 50 E`
Map references: |  |
`Middle East`
Area: |  |
`total: 10,400 sq km country comparison to the world: 169 land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut`
Land boundaries: |  |
`total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km`
Coastline: |  |
`225 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm`
Climate: |  |
`Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows`
Terrain: |  |
`narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 16.35% permanent crops: 13.75% other: 69.9% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`1,040 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`4.8 cu km (1997)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 1.38 cu km/yr (33%/1%/67%) per capita: 385 cu m/yr (2000)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`dust storms, sandstorms`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation`
Geography - note: |  |
`Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity`

People

Population: |  |
`4,143,101 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 23% (male 487,930/female 464,678) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,370,628/female 1,446,173) 65 years and over: 9% (male 173,073/female 200,619) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 29.8 years male: 28.7 years female: 31 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.244% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 175`
Birth rate: |  |
`15.02 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 135`
Death rate: |  |
`6.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 87% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`BEIRUT (capital) 1.909 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 15.85 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 113 male: 15.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 75.01 years country comparison to the world: 90 male: 73.48 years female: 76.62 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.77 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`3,600 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 87% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 13% of population total: 2% of population (2000)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians`
Religions: |  |
`Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized`
Languages: |  |
`Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.4% male: 93.1% female: 82.2% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`1.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 159`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan former: Greater Lebanon`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Beirut geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye note: two new governorates - Aakar and Baalbek-Hermel - have been legislated but not yet implemented`
Independence: |  |
`22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 22 November (1943)`
Constitution: |  |
`23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently in 1990 to include changes necessitated by the Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of civil law based on the French civil code and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt`
Suffrage: |  |
`21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Michel SULAYMAN (since 25 May 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Sa'ad al-Din al-HARIRI (since 9 November 2009), Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since 9 November 2009; note - the government is in a caretaker status until Prime Minister-Designate Najib MIQATI is able to form a new government that is approved by the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly; note - the Cabinet resigned on 12 January 2010 following the resignation of over a third of the ministers
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 25 May 2008 (next to be held in 2014); the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
election results: Michel SULAYMAN elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 for, 6 abstentions, 3 invalidated; 1 seat unfilled due to death of incumbent
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Nuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by group - March 8 Coalition 54.7%, March 14 Coalition 45.3%; seats by group - March 14 Coalition 71; March 8 Coalition 57
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
14 March Coalition: Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH]; Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad al-HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc
8 March Coalition: Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, leader of Amal Movement]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc [Mohammad RA'AD] (includes Hizballah [Hassan NASRALLAH]); Nasserite Popular Movement [Usama SAAD]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Syrian Ba'th Party [Sayez SHUKR]; Syrian Social Nationalist Party [Ali QANSO]; Tashnaq [Hovig MEKHITIRIAN]
Independent: Democratic Gathering Bloc [Walid JUNBLATT, leader of Progressive Socialist Party]; Metn Bloc [Michel MURR]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Maronite Church [Patriarch Nasrallah SFAYR] other: note - most sects retain militias and a number of militant groups operate in Palestinian refugee camps`
International organization participation: |  |
`ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine CHEDID chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Maura CONNELLY embassy: Awkar, Lebanon (Awkar facing the Municipality) mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place, Washington, DC 20521-6070 telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: [961] (4) 544136`
Flag description: |  |
`three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All Of Us, For Our Country!) lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA note: adopted 1927; the anthem was chosen following a nationwide competition`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate suffers from red tape, corruption, arbitrary licensing decisions, high taxes, tariffs, and fees, archaic legislation, and weak intellectual property rights. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The 1975-90 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national debt, the Rafiq HARIRI government in 2000 began an austerity program, reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue collection, and passing legislation to privatize state enterprises, but economic and financial reform initiatives stalled and public debt continued to grow despite receipt of more than $2 billion in bilateral assistance at the 2002 Paris II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict in July-August 2006 caused an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage, and prompted international donors to pledge nearly $1 billion in recovery and reconstruction assistance. Donors met again in January 2007 at the Paris III Donor Conference and pledged more than $7.5 billion to Lebanon for development projects and budget support, conditioned on progress on Beirut's fiscal reform and privatization program. An 18-month political stalemate and sporadic sectarian and political violence hampered economic activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, and investment, until the new government was formed in July 2008. Political stability following the Doha Accord of May 2008 helped boost tourism and, together with a strong banking sector, enabled real GDP growth of 7% per year in 2009-10 despite a slowdown in the region.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$59.37 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $55.23 billion (2009 est.) $50.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$39.25 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 8.5% (2009 est.) 9.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$14,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $13,500 (2009 est.) $12,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 5.1% industry: 15.9% services: 79% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`1.481 million country comparison to the world: 131 note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (2007 est.)`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`NA%`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`28% (1999 est.)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`30.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $9.001 billion expenditures: $10.95 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`150.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3 154.8% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 1.2% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`10% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 33 12% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`9.57% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 9.96% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$3.692 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $3.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$92.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $82.07 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$62.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $56.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$12.89 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 68 $9.641 billion (31 December 2008) $10.86 billion (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats`
Industries: |  |
`banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`2.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Electricity - production: |  |
`10.41 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 88`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`9.793 billion kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 88`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2009 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`1.114 billion kWh (2009 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`90,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009) country comparison to the world: 180`
Oil - imports: |  |
`86,750 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-6.972 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $-7.555 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$5.187 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $4.716 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`jewelry, base metals, chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Switzerland 22%, UAE 10%, Iraq 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Syria 6% (2009 est.)`
Imports: |  |
`$17.97 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $15.9 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals`
Imports - partners: |  |
`US 11%, France 10%, China 9%, Italy 8%, Germany 8%, Turkey 4% (2009 est.)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$41.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $39.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$34.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $31.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$NA`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2010) 1,507.5 (2009) 1,507.5 (2008) 1,507.5 (2007) 1,507.5 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`750,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 89`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`1.526 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 138`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system, severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic: two mobile-cellular networks provide good service; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 55 per 100 persons
international: country code - 961; submarine cable links to Cyprus, Egypt, and Syria; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean); coaxial cable to Syria (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`7 TV stations in operation, 1 of which is state-owned; more than 30 radio stations, 1 of which is state-owned; satellite and cable TV services are available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.lb`
Internet hosts: |  |
`51,451 (2010) country comparison to the world: 87`
Internet users: |  |
`1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 101`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`7 (2010) country comparison to the world: 167`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 102 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 401 km country comparison to the world: 116 standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m gauge note: rail system unusable because of the damage done during fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2008)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005) country comparison to the world: 148`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 29 country comparison to the world: 86 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 12, carrier 11, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Syria 3) registered in other countries: 40 (Barbados 2, Cambodia 6, Comoros 3, Egypt 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 2, Liberia 1, Malta 7, Moldova 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Syria 2, Togo 6, unknown 2) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Beirut, Tripoli`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army ((Al Jaysh al Lubnaniya) includes Navy (Al Quwwat al Bahiriyya al Lubnaniya), Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Lubnaniya)) (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2007)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 1,081,016 females age 16-49: 1,115,349 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 920,825 females age 16-49: 941,806 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 36,856 female: 35,121 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`3.1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 40`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place since 1978`
Refugees and internally displaced persons: |  |
`refugees (country of origin): 405,425 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)); 50,000-60,000 (Iraq) IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions); 200,000 (July-August 2006 war) (2007)`
Illicit drugs: |  |

`
cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking
`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011