Lebanon

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Lebanon

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Jumhouria al-Lubnaniya/Republic of Lebanon Area 10,452 sq km/4,035 sq mi Capital Beirut (and chief port) Language Arabic (official), French, Armenian, English Religion Muslim 70% (Shiite 35%, Sunni 23%, Druze 7%, other 5%); Christian 30% (mainly Maronite 19%), Druze 3%; other Christian denominations including Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Roman Catholic Time difference GMT +2 Major holidays 1 January, 9 February, 1 May, 15 August, 1, 22 November, 25 December; variable: Eid-ul-Adha (3 days), Ashora, Good Friday, Easter Monday, end of Ramadan (3 days), New Year (Muslim), Prophet's Birthday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Tripoli, Zahlé, Baabda, Baalbek, Jezzine Major ports Tripoli, Tyre, Sidon, Jounie Physical features narrow coastal plain; fertile Bekka valley running north–south between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges Airports eight airports (of which five have paved runways), including one international airport; total passengers carried: 935,000 (2003 est) Railways total length: 401 km/249 mi (2000) Roads total road network: 7,300 km/4,536 mi, of which 84.9% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 448.5 per 1,000 people (1998)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Emile Lahoud from 1998 Head of government Fouad Siniora from 2005 Political system emergent democracy Political executive dual executive Administrative divisions five governorates Political parties Phalangist Party, Christian, radical, nationalist; Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Druze, moderate, socialist; National Liberal Party (NLP), Maronite, left of centre; National Bloc, Maronite, moderate; Lebanese Communist Party (PCL), nationalist, communist; Parliamentary Democratic Front, Sunni Muslim, centrist Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 72,100; plus paramilitary forces of 13,000 (2006 est) Conscription compulsory for 12 months Defence spend (% GDP) 3.1 (2004 est) Education spend (% GDP) 2.7 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 3 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Lebanese pound GDP (US$) 22.2 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) -3.2 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 22.1 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 5,740 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 4.5% (2006 est) Unemployment 12–13% (2005 est) Labour force 3.2% agriculture, 30% industry, 66.8% services (2002) Foreign debt (US$) 26.7 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners Syria, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Turkey, Switzerland Resources there are no commercially viable mineral deposits; small reserves of lignite and iron ore Industries food processing and mineral water, petroleum refining, textiles, furniture and woodworking, paper and paper products, cement, paints Exports machinery, jewellery, metals, foodstuffs, chemicals. Principal market: Syria 26.3% (2005) Imports electrical equipment, vehicles, petroleum, metals, machinery, consumer goods. Principal source: Syria 11.1% (2005) Arable land 16.4% (2006 est) Agricultural products citrus fruits, potatoes, melons, apples, grapes (viticulture is significant), wheat, sugar beet, olives, bananas; livestock rearing (goats and sheep); although illegal, hashish is an important export crop


POPULATION

Population 3,614,500 (2006 est) Population growth rate 1.1% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 346 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 88 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 29%, 15–59 61%, 60+ 10% (2005 est) Ethnic groups about 95% Arab, with Armenian, Assyrian, Jewish, Turkish, and Greek minorities Life expectancy 71 (men); 75 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 31 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 9 Literacy rate 93% (men); 82% (women) (2003 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 32.5 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 2.7 (2002 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.1 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <100 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 27.7 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 27.7 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 182 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 357 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 11.5 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 19.6 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

5th century BC–1st century AD Part of the eastern Mediterranean Phoenician Empire. 1st century Came under Roman rule; Christianity introduced. 635 Islam introduced by Arab tribes, who settled in southern Lebanon. 11th century Druze faith developed by local Muslims. 1516 Became part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. 1860 Massacre of thousands of Christian Maronites by the Muslim Druze led to French intervention. 1920–41 Administered by French under League of Nations mandate. 1943 Independence achieved as a republic, with a constitution that enshrined Christian and Muslim power-sharing. 1945 Joined the Arab League. 1948–49 Lebanon joined the first Arab war against Israel; Palestinian refugees settled in the south. 1958 Revolt by radical Muslims opposed to pro-Western policies of the Christian president, Camille Chamoun. 1964 Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) founded in Beirut. 1967 More Palestinian refugees settled in Lebanon following the Arab–Israeli war. 1971 PLO expelled from Jordan; established headquarters in Lebanon. 1975 Outbreak of civil war between conservative Christians and leftist Muslims backed by PLO. 1976 Ceasefire agreed; Syrian-dominated Arab deterrent force formed to keep the peace, but considered by Christians as an occupying force. 1978 Israel launched a limited invasion of southern Lebanon in search of PLO guerrillas. An international United Nations peacekeeping force was unable to prevent further fighting. 1979 Part of southern Lebanon declared ‘independent free Lebanon’ by right-wing army officer. 1982 Israel again invaded Lebanon. Palestinians withdrew from Beirut under the supervision of an international peacekeeping force; PLO moved its headquarters to Tunis. 1983 Agreement reached for withdrawal of Syrian and Israeli troops but abrogated under Syrian pressure; intense fighting between Christian Phalangists and Muslim Druze militias. 1984 Most of international peacekeeping force withdrawn. Radical Muslim militia took control of west Beirut. 1985 Lebanon in chaos; many foreigners taken hostage and Israeli troops withdrawn. 1987 Syrian troops sent into Beirut. 1988 Gen Michel Aoun appointed to head caretaker military government; Premier Selim el-Hoss set up rival government; threat of partition hung over country. 1989 Gen Aoun declared ‘war of liberation’ against Syrian occupation; Arab League-sponsored talks resulted in ceasefire and revised constitution recognizing Muslim majority; René Mouhawad assassinated after 17 days as president; Maronite Christian Elias Hrawi named as successor; Aoun occupied presidential palace, rejecting the constitution. 1990 Release of Western hostages began. Gen Aoun, crushed by Syrians, surrendered and legitimate government restored. 1991 Government extended its control to the whole country. Treaty of cooperation with Syria signed. 1992 Remaining Western hostages released. Pro-Syrian administration led by businessman Rafik al-Hariri re-elected after many Christians boycotted general election. 1993 Israel launched attacks against Shia fundamentalist Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon before USA and Syria brokered agreement to avoid use of force. 1996 Israel launched rocket attack on southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah activity. USA, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon attempted to broker new ceasefire. 1998 Army chief General Emile Lahoud elected president. Salim al-Hoss became prime minister. 2000 Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon, and Lebanese troops assumed control from Hezbollah guerillas. Rafik al-Hariri became prime minister for second time. 2002 Dispute with Israel over Lebanon's plan to divert water from border river, which provided 10% of its drinking water; Israel threatened use of military force. 2003 Member of Hezbollah killed by car bomb in Beirut; Hezbollah and a government minister blamed Israel. 2004 UN Security Council resolution, clearly aimed at Syria, demanded withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon; ignored by Syria. Parliament extended President Lahoud's term by three years. Amid weeks of political deadlock, Prime Minister Hariri unexpectedly resigned. 2005 Former prime minister Rafik Hariri killed by car bomb in Beirut. Prime Minister Karamis's cabinet resigned. Calls for Syria to withdraw its troops intensified. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese attended pro- and anti-Syrian demonstrations in Beirut. Syria said its troops had left Lebanon. Anti-Syrian alliance won parliamentary elections; Hariri ally Fouad Siniora became prime minister. During second half of year three prominent anti-Syrian journalists and politicians killed by car bombs. 2006 Following capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, Israel launched air and sea attacks on Lebanon. Civilian casualties were high; thousands of people displaced; damage to infrastructure wide-ranging. After thrust into southern Lebanon by Israeli ground troops, truce came into effect on 14 August, after 34 days of fighting. UN peacekeeping force deployed along southern border; Lebanese forces deployed along border for first time in decades. Leading Christian politician Pierre Gemayel shot dead. Thousands of demonstrators demanded government's resignation. 2007 After clashes between militants and military, Palestinian refugee camp Nahr al-Bared taken by government forces; more than 300 people died and 40,000 fled before army gained control. UN Security Council voted to set up tribunal to try suspects in ex-premier Hariri's assassination. Two anti-Syrian politicians killed by two separate car bombs.


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