Lebanon (Lebanese Republic)

http://www.humantruth.info/lebanon.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Lebanon Lebanese Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	110th best
Capital	Beirut
Land Area	10 230km²₁
Location	Asia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population	6.9m₂
Life Expectancy	75.05yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$9 526 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	LB, LBN, 422₅
Internet Domain	.lb₆
Currency	Pound (LBP)₇
Telephone	+961₈

1. Overview

“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. 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. 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. Although the protests gained some traction, they were limited in size and unsuccessful in changing the system. Opposition politicians collapsed the national unity government under Prime Minister Sa'ad HARIRI in February 2011. After several months in caretaker status, the government named Najib MIQATI Prime Minister.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Lebanon is one of the most vibrant and most complicated societies on earth, grafted onto one of the Middle East´s most beautiful regions. Its name is a byword for conflict but Lebanon, the original land of milk and honey, is a friendly, welcoming and culturally rich country with one slipper in the Arab world and one Jimmy Choo planted firmly in the West. Its mosaic of peoples has coexisted here for centuries, often at war, more often at peace. It´s home to a bubbling-hot nightlife in Beirut, a notorious Hezbollah (Party of God) headquarters in backwater Baalbek, a fistful of flash ski resorts, and a dozen cramped Palestinian refugee camps.
Hike the Qadisha Valley and it´s hard to imagine that a conflict has ever existed here; wander past the pockmarked shell of Beirut´s Holiday Inn and you´ll wonder if there will ever be lasting peace. Lebanon is chaotic and fascinating - scarred by decades of civil war, invasions and terrorist attacks, yet blessed with mountain vistas, ancient ruins and a people who are resilient, indomitable and renowned for their hospitality. Heed travel warnings but don´t miss the compelling and confusing wonders of Lebanon.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Lebanon National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
4	Hong Kong	0.952
5	Australia	0.951
	...
109	S. Africa	0.713
110	Jamaica	0.709
111	Samoa	0.707
112	Lebanon	0.706
113	Gabon	0.706
114	Indonesia	0.705
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
4	Luxembourg	$84 649
5	Ireland	$76 169
	...
109	Fiji	$9 980
110	Iraq	$9 977
111	Jordan	$9 924
112	Lebanon	$9 526
113	Bhutan	$9 438
114	Philippines	$8 920
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂_,₁₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂_,₁₃
1	Taiwan	28.6
2	Norway	29.4
3	Denmark	31.2
4	Sweden	32.2
5	Finland	32.6
	...
107	Bahrain	91.5
108	Andorra	91.6
109	Belize	91.8
110	Lebanon	91.8
111	Kenya	92.1
112	St Vincent & Grenadines	92.7
	Asia Avg	87.1
	World Avg	86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Lebanon's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Lebanon's population is predicted to fall to 4 701 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.77. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)₂
Pos.		Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
4	Indonesia	267.7m
5	Pakistan	212.2m
	...
104	Laos	7.1m
105	Bulgaria	7.1m
106	Paraguay	7.0m
107	Lebanon	6.9m
108	Libya	6.7m
109	Nicaragua	6.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
57	Uruguay	75.4
58	Argentina	75.4
59	Bosnia & Herzegovina	75.3
60	Lebanon	75.0
61	Grenada	74.9
62	Slovakia	74.9
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate (2013)₁₄
Pos.		2.0 is best₁₄
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
4	France	1.99
5	Turkey	2.04
	...
35	Guyana	2.21
36	Netherlands	1.79
37	Vietnam	1.77
38	Lebanon	1.77
39	Mexico	2.25
40	Sri Lanka	2.26
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3	Chad	04.7
4	Burkina Faso	04.7
5	Sierra Leone	04.8
	...
120	Brazil	19.9
121	Argentina	20.3
122	Jamaica	21.0
123	Lebanon	21.1
124	Trinidad & Tobago	21.9
125	Bahamas	22.4
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)₁₆
Pos.		%₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
4	Liechtenstein	65.1%
5	Monaco	54.9%
	...
12	Saudi Arabia	37.0%
13	Jordan	33.3%
14	Nauru	32.7%
15	Lebanon	31.9%
16	Switzerland	29.6%
17	Australia	28.8%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants (2010)₁₇
Pos.		%₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
4	Grenada	65.5%
5	St Kitts & Nevis	61.1%
	...
39	Belize	16.1%
40	Azerbaijan	16.0%
41	Bulgaria	16.0%
42	Lebanon	15.6%
43	Equatorial Guinea	14.9%
44	Seychelles	14.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #lebanon #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)₁₈_,₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₈_,₁₉
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
4	Netherlands	15.8
5	New Zealand	17.5
	...
115	Cuba	97.7
116	Kazakhstan	97.9
117	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	98.6
118	Lebanon	98.8
119	Sierra Leone	100.4
120	Ivory Coast	100.5
	Asia Avg	99.8
	World Avg	87.7
q=199.

Lebanon is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Lebanon does better than average for speed of uptake of HR treaties₂₀. But that's it. Lebanon has problems. It does worse than average for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₁, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, opposing gender inequality₂₃, supporting press freedom₂₄ (still good for Asia), supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₅, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₆, freethought₂₇ and in LGBT equality₂₈. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₉. "Lebanese authorities continue to prosecute individuals for peaceful use of freespeech"; in 2017 soldiers beat up protestors₃₀. The Armed Forces and Security Forces use torture. Social progress is always going to be difficult in a country where the richest 1% hold 23% of the country's entire income₃₁.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Lebanon

5. Lebanon's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #Lebanon #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)₃₂_,₃₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂_,₃₃
1	Hong Kong	18.3
2	Maldives	41.0
3	Singapore	42.6
4	Japan	51.0
5	S. Korea	51.3
	...
34	Mongolia	90.6
35	Kyrgyzstan	91.0
36	Cambodia	93.3
37	Lebanon	95.4
38	Russia	95.5
39	Georgia	95.6
40	Indonesia	95.8
	Asia Avg	80.1
q=50.

Health (2020)₃₂_,₃₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₂_,₃₃
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
4	Singapore	42.6
5	Japan	51.0
	...
99	Sao Tome & Principe	93.6
100	Costa Rica	93.8
101	San Marino	94.5
102	Lebanon	95.4
103	Russia	95.5
104	Georgia	95.6
105	Djibouti	95.7
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₃₂.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₃₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Lebanon does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Lebanon does better than average when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₄, its adolescent birth rate₂₃, its fertility rate₁₄, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅. But, things still need to improve in Lebanon. Lebanon does worse than average for its immunizations take-up₃₆. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its smoking rate₃₇ (the worst in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016.

Life Expectancy (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
4	Australia	84.5
5	Switzerland	84.0
	...
57	Uruguay	75.4
58	Argentina	75.4
59	Bosnia & Herzegovina	75.3
60	Lebanon	75.0
61	Grenada	74.9
62	Slovakia	74.9
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption (2016)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Per Capita₃₄
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
	...
33	Mali	1.3
34	Solomon Islands	1.4
35	Tonga	1.5
36	Lebanon	1.5
37	Chad	1.6
38	Tuvalu	1.7
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate (2013)₁₄
Pos.		2.0 is best₁₄
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
4	France	1.99
5	Turkey	2.04
	...
35	Guyana	2.21
36	Netherlands	1.79
37	Vietnam	1.77
38	Lebanon	1.77
39	Mexico	2.25
40	Sri Lanka	2.26
	Asia Avg	2.46
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Smoking Rates (2014)₃₇
Pos.		Higher is worse₃₇
182	Montenegro	4 125
181	Belarus	3 831
180	Lebanon	3 023
179	Macedonia	2 732
178	Russia	2 690
177	Slovenia	2 637
176	Belgium	2 353
175	Luxembourg	2 284
174	China	2 250
173	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2 233
172	Czechia	2 194
171	Kazakhstan	2 157
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
4	UK	4
5	Norway	5
	...
60	Guinea	60
61	Sierra Leone	61
62	Honduras	62
63	Lebanon	63
64	Lithuania	64
65	Cambodia	65
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults (2016)₃₈
Pos.		Lower is better %₃₈
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
4	Ethiopia	20.9
5	Nepal	21.0
	...
173	Turkey	66.8
174	Libya	66.8
175	UAE	67.8
176	Lebanon	67.9
177	USA	67.9
178	Jordan	69.6
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)₂₃
Pos.		Lower is better Per 1000₂₃
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
4	Hong Kong	3.2
5	Slovenia	3.8
	...
38	Qatar	10.7
39	Lithuania	11.0
40	Montenegro	12.2
41	Lebanon	12.4
42	Estonia	13.1
43	Poland	13.4
	Asia Avg	29.9
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)₃₆
Pos.		Higher is better Avg %₃₆
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
4	Niue	98.8
5	Mongolia	98.7
	...
157	Guinea-Bissau	80.1
158	Tonga	80.0
159	Mauritania	79.9
160	Lebanon	79.4
161	San Marino	79.3
162	Gabon	78.7
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Lebanon's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #modernity #religion #religiosity #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Taiwan	10.0
2	Japan	21.9
3	S. Korea	24.0
4	Singapore	27.9
5	Israel	32.2
	...
28	Sri Lanka	79.6
29	Jordan	81.1
30	Philippines	81.8
31	Lebanon	85.7
32	Tajikistan	88.3
33	Oman	88.9
34	Mongolia	90.0
	Asia Avg	79.0
q=51.

Modernity and Learning (2020)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
4	Estonia	15.8
5	Denmark	16.0
	...
106	Dominica	83.8
107	Ecuador	83.9
108	Antigua & Barbuda	84.0
109	Lebanon	85.7
110	Mauritius	85.8
111	Belize	86.0
112	US Virgin Islands	86.0
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education (2018)₃₉
Pos.		Higher is better₃₉
1	Luxembourg	100.0%
2	Estonia	100.0%
3	Austria	100.0%
4	Canada	100.0%
5	Finland	100.0%
	...
99	Libya	57.4%
100	Dominican Rep.	56.6%
101	Uruguay	56.0%
102	Lebanon	54.9%
103	Portugal	54.2%
104	Turkey	53.1%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling (2021)₄₀
Pos.		Higher is better Years₄₀
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
	...
145	Micronesia	11.5
146	Vanuatu	11.5
147	Cambodia	11.5
148	Lebanon	11.3
149	Rwanda	11.2
150	Zambia	10.9
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
4	Denmark	4
5	UK	5
	...
65	Jordan	65
66	Namibia	66
67	India	67
68	Lebanon	68
69	Senegal	69
70	China	70
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading (2015)₄₁
Pos.		Higher is better Score₄₁
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
4	Macau	1582
5	Estonia	1573
	...
62	Indonesia	1186
63	Brazil	1185
64	Peru	1182
65	Lebanon	1129
66	Tunisia	1114
67	Macedonia	1107
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity (2018)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better %₄₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4	Switzerland	9
5	Denmark	9
	...
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53	Greece	56
54	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ (2006)₄₃
Pos.		Higher is better₄₃
1	Hong Kong	108
2	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
4	Japan	105
5	Taiwan	105
	...
91	Syria	83
92	India	82
93	Bangladesh	82
94	Lebanon	82
95	Dominican Rep.	82
96	Madagascar	82
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)₄₄
Pos.		Higher is better₄₄
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
4	Bermuda	97%
5	Andorra	97%
	...
41	Chile	78%
42	Lithuania	77%
43	Latvia	76%
44	Lebanon	76%
45	Croatia	74%
46	Hong Kong	74%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake (2017)₄₅
Pos.		Higher is better Ratio₄₅
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
4	USA	35.0
5	Greece	33.5
	...
163	Suriname	0.0
164	Grenada	0.0
165	Gabon	0.0
166	Lebanon	0.0
167	St Lucia	0.0
168	Dominica	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Lebanon has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)₄₆
Pos.		Lower is better₄₆
1	Myanmar (Burma)	2.7
2	New Zealand	4.0
3	USA	4.7
4	Australia	4.9
5	Indonesia	9.0
	...
92	Vietnam	79.8
93	Zimbabwe	80.4
94	France	81.0
95	Lebanon	82.6
96	India	82.6
97	Peru	82.9
	Asia Avg	62.5
	World Avg	67.9
q=160.

Corruption (2022)₄₇
Pos.		Higher is better Points₄₇
1	Denmark	90.0
2	Finland	87.0
3	New Zealand	87.0
4	Norway	84.0
5	Singapore	83.0
	...
148	Bangladesh	25.0
149	Iran	25.0
150	Central African Rep.	24.0
151	Lebanon	24.0
152	Guatemala	24.0
153	Nigeria	24.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness (2018)₄₈
Pos.		Higher is better₄₈
1	Finland	7.6
2	Norway	7.6
3	Denmark	7.6
4	Iceland	7.5
5	Switzerland	7.5
	...
85	Morocco	5.3
86	China	5.2
87	Azerbaijan	5.2
88	Lebanon	5.2
89	Macedonia	5.2
90	Jordan	5.2
	Asia Avg	5.29
	World Avg	5.38
q=156.

Creativity and Culture (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
4	Switzerland	4
5	Sweden	5
	...
63	Israel	63
64	Mexico	64
65	S. Africa	65
66	Lebanon	66
67	USA	67
68	Guyana	68
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
4	Netherlands	4
5	Switzerland	5
	...
28	Trinidad & Tobago	28
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	29
30	Burkina Faso	30
31	Lebanon	31
32	Barbados	32
33	Mongolia	33
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better₄₉
1	Iceland	1.10
2	New Zealand	1.25
3	Denmark	1.26
4	Portugal	1.27
5	Slovenia	1.32
	...
144	Colombia	2.69
145	Cameroon	2.70
146	Nigeria	2.71
147	Lebanon	2.80
148	Mali	2.81
149	Turkey	2.84
	Asia Avg	2.22
	World Avg	2.08
q=163.

Peacekeeping and Security (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Nigeria	5
	...
150	Seychelles	150
151	Sierra Leone	151
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)₃₅
Pos.		Lower is better Rank₃₅
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
4	Sweden	4
5	Malta	5
	...
73	Guinea-Bissau	73
74	Albania	74
75	Botswana	75
76	Lebanon	76
77	Bahrain	77
78	Sri Lanka	78
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism (2019)₅₀
Pos.		Lower is better Score₅₀
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
4	Equatorial Guinea	0.00
5	Cambodia	0.00
	...
105	Chile	4.12
106	Greece	4.17
107	Germany	4.25
108	Lebanon	4.40
109	China	4.47
110	S. Africa	4.51
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)₅₁
Pos.		Higher is better %₅₁
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
4	Kuwait	+81.2
5	Dominican Rep.	+79.5
	...
57	Uzbekistan	+05.7
58	New Zealand	+05.1
59	Slovenia	+05.1
60	Lebanon	+04.8
61	Gabon	+04.5
62	Ukraine	+04.1
	Asia Avg	+07.0
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

Environmental Performance (2018)₅₂
Pos.		Higher is better₅₂
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
	...
64	Peru	61.9
65	Montenegro	61.3
66	Egypt	61.2
67	Lebanon	61.1
68	Macedonia	61.1
69	Brazil	60.7
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)₅₃
Pos.		Higher is better₅₃
1	Hong Kong	26.32
2	Sri Lanka	20.00
3	Panama	17.86
4	Colombia	17.54
5	Ireland	17.54
	...
49	Macedonia	10.00
50	Croatia	10.00
51	France	09.90
52	Lebanon	09.90
53	Hungary	09.80
54	Latvia	09.80
	Asia Avg	09.14
	World Avg	09.29
q=119.

Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.		Earlier is better Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
4	Vanuatu	1993 Dec 29
5	Papua New Guinea	1993 Dec 29
	...
105	Congo, DR	1995 Mar 03
106	Equatorial Guinea	1995 Mar 06
107	Sierra Leone	1995 Mar 12
108	Lebanon	1995 Mar 15
109	Jamaica	1995 Apr 06
110	Lesotho	1995 Apr 10
	Asia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)₅₄
Pos.		Higher is better %₅₄
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
4	Trinidad & Tobago	74.5%
5	Costa Rica	74.2%
	...
30	Ecuador	57.2%
31	Portugal	55.8%
32	Hong Kong	54.8%
33	Lebanon	54.3%
34	Nepal	52.8%
35	Chad	52.8%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)₅₅
Pos.		Higher is worse₅₅
184	Chad	40.90
183	Central African Rep.	40.10
182	Sierra Leone	39.00
181	Somalia	38.90
180	Nigeria	37.10
	...
63	Kazakhstan	7.70
62	Brunei	7.60
61	Ukraine	7.40
60	Lebanon	7.40
59	Albania	7.20
58	Costa Rica	7.10
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)₅₆
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₆
1	Ukraine	25.0
2	Belarus	25.4
3	Slovenia	25.4
4	Czechia	25.9
5	Moldova	25.9
	...
28	Germany	31.7
29	Egypt	31.8
30	Ireland	31.8
31	Lebanon	31.8
32	Montenegro	31.9
33	Japan	32.1
	Asia Avg	35.2
	World Avg	38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better %₄₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4	Switzerland	9
5	Denmark	9
	...
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53	Greece	56
54	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)₅₇
Pos.		Higher is better %₅₇
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
4	Czechia	61
5	Estonia	49
	...
59	Argentina	4
60	Georgia	4
61	Uzbekistan	4
62	Lebanon	3
63	Congo, (Brazzaville)	3
64	Poland	3
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₅₈:

Christian	38.3%
Muslim	61.3%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.2%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jew	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.3%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 100% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 57% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: 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, Coptic, Protestant), other 1.3%. note: 17 religious sects recognized₅₉.

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