Lebanon (Lebanese Republic)

Lebanon Lebanese Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	114th 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
2. Lebanon National and Social Development
3. Lebanon's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Lebanon's Health
6. Lebanon's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Lebanon's Modernity and Learning
8. Lebanon's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Religious Division
11. Links

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1. Overview

#france #islam #syria

“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
	...
110	Jamaica	0.709
111	Samoa	0.707
112=	Gabon	0.706
112=	Lebanon	0.706
114	Indonesia	0.705
115	Vietnam	0.703
116	Philippines	0.699
117	Botswana	0.693
	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
	...
109	Fiji	$9 980
110	Iraq	$9 977
111	Jordan	$9 924
112	Lebanon	$9 526
113	Bhutan	$9 438
114	Philippines	$8 920
115	Jamaica	$8 834
116	Guatemala	$8 723
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
111	Kyrgyzstan	94.3
112	Botswana	94.5
113	Azerbaijan	95.0
114	Lebanon	95.0
115	Paraguay	95.5
116	Suriname	95.9
117	Guyana	96.3
118	Nicaragua	97.6
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Lebanon's population is predicted to fall to 4 701 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.08. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
104	Laos	7.1m
105	Bulgaria	7.1m
106	Paraguay	7.0m
107	Lebanon	6.9m
108	Libya	6.7m
109	Nicaragua	6.5m
110	El Salvador	6.4m
111	Kyrgyzstan	6.3m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
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
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
11	Vietnam	1.94
12	Georgia	2.06
13	Tunisia	2.06
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
18	Argentina	1.88
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
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
126	Costa Rica	22.6
127	Israel	22.9
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
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%
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
19	Brunei	25.3%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
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%
45	New Zealand	14.5%
46	Ukraine	14.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

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

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
120	Burkina Faso	101.3
121	Mali	101.6
122	Kosovo	102.5
123	Lebanon	104.4
124	Kazakhstan	104.7
125	Tonga	105.5
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
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 comes in the best 20 when it comes to eliminating modern slavery₁₉. However Lebanon performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, opposing gender inequality₂₂, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₃, its average Freedom in the World rating (still low for Asia), supporting press freedom₂₄, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₅, freethought₂₆ and in LGBT equality₂₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₈. "Lebanese authorities continue to prosecute individuals for peaceful use of freespeech"; in 2017 soldiers beat up protestors₂₉. 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 income₃₀.

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 (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1=	Japan	44.1
2	Hong Kong	48.2
3	Singapore	49.5
	...
17	Georgia	75.9
18=	UAE	76.7
18=	Vietnam	76.7
20	Lebanon	76.8
21	Maldives	77.3
22	Turkey	78.6
23	Russia	81.8
24	Azerbaijan	86.0
25	Iran	88.6
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)31
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank31
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
79	Uruguay	76.4
80=	Vietnam	76.7
80=	UAE	76.7
82	Lebanon	76.8
83	Maldives	77.3
84	Grenada	77.9
85	Turkey	78.6
86	British Virgin Islands	78.7
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₂.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, Europe and The Balkans₃₂, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₂.

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 comes in the best 20 in its fertility rate₁₄. It does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate₃₃, its average life expectancy₁₁, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₅. Lebanon still has work to do. Lebanon does worse than average for its immunizations take-up₃₆. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its smoking rate₃₇ (the highest in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Lebanon improved by +14.8yrs in the 30 years from 1990, almost double the global average of +7.9yrs. Lebanon's peak fertility rate was 5.82 in 1960.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
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
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better33
Pos.		2016 Per Capita33
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
33=	Mali	1.3
34	Solomon Islands	1.4
35=	Tonga	1.5
35=	Lebanon	1.5
37	Chad	1.6
38	Tuvalu	1.7
39=	Madagascar	1.9
39=	Tunisia	1.9
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
11	Vietnam	1.94
12	Georgia	2.06
13	Tunisia	2.06
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
18	Argentina	1.88
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better37
Pos.		201437
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
175	Luxembourg	2 284
176	Belgium	2 353
177	Slovenia	2 637
178	Russia	2 690
179	Macedonia	2 732
180	Lebanon	3 023
181	Belarus	3 831
182	Montenegro	4 125
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
60	Guinea	60
61	Sierra Leone	61
62	Honduras	62
63	Lebanon	63
64	Lithuania	64
65	Cambodia	65
66	Georgia	66
67	Belarus	67
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better38
Pos.		2016 %38
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
173=	Turkey	66.8
173=	Libya	66.8
175	UAE	67.8
176=	Lebanon	67.9
176=	USA	67.9
178	Jordan	69.6
179	Saudi Arabia	69.7
180	Qatar	71.7
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better35
Pos.		2022 Per 100035
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
67	Armenia	18.3
68	Bhutan	18.5
69	Tonga	19.2
70	Lebanon	20.0
71	Kazakhstan	20.9
72	Turkmenistan	21.2
73	Hungary	21.9
74	Djibouti	22.7
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better36
Pos.		2015 Avg %36
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
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
163	Micronesia	78.2
164	Philippines	77.9
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Lebanon's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #lebanon #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
37	Oman	101.8
38	Iraq	102.8
39	Lebanon	103.9
40	Bahrain	107.9
41	Mongolia	108.1
42	Armenia	108.2
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
159	Bosnia & Herzegovina	103.5
160	St Lucia	103.6
161	USA	103.8
162	Lebanon	103.9
163	Papua New Guinea	104.5
164	Serbia	104.8
165	Haiti	105.8
166	Samoa	107.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Lebanon ranks 162nd in the world. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. Lebanon does better than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₀, its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁, its environmental performance₄₂ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₃. Lebanon does not succeed in everything, however. Lebanon does worse than average when it comes to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₄₄.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better41
Pos.		Total41
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
54	Palau	4.6%
55	Bhutan	4.5%
56	Morocco	4.2%
57	Lebanon	3.8%
58	Bosnia & Herzegovina	3.6%
59	Djibouti	3.6%
60	Tajikistan	3.4%
61	Belgium	3.3%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better42
Pos.		201842
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
64	Peru	61.9
65	Montenegro	61.3
66	Egypt	61.2
67	Lebanon	61.1
68	Macedonia	61.1
69	Brazil	60.7
70	Sri Lanka	60.6
71	Equatorial Guinea	60.4
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better44
Pos.		2022 Avg44
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
146	Barbados	2.04
147	Libya	2.05
148	Singapore	2.06
149	Lebanon	2.06
150	Ukraine	2.11
151	Syria	2.12
152	Kyrgyzstan	2.20
153	Iran	2.24
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
151	Bahrain	50%
152	Swaziland	50%
153	Kuwait	49%
154	Lebanon	49%
155	Oman	48%
156	Yemen	48%
157	Comoros	48%
158	USA	47%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better40
Pos.		2011 %40
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
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%
36	Kenya	52.1%
37	Central African Rep.	51.9%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better43
Pos.		2021 kg43
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
65	Comoros	34.5
66	Venezuela	35.6
67	Jordan	36.0
68	Lebanon	36.3
69	Paraguay	36.4
70	Azerbaijan	37.1
71	Namibia	37.2
72	Georgia	37.8
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Lebanon was reducing.₄₃

7. Lebanon's Modernity and Learning

#afghanistan #capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #english #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #lebanon #life_expectancy #maths #modernity #morals #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
24	Brunei	78.4
25	Azerbaijan	78.9
26	Sri Lanka	79.2
27	Lebanon	82.1
28	Philippines	85.1
29	Jordan	86.1
30	India	87.8
31	Oman	89.8
32	Palestine	91.6
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
93	Seychelles	80.1
94	Egypt	80.5
95	Libya	82.0
96	Lebanon	82.1
97	Bahamas	83.5
98	Dominica	84.0
99	Philippines	85.1
100	Jordan	86.1
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₆. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₆. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₇.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₈

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₆.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education:

In the 1990s, Lebanon was one of only ten countries to increase its expected duration of education by over 3 years, although it lost half of that during the 2000s and lost two more years during the 2010s, taking it well below the global average of 13.5 years. ₄₉

Secondary Education Higher is better50
Pos.		201850
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	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%
105	Costa Rica	52.9%
106	Colombia	52.0%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better51
Pos.		2021 Years51
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
145	Micronesia	11.5
146	Vanuatu	11.5
147	Cambodia	11.5
148	Lebanon	11.3
149	Rwanda	11.2
150	Zambia	10.9
151	Myanmar (Burma)	10.9
152	N. Korea	10.8
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
65	Jordan	65
66	Namibia	66
67	India	67
68	Lebanon	68
69	Senegal	69
70	China	70
71	Burundi	71
72	Tunisia	72
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better52
Pos.		2015 Score52
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
62	Indonesia	1186
63	Brazil	1185
64	Peru	1182
65	Lebanon	1129
66	Tunisia	1114
67	Macedonia	1107
68	Kosovo	1087
69	Algeria	1086
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better53
Pos.		2018 %53
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better54
Pos.		200654
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
91=	Syria	83
92	India	82
93=	Bangladesh	82
93=	Lebanon	82
93=	Dominican Rep.	82
93=	Madagascar	82
97	Egypt	81
98=	Honduras	81
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better55
Pos.		201655
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
41	Chile	78%
42	Lithuania	77%
43	Latvia	76%
44	Lebanon	76%
45	Croatia	74%
46=	Hong Kong	74%
46=	Cayman Islands	74%
48	Macau	73%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better56
Pos.		2017 Ratio56
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
163=	Suriname	0.0
163=	Grenada	0.0
163=	Gabon	0.0
163=	Lebanon	0.0
163=	St Lucia	0.0
163=	Dominica	0.0
163=	Cuba	0.0
163=	St Vincent & Grenadines	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Lebanon's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#afghanistan #capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #lebanon #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)57
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank57
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	37.2
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
40	Palestine	99.9
41	Russia	103.2
42=	Iran	103.4
43	Lebanon	105.4
44	Myanmar (Burma)	105.7
45	Cambodia	110.5
46	Iraq	116.6
47	Syria	124.9
48	Yemen	130.3
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)57
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank57
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
150	Djibouti	103.6
151	Gambia	104.9
152	Tonga	105.3
153	Lebanon	105.4
154	Myanmar (Burma)	105.7
155	Niger	106.1
156	Cameroon	109.9
157	Mozambique	110.1
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

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

World Giving Index Higher is better58
Pos.		2022 %58
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
116	Tunisia	28.0
117	Laos	27.0
118	Portugal	26.0
119	Lebanon	24.0
120	Egypt	23.0
121	S. Korea	22.0
122=	Afghanistan	21.0
122=	Belgium	21.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better59
Pos.		2022 Points59
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
148	Bangladesh	25.0
149=	Iran	25.0
150	Central African Rep.	24.0
151=	Lebanon	24.0
151=	Guatemala	24.0
151=	Nigeria	24.0
151=	Cambodia	24.0
151=	Afghanistan	24.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better60
Pos.		2024 Score60
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
140	Yemen	3.6
141	Congo, DR	3.5
142	Botswana	3.4
143	Zimbabwe	3.4
144	Malawi	3.3
145	Lebanon	3.2
146	Sierra Leone	3.0
147	Afghanistan	1.4
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

After a few years of steady decline, the Lebanon became the 2^nd unhappiest country in the world in 2021, before becoming significantly worse in 2021, almost as poor as Afghanistan.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
63	Israel	63
64	Mexico	64
65	S. Africa	65
66	Lebanon	66
67	USA	67
68	Guyana	68
69	Bosnia & Herzegovina	69
70	Tonga	70
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
28	Trinidad & Tobago	28
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	29
30	Burkina Faso	30
31	Lebanon	31
32	Barbados	32
33	Mongolia	33
34	Spain	34
35	UK	35
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better61
Pos.		2023 Score61
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
132	Brazil	2.46
133	Eritrea	2.51
134	Palestine	2.54
135	Lebanon	2.58
136	Mexico	2.60
137	Libya	2.61
138	Niger	2.63
139	Cameroon	2.66
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
150	Seychelles	150
151	Sierra Leone	151
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
157	Yemen	157
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better34
Pos.		2017 Rank34
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
73	Guinea-Bissau	73
74	Albania	74
75	Botswana	75
76	Lebanon	76
77	Bahrain	77
78	Sri Lanka	78
79	Algeria	79
80	Ecuador	80
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better62
Pos.		2019 Score62
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	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
111	Israel	4.53
112	Iran	4.72
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better63
Pos.		201963
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
57	Costa Rica	7.10
58=	Russia	7.10
59	Albania	7.20
60=	Lebanon	7.40
60=	Ukraine	7.40
62	Brunei	7.60
63	Kazakhstan	7.70
64=	Macedonia	7.90
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better64
Pos.		2023 %64
1	Slovakia	24.1%65
2	Slovenia	24.3%65
3	Belarus	24.4%66
	...
43	France	31.5%65
44	Taiwan	31.6%65
45	Canada	31.7%67
46=	Lebanon	31.8%68
46=	Estonia	31.8%65
48	Egypt	31.9%67
49	Mauritania	32.0%67
50	Seychelles	32.1%69
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data for Lebanon is only available for the year 2011.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)53
Pos.		Lower is better %53
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	54
53=	Greece	56
53=	Paraguay	56
55	Lebanon	57
56	Panama	61
57	Venezuela	67
58	Turkey	68
59=	Bolivia	71
59=	Botswana	71
61	Brazil	72
62=	Egypt	72
63	Algeria	73
64=	Peru	73
65	S. Africa	75
66=	Ecuador	76
66=	Costa Rica	76
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)70
Pos.		Higher is better %70
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
59=	Argentina	4
59=	Georgia	4
59=	Uzbekistan	4
62	Lebanon	3
63=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	3
63=	Poland	3
63=	Jamaica	3
63=	India	3
67	Angola	2
68=	Chile	2
68=	Central African Rep.	2
68=	Tajikistan	2
68=	Turkmenistan	2
68=	Indonesia	2
73	Paraguay	1
74=	Nicaragua	1
	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 below₇₁:

Christian	38.3%
Muslim	61.3%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.2%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	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 recognized₇₂.

Lebanon is host to a number of Druze, but, it's such a secretive religion that most will only identify themselves as Muslim, especially on official polls. Nonetheless, the Lebanese government, at least in history, included the Druze amongst just three other religious groups, all of which had routine positions in government.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?

10. Religious Division₇₃

#christianity #cyprus #islam #lebanon #marriage #religious_intolerance #religious_marriage #secularism

The Christian and Muslim communities do not get on very well in Lebanon; toleration is normally the reserve of the few people from the liberal and less-religious wings from either side.

“Even today, marriages across [Muslim] and [Christian] divides remain rare in Lebanon. When they do take place, couples face tremendous difficulty in gaining legal recognition of their bond. Because marriages are usually performed and registered by each of the country's main religious groups, interfaith couples fall right through the cracks.

Over the years, [some have] settled on an unsatisfactory workaround. Instead of getting married at home, they would [go] to Cyprus. While they continued to face disadvantages upon their return, the civil registrar would usually acknowledge their "foreign" wedding. For [Abdallah, a Sunni Muslim, and Marie-Joe, a Christian] that never felt like an option. [...] "We really don't exist as citizens - just members of groups. It feels like the state has completely subjugated its sovereignty", Marie-Joe said. [...] We want Lebanon to be a country for all people with equality before the law, free of the archaic and confessional laws and religious tribunals that apply at the moment," she said. But a few months after the wedding [in Lebanon], the country's authorities still hadn't acknowledged their new status as husband and wife.”

"The Great Experiment: How to Make Diverse Democracies Work"
Yascha Mounk (2022)₇₄

No matter what they do - from protesting to publisizing their plight - democracy cannot fix it, as long as this element of their lives "is ultimately up to unelected religious authorities". The two sides, the Islamic and the Christian, will continue to protect its own power-base. It is up to the grown-up government to enforce secularism: a law allowing an any-religion marriage, not controlled by either Christian or Muslim authorities, is the only way to do this. It would also help to make the countries less fragmented over time₇₄, as it becomes necessary for social structures to accept mixed-religion (and even non-religious) marriages. The most sensible way to end the silliness is for both communities to simply become less religious, but, Lebanon is walking down that path more slowly than elsewhere, such as Cyprus.