Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy Prime minister: Kenny Anthony
President: Michel Suleiman
Population
162,178
4,140,289
Life Expectancy
77.040 years
75.230 years
Capital City
Largest city
Bisee (population: 12,980)
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Human Development Index
0.821
0.796
GDP per capita
Literacy Rate
90.1%
87.4%
Corruption Perception Index
7.1
3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
17.2%
4.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
Unemployment Rate
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
republic
Independence date
Religions
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
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
English (official), French patois
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Exports
External Debt
Exchange Rate
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Area
616 km sq
10,400 km sq
Coastline
158 km
225 km
Climate
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
