Country explorer: Lebanon
EXPERIMENTAL
2024
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Overview
Lebanon is a mountainous, lower-middle-income country in the Middle East with a small population. Its economy has been volatile in recent decades, and is based on banking, tourism and agriculture.
Lebanon faces challenges due to political instability, regional conflicts and the aftermath of the [Beirut port explosion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Beirut_explosion) in 2020.
Economy
Lebanon has experienced significant economic distress, illustrated by a sharp decline in GDP per capita, rising poverty across all thresholds, increasing unemployment rates, and unprecedented inflation, marking a distinct contrast to its regional peers and lower-middle-income countries which generally showed gradual improvement or stability in these indicators.
Demographics
Over the last two decades, Lebanon has experienced significant demographic transformations including a fluctuating population growth affected by high net migration rates, notably due to the Syrian refugee crisis, a decrease in fertility rates aligning with global trends, and variable life expectancy rates reflective of recent socioeconomic challenges, distinguishing it from its regional peers by the complexity and scale of its demographic shifts.
Basic needs
Lebanon has faced significant challenges in improving basic needs for its population, with only marginal increases in access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation facilities, exhibiting a trend that starkly contrasts the progress seen in similar middle-income countries.
Human development
Lebanon has experienced fluctuations in human development indicators such as the Human Development Index (HDI), child mortality rate, and literacy rate, reflecting both progress and challenges in education, health, and living standards, distinguishing it with a unique trajectory among its regional peers.
Environment & energy
Lebanon has seen increased per capita CO₂ emissions and persistent challenges in renewable freshwater resources and forest area management, in contrast to regional shifts towards renewable energy sources and efforts to conserve natural resources, highlighting a complex interplay between economic strains and environmental sustainability efforts.
Technology & innovation
Lebanon has shown significant progress in technological adoption and innovation, marked by a substantial increase in internet usage from 7% to over 80% of the population, a near-universal mobile phone penetration rate reflecting a high number of subscriptions per 100 people, and a notable growth in scientific publications per million people, emphasizing Lebanon's dedication to expanding its knowledge and technology sectors, aligning it more with global trends rather than distinguishing it in isolation.
Culture & society
Lebanon, like Jordan, has taken on substantial refugees from the Syrian civil war on its border. Following the Beirut port explosion in 2020, self-reported life satisfaction dropped to the second-lowest level globally.
Governance
Lebanon has shown a disconcerting trend of declining governance indicators, including diminished rule of law, persistent corruption, constrained political civil liberties, and increased pressure on press freedom, illustrating a differential path from its regional counterparts and highlighting the unique political and societal challenges it faces.