LEBANON
Conventional name: Republic of Lebanon
Etymology: from lubnân, Arabic name of the Lebanon Mount, meaning « the white mountain »
Capital: Beirut
Surface area: 10.452 Km²
Comparison with an European country : about 1/4 des Pays-Bas
Population (2007): 3 577 000
Density (2007): 343,9 inhabitants/km²
Young people under 15 years (est. 2004): 26,9%
Growth rate (2004): 1,3%
Fecundity rate (2000-2005) : 2,32
Life expectancy (2000-2005): 71,9
Infant mortality (2000-2005): 22,5%o
Urban population (2007) : 89,7%
Illiteracy rate (2007): men 6,9%, women 17,8%
Ethnic groups: Arabs 95%, Armenians 4%
Religions: Sunnite muslims: 22% – Shiite muslims: 25% – Druzes : 8% – Christians (all rites) : 41%
Official language: Arabic
HDI (Human Development Index) (2008) : within the 177 countries selected Lebanon is ranked 88 (rate 0,772, medium development)
Currency: Lebanese Pound (1000 LPound=0,42 Euro, on the 15.7.2008)
Total G.D.P (2007): 24 420 millions $
G.D.P. per capita (2007): 6 681$
Annual growth:Croissance annuelle: (1994-2004) / 3,5% – (2005) : 1,0
Unemployment rate (1997): 23,2%
Industry: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating
Agricultural products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats
Exports(2007): 2 180 millions $
Imports (2007) : 9708 millions $
Main trade partners: Exports: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Switzerland, US, France, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria; Imports: Italy, France, Germany, US, Switzerland, Chine, Syria, UK
Main export products: foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, metal and metal products, electrical equipment and products, jewelry, paper and paper products
Main import products: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, textiles, metals, fuels, agricultural foods
Total external debt (2000): 20.790 million $
Independence year: 1943 (from the French Mandate)
Member of United Nations: 1945
State system: unitary republic on community basis (see Taef Agreements)
Regime system: Parliamentary
Chief of state: Michel Sleiman (since 25 may 2008)
Prime Minister: Saad Hariri
Main newspapers: in Arabic: An-Nahar (80.000) / Al-Anwar (75.000) / Al-Liwa (75.000) / As-Safir (50.000) ; in English: The Daily Star (10.000) ; in French: L’Orient-Le Jour (20.000) / Le Soir (15.000)