Lebanon

November 1, 1920 (Monday) – Formation of Greater Lebanon under French Mandate

May 23, 1926 (Sunday) – Constitution adopted; first Republic of Lebanon declared

November 22, 1943 (Monday) – Independence from France

October 31, 1958 (Friday) – End of U.S.-backed intervention during 1958 Lebanon Crisis

April 13, 1975 (Sunday) – Start of Lebanese Civil War

June 6, 1982 (Sunday) – Israeli invasion of Lebanon

October 22, 1989 (Sunday) – Signing of Taif Agreement, ending civil war

May 24, 2000 (Wednesday) – Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon

February 14, 2005 (Monday) – Assassination of PM Rafic Hariri

July 12, 2006 (Wednesday) – Outbreak of 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel

August 4, 2020 (Tuesday) – Massive Beirut Port explosion kills over 200, injures thousands; caused by ammonium nitrate detonation

March 27, 2021 (Saturday) – Flash floods in northern Akkar district cause severe infrastructure damage

August 15, 2021 (Sunday) – Fuel tanker explosion in Akkar kills at least 30

February 6, 2023 (Monday) – M7.8 earthquake centered in Turkey affects parts of Lebanon; felt in Beirut, structural damage reported

November 30, 2023 (Thursday) – Storm Daniel remnants bring severe flooding and landslides in Mount Lebanon region

Continent: Asia
Location: Western Asia, Eastern Mediterranean
Capital: Beirut
Language: Arabic (official); French, English widely spoken
Currency: Lebanese Pound (LBP)
Population: ~5.4 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2); Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3 in summer)*

Borders: Syria, Israel, Mediterranean Sea
Landscape: Narrow coastal plain, parallel mountain ranges, interior plateau
Major Rivers: Litani, Orontes, Ibrahim, Awali
Major Mountains: Mount Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon Mountains, Qurnat as Sawda’ (highest)
Deserts: None
Lakes: Qaraoun Reservoir (man-made), small mountain lakes
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Qurnat as Sawda’ – 3,088 m (10,131 ft)
Lowest Point: Mediterranean Sea – 0 m
Climate: Mediterranean climate; hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Geological Features: Seismic fault zones (Dead Sea Transform), limestone formations, coastal cliffs

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Arab; Armenian, Assyrian, Kurdish minorities
Religion: Multi-religious; Muslims (Sunni, Shia), Christians (Maronite, Orthodox), Druze
Urban Population: ~89% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~8.2% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Ancient Phoenician cities, cedar trees, religious diversity, resilience
Cuisine: Hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh, manakish, baklava
Arts: Arabic calligraphy, poetry, contemporary arts, music (Fairuz, Rahbani brothers)
Sports: Football, basketball, martial arts

Economy Type: Services-based, fragile and in crisis
GDP: Approx. $21.5 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Banking, tourism, real estate, agriculture, construction
Key Exports: Jewelry, preserved foods, chemicals, tobacco, wine
Unemployment Rate: ~29% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Beirut (finance), Bekaa (agriculture), Tripoli (port/trade)

Government Type: Confessional parliamentary republic
Head of State: Presidency vacant (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Najib Mikati (caretaker) (as of April 2025)
Legislature: National Assembly (unicameral)
Constitution: Adopted on May 23, 1926; amended in 1989 (Taif Agreement)

Beirut: National Museum, Corniche, vibrant nightlife
Byblos: Ancient Phoenician ruins, harbor
Baalbek: Roman temples, UNESCO site
Jeita Grotto: Spectacular underground cave system
Cedars of God: Ancient forest of cedar trees
Qadisha Valley: Sacred valley and monastic communities
Tyre and Sidon: Historic coastal cities with ruins and ports