Interesting facts Lebanon
The expression 'To known It is to Love it’ is exactly what plays tricks on Lebanon!
The country is often associated only with conflicts and the militant movement Hezbollah.
As a result, the rich culture, breathtaking nature and hospitality of the country are snowed under.
While we, as UNIFIL veterans, feel a strong bond with Lebanon, the country is unknown to many.
It is relatively unknown to the general public as a holiday destination while it is a culturally rich and diverse country in the Middle East, known for its centuries-old history, the Lebanese cedar, and the bustling capital city of Beirut. The country is a unique melting pot of different populations, religions and landscapes, and is renowned worldwide for its fantastic cuisine.
The country is also the cradle of our current alphabet and has a centuries-long history.
To explain this a little more, we have listed a number of facts for you:
Lebanon: Has an area of 10,452 km2.
In comparison, the Netherlands is 4x as large with an area of 41,543 km2.
Population: 5.9 million. The Netherlands has 18.5 million inhabitants.
Naming: The name "Lebanon" (Lebanese-Arabic: Lubnān is derived from the ancient Semitic and Phoenician people) which means "white". This refers to the white, snow-capped peaks of the Lebanon Mountains.
Climate: It has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Thanks to the alternation of mountains and coastal areas, the country has different climate zones, from a humid maritime climate in Beirut to an alpine climate in the higher mountain peaks.
Refugees: 1.5 million Syrian and +/- 475,000 Palestinian refugees. All refugees together make up a quarter of the total population. No country in the world receives more refugees per capita.
Religious diversity: It has 18 officially recognized religious groups, including Islamic denominations, various Christian churches, and the Druze.
Languages: Although Arabic is the official language, French is widely spoken throughout French history. In addition, you can also go there with English and Armenian.
Women's rights: Compared to many other countries in the region, women in Lebanon have a very strong social position, with plenty of access to education and economic participation.
Unique geography: The inland mountains allow you to ski in the morning and relax by the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon.
Culinary: Lebanese cuisine is internationally known for being refined and healthy, with world-famous mezze.
Wine culture: The Bekaa Valley has been home to quality wines for thousands of years, such as those from the famous Château Ksara
Geography:
The country borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, borders Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south.
It measures 200 kilometers along its longitudinal axis from north to south and a maximum of 75 kilometers inland from the coast.
Lebanon has a very diverse landscape with enormous differences in altitude in a relatively small area.
The country has four parallel landscape zones from west to east, with a maximum height difference of no less than 3,088 meters.
The main elevation zones are:
The Coastal Plain: A narrow, flat strip along the Mediterranean Sea. This is the lowest point in the country at 0 meters.
The Lebanon Mountains: Directly behind the coast, this mountain range rises steeply. Here is the highest point of the country: the mountain Qurnat as Sawda' at 3,088 meters.
The Bekaa Valley: A fertile plateau wedged between two mountain ranges. This valley is located at an average altitude of 900 to 1,100 meters.
The Anti-Lebanon Mountains: This forms the natural eastern border with Syria. The highest peak here is Mount Hermon. Although the peak itself reaches 2,814 meters, it is partly on Syrian and Israeli territory.
Due to this great variation in altitude, Lebanon has both Mediterranean coastal areas and cool mountain regions with ski resorts.
Population
About 5,9 million Lebanese live there, with a composition of Christians, Arabs, Shiites, Sunnis and many other minorities.
In addition, there are about 475,000 stateless Palestinian refugees, 45% of whom live in 12 refugee camps across the country, and there are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees.
The city of Beirut is one of the most varied cities in the Middle East, divided between Christians (Maronites, Melkite Greek Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic and Protestant), Muslims (Sunnis, Shiites) and a minority of Alawites, Druze and Jews.
In 1991, shortly after the war, the population was estimated at 1.5 million people; now in 2026, it is estimated to have a population of 2.5 million and about 0.5 million Syrian refugees.
About 40% of the inhabitants of Lebanon live in Beirut.
Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)
In 1973, an outbreak of violence took place between government militias and the PLO Palestinians living in Lebanon. In 1975, the Lebanese Civil War broke out. The different parties in the civil war became divided among themselves, which increased the confusion in the conflict.
In 1976, Syrian troops entered Lebanon, later followed by UN troops UNIFIL (1978 to the present) and the Israeli army (1977 and 1982).
Under pressure from Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Algeria, the warring parties signed the Taif Peace Agreement in 1990.
The Agreement provided for political reforms, democratic recovery and Syrian presence. The real ruler, however, was the Syrian army. The Israeli troops remained in Lebanon until 2000, the Syrian troops left in the spring of 2005.
In 2006, another war broke out with Israel. In July of that year, the Hezbollah militia captured 2 Israeli soldiers. Israel, in response, caused serious damage to Lebanon's civilian infrastructure (including Beirut airport) with airstrikes.
On the 4th of August, 2020, an explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, close to the center. A part of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which had been stored in a shed for many years, exploded and destroyed large parts of the capital. At least 220 people were killed, more than 6,500 injured and 300,000 people lost their homes!
Less than a week later, on August 10, the Lebanese government resigned after major protests following the disaster.
Now in 2026, the country is still recovering from that major disaster, and a war has been added in the meantime. The people of Lebanon yearn for peace and quiet and can finally recover from the many traumas they have experienced.
Sights:
Beirut: The capital is also called the Monaco of the Middle East because of its lively nightlife and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Famous hotspots: Famous locations include the Corniche (boulevard), Zaitunay Bay and the historic districts full of culture.
Nature: Visitors are often drawn to the Chouf Cedar Reserve, the Qadisha Valley, the Jeita Cave, the Cedars of God.
History: There are many historical sites to visit throughout the country we name a few, Baalbeck, Byblos, Hippodrome (Tyre), Anjar and many other locations.
For further information about spectacular Lebanon, you can view other articles on our site.
Have fun discovering a special country and its inhabitants.
