LEBANON

 

Official name

Republic of Lebanon

Map

 

 

Capital

Beirut

 

 

 

Population

Between 3 and 4 million. No official census has been taken since 1932.

Land area

10,452 sq km

Lebanon is located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

The country is 215km long, and from east to west the distance ranges from 25 to 90km.

It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and by Israel to the south.

 

Language

Arabic is the official language, but French and English are widely spoken. Armenian is also spoken by a minority group.

Major religions

50% Muslim; 50% Christian
The largest Christian group are Maronites, followed by the Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, Syrian Catholics, Chaldeans, Protestants and Syrian Orthodox. The largest Muslim group are the Shiite, followed by the Sunni and the Druze.

Electricity

Both 220 and 110 are used. Sockets take 2-pin round and flat plugs.

Weights and measures

Metric system

Business hours

Government offices: 8am-2pm Mon to Sat; 8am-11am Friday
Banks: 8:30am-12:30pm Mon to Sat
Shops and commercial business: 9am-6pm Mon to Sat. Many stores keep later hours and open on Sunday as well.
The Lebanese regard Sunday as the end of the week.

International dialling code

+961

Time zone

GMT + 2 hours

Climate

Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate -- hot and dry summers and cool, rainy winters. The sun shines 300 days a year. The annual rainfall on the coastal plain is around 35in, and more than 50in in the mountains. Humidity is high along the coast in summer and daytime temperatures average 30°C with night temperatures not much lower.

Beirut in summer becomes a commuter society as families move to the mountains to enjoy the cool dry climate. Winters on the coast can be dry and mild one day and wet and chilly the next.

Winter daytime temperatures average 15°C. In the mountains summer daytime temperatures average 26°C and the nights are pleasantly cool. Winters are cold and it snows at the higher elevations. The snow ensures good skiing from December through April.