Christians, Muslims and Druze

Lebanon has always had a mixed population and today you will find Maronite Christians, Catholics, Sunni and Shia Muslims, and Druze as well as various other minorities. Historically these people lived together peacefully and harmoniously but ethnic tensions exploded in the mid 1970s and a civil war between the various groups lasted until 1990. Today the tensions have eased but the various groups continue to live primarily amongst their own communities.

Young, educated and growing

Lebanon has a relatively young, educated population. The population stands at around 4m, though there are believed to be about 8-12m Lebanese who live outside the country, primarily in the US and Latin America. Perhaps 90% of these are believed to be Christian. The population growth rate is quite high at around 1.25% per annum. Average life expectancy is almost 73 years old and the literacy rate stands at about 87.4%.

Arabic is the official language of Lebanon

Arabic is the official language of Lebanon but many people speak French and/or English. French has a semi-official role in society and around 20% of the population speak it on a daily basis. This is a legacy of the post World War I mandate given to France by the League of Nations. Other languages that are commonly spoken are Greek, Armenian and Kurdish amongst people who descend from these cultural groups.

Garlic, olive oil, lemon and herbs

Lebanese cuisine is rightly considered to be one of the best in the Middle East. With an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood there is something for every palate. Garlic, olive oil, herbs and lemon juice are often used in large quantities. Chicken and lamb are the main meats eaten, Mezze is a common way to eat, and consists of several small dishes which are often shared (similar to Spanish tapas). Lebanese wine is good, the ubiquitous Almaza beer pretty tasty and tea and Turkish coffee are also popular.