Republic of Lebanon
National name: Al-Joumhouriya al-Lubnaniya
Government: Republic
Geography: Lebanon lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel and west of Syria. The Lebanon Mountains, which parallel the coast on the west, cover most of the country, while on the eastern border is the Anti-Lebanon range. Between the two lies the Bekaa Valley, the principal agricultural area.
Area: 4,015 sq mi (10,400 sq km)
Population (2003 est.): 3,727,703 (growth rate: 1.3%); birth rate: 19.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 26.4/1000; density per sq mi: 928
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Beirut, 1,916,100 (metro. area), 1,171,000 (city proper)
Other large cities: Tripoli, 212,900; Sidon, 149,000
Monetary unit: Lebanese pound
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English
Ethnicity/race: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70%, Christian 30% (17 recognized sects), Judaism negl. (1 sect)
Agriculture: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats.
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating.
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land.
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