World Factbook
Lebanon
Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double-width), and red (bottom), with a green cedar tree centered on the white band meaning: red stands for blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the national symbol and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
Capital
name
Beirut
etymology
derived from the Phoenician or Hebrew word be'erot , meaning "the wells," which were the only source of water in the region
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
33 52 N, 35 30 E
Suffrage
21 years of age; authorized for all men and women regardless of religion; excludes persons convicted of felonies and other crimes or those imprisoned; excludes all military and security service personnel regardless of rank
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Lebanon
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Constitution
history
drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president
Country name
former
Greater Lebanon
etymology
derives from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white," and probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains
local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form
Lubnan
conventional long form
Lebanese Republic
conventional short form
Lebanon
Independence
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities
Government type
parliamentary democratic republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 8 chambers, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts
judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body headed by the chief justice, and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and the National Assembly
chief of state
President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
election results
2025: Joseph AOUN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - 99 of 128 2016: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83; the president elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016
head of government
Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 8 February 2025)
most recent election date
9 January 2025
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds of Parliament members in the first round and, if needed, a two-thirds quorum of members by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
expected date of next election
2031
National holiday
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
National color(s)
red, white, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Anjar; Baalbek; Byblos; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab); Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli
Political parties
Al-Ahbash (Association of Islamic Charitable Projects) or AICP Amal Movement ("Hope Movement") Azm Movement Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement or FPM Future Movement Bloc or FM Hizballah Islamic Action Front or IAF Kata'ib Party Lebanese Democratic Party Lebanese Forces or LF Marada Movement Progressive Socialist Party or PSP Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Legislative branch
note
note 1: Lebanon’s constitution states that the Parliament cannot conduct regular business until it elects a president when the position is vacant note 2: seats are apportioned evenly between Christians and Muslims
term in office
4 years
number of seats
128 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/15/2022
expected date of next election
May 2026
percentage of women in chamber
6.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Strong Republic (19); Strong Lebanon (18); Development and Liberation (15); Loyalty to the Resistance (15); Independent Deputies (9); Democratic Gathering (8); Independents (20); Other (24)
National anthem(s)
title
"Kulluna lil-watan" (All of Us, For Our Country!)
history
adopted 1927
lyrics/music
Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
National symbol(s)
cedar tree
National coat of arms
Lebanon has had many coats of arms since declaring independence in 1943, but none were officially adopted. The current version is a variation of the national flag. Red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, purity, and mountain snow. The cedar tree is the national symbol, embodying eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.
Administrative divisions
8 governorates ( mohafazat , singular - mohafazah ); Aakkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa (Bekaa), Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 939-6324
chancery
2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 939-6300
chief of mission
Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
email address and website
info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[961] (4) 544-019
embassy
Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut
telephone
[961] (04) 543-600
mailing address
6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070
chief of mission
Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025)
email address and website
BeirutACS@state.gov https://lb.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt