Lebanon

Official name: Lebanese Republic

Capital city: Beirut (population 1.5 million). Other major cities — Tripoli/Trablus, Zahle, Sidon/Sayda, and Byblos/Jbail

Area: Lebanon is a small country: 10,452 square kilometers (4,015 square miles) about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut.

Population: Approximately 3,990,000 (IMF)

People: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions: Muslim 60% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma’ili, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1%

Currency: Lebanese pound

Languages: Arabic (official), English, French, Armenian

Government type: Republic

U.S. – Lebanon relations:

The United States and Lebanon have had diplomatic and economic ties since the country’s independence. The United States seeks to help Lebanon retain stability and keeps its independence, sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity. The U.S. Government has pledged well over $1 billion in assistance for relief and rebuilding since the 2006 war. This support includes humanitarian concerns and attempts for sustainable development and the bolstering of a self-governed, sovereign and democratic nation. Beirut has a free-market economy and a laissez-faire commercial system. The U.S. and Lebanon have also signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to expand trade relations.

Reference: U.S. State Department