Lebanon
Beirut · Western Asia
Lebanon is a country in Asia. Its capital city is Beirut, the official currency is the Lebanese Pound, and the main language is Arabic.
With a population of roughly 5.4 million people spread over 10,452 km², Lebanon is the 118th most populous country in the world and the 161st largest by area. That works out at about 517 people per square kilometre.
Lebanon shares land borders with Syria and Israel — 2 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon. The highest point in the country is Qurnat as Sawda, at 3,088 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Jamaica, while its population is closest to that of Liberia.
- Capital
- Beirut
- Region
- Western Asia
- Population
- 5,400,000
- Area
- 10,452 km²
- Currency
- Lebanese Pound
- Main language
- Arabic
- Highest point
- Qurnat as Sawda
3,088 m - Land borders
- 2
Lebanon: things worth knowing
- The cedar of Lebanon on the national flag has been prized as timber since antiquity and is mentioned throughout ancient records.
- Byblos is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
- Lebanon's political system allocates the presidency, premiership and speakership to different religious communities.
Lebanon in context
Asia has 48 sovereign countries in total. Lebanon ranks 35th among them by population.
See the full list of Asia countries, or browse all 195 countries.