Where is Lebanon?

Lebanon is located in the Middle East region at latitude 33.854721 and longitude 35.862285 and is part of the Asian continent.

The DMS coordinates for the center of the country are:

  • 33Β° 51' 17.00'' N
  • 35Β° 51' 44.23'' E

You can see the location of Lebanon on the world map below:

Lebanon on the World Map

Lebanon Neighboring Countries

The neighboring countries of Lebanon (LB) are:

  1. Israel (IL)
  2. Syrian Arab Republic (SY)

Maritime Borders

Lebanon borders with the Mediterranean Sea.

Lebanon Key Facts

CountryLebanon
CoordinatesLatitude: 33.854721
Longitude: 35.862285
Country CodesAlpha 2: LB
Alpha 3: LBN
Country Flag EmojiπŸ‡±πŸ‡§
Int. Phone Prefix+961
Capital cityBeirut
Continent
Subcontinent
Asia
Middle East
Country Area10400 sq km
Population 20216,769,151
World Rank: 107
Median Age28.3
Life expectancy75
Major languagesArabic (official), French, English, Armenian
UTC/GMT TimeNumber of time zones: 1
  • UTC+02:00
Internet TLD.lb
Biggest AirportBeirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Average temperature15.00 Β°C
59.00 Β°F
Administrative Divisions8 governorates
Political systemParliamentary democracy

Lebanon Economy Facts

World Bank Income GroupLower middle income
World Bank RegionMiddle East & North Africa
CurrencyLebanese Pound (LBP)
GDP in 2020$25.9 (billions of USD)
World Rank: 101
GDP per capita in 2020$3,802
World Rank: 118
Major Industries / Economic SectorsManufacturing, services, agriculture, energy
Top 5 Import CountriesChina, United States, Italy, France, Germany
Top 5 Export CountriesSaudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China, Italy, France

Biggest Cities in Lebanon

Here are the largest cities in Lebanon based on 2021 data:

City Population
Tripoli 530,000
Beirut 361,366
Sidon 200,000
Tyre 160,000
Jounie 102,221
Zahle 100,000
Nabatiye 80,000
Baalbek 24,000
El Qaa 12,000
Amioun 10,000

Map of Lebanon with the Largest Cities

Other Countries in the Middle East Region

Geography

Lebanon is a West Asian country that lies on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel is to the south. The island nation of Cyprus is approximately 260 km to the west over the Mediterranean Sea.

It is home to some of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world and has been referred to as the Switzerland or Paris of the Middle East.

Lebanon location world map
The location of Lebanon on the world map.

Lebanon is part of the Middle East and the Mediterranean Countries.

Other than the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon only shares its borders with two countries: Syria and Israel. Both of these countries are more populous than Lebanon, and each are larger in total land mass.

The current events and recent histories of Lebanon’s neighbors make for a tumultuous location in the world: the ongoing Syrian war to the north and the Israeli-Palestine conflict to the south both contribute to the region’s instability.

During times of political unrest or economic struggles, many Lebanese people have sought better quality of life in nearby Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.

A colorful political map of the Middle East showing country boundaries, names, and flags, with major cities marked and surrounding bodies of water labeled.
Lebanon in the Middle East

Lebanon’s location also gives it unique access to both the Mediterranean and Middle East regions, which creates opportunities for trade as well as contributes to the country’s unique culture and cuisine.

The mix of eastern and western influence has made Lebanese food one of the most popular middle eastern foods worldwide. Its location has also made the territory important for several ruling powers over the course of history.

Governorates of Lebanon

A color-coded administrative map of Lebanon showing various regions including Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Beqaa, Nabatieh, South Governorate, North Governorate, Akkar, and Baalbek-Hermel.
Governorates Map of Lebanon

The governorates of Lebanon are administrative regions of the country that are further broken down into districts and municipalities. The only two governorates that are not made up of multiple districts are Beirut and Akkar.

By total area, Baalbek-Hermel is easily the largest governorate of Lebanon, but it has one of the smallest population numbers. Occupying the northeastern corner of the country, it is divided into two districts and 74 municipalities.

Related Article: Richest Arab Countries

The most populous governorate in Lebanon is Mount Lebanon, which is the third-largest in terms of landmass. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, surrounds Beirut, and its capital is Baabda.

GovernorateArea in km2 Population
Akkar776423,596
Baalbek-Hermel3,009416,427
Beirut18433,249
Beqaa1,271534,342
Keserwan-Jbeil722282,222
Mount Lebanon1,2381,802,238
Nabatieh1,058383,839
North1,205790,951
South943590,087
Lebanon Governorates

Districts of Lebanon

There are 25 districts of Lebanon, and they are divided among the country’s nine governorates. The largest district in the country by total area is Baalbek, which extends for 2,319 km2 and is one of two districts in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate.  

A color-coded political map of Lebanon showing various regions such as Akkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut, North, Mount Lebanon, Beqaa, Nabatieh, and South, with major cities and towns marked with red dots.
Detailed Lebanon Administrative and Political Map

The district with the largest population is decidedly Matn, which is home to approximately 750,000 people. Matn’s population is almost entirely Christian, although there are also some Lebanese Druze and Shias living in the district.

DistrictArea in km2Population
Aakkar776330,000
Baalbek2,319333,000
Hermel73148,000
Rachaiya48550,000
West Beqaa42556,000
Zahle425300,000
Aaley263136,320
Baabda194500,000
Chouf495166,140
Jbeil (Byblos)430100,000
Keserwan336182,834
Matn265750,000
Bint Jbeil26453,000
Hasbaya26519,000
Marjeyoun26541,000
Nabatieh30492,000
Batroun26851,120
Bsharri15632,000
Koura17368,160
Minieh-Danniyeh40996,000
Tripoli2431,980
Zgharta18291,000
Jezzine24131,575
Saida (Sidon)275207,500
Tyr (Sour)418178,920
Districts of Lebanon

Major Cities of Lebanon

Beirut

Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon and is one of the oldest cities on earth. It’s also the most populous city in Lebanon with approximately 2 million people, but there have been no official population statistics published since the last official census in 1932.

Beirut is located on a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea and is backed by the Lebanon Mountains. 

Aerial view of a densely built coastal city with high-rise buildings near a cliff and a body of water, possibly Beirut.
Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon

As the most populous and capital city of Lebanon, Beirut is the most economically important city in the country. Banking, tourism, and trade are just some of the diverse industries that financially support the city and country.

Tripoli

This is Lebanon’s second largest city, and the largest city in the northern part of the country. Like Beirut, Tripoli extends into the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the oldest cities on the planet. It is also the northernmost seaport in the country.

To distinguish it from the capital city of Libya with the same name, it is sometimes referred to as β€œLevantine Tripoli.” 

One unique feature of Tripoli is that there are several islands located just off its shores, such as the Palm Islands Nature Reserve, which has been declared a protected area by UNESCO and is home to turtles, rare birds, and rabbits.

Sidon

Lebanon’s third largest city, Sidon is located on the Mediterranean coast to the south of Beirut in the South Governorate. This was one of the most important cities to the Phoenicians, and the name likely comes from the Phoenician word for β€œfishing town.”

Today, the majority of its inhabitants belong to the Sunni sect of Islam, and the city maintains a fairly conservative atmosphere. It’s also famous for its fresh fruits and sweet foods.

Tyre

The city of Tyre is the fourth largest in Lebanon and is located in the Tyre District of the South Governorate. This is another of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. There are so many important ruins here that the entire city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Aerial view of a beach with clear turquoise waters, sandy shore, and people scattered around the beach area.
Beach in Tyre, Lebanon

Tyre enjoys approximately 300 days of sunshine each year and has a reputation for having some of Lebanon’s cleanest beaches and waters. It also has some of the most biodiverse flora and fauna in the region.

Jounieh

Jounieh is the coastal capital city of the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate, and it has a population of 115,500 people. The city attracts tourists with a variety of attractions, including seaside resorts, the biggest casino in the Middle East, an interesting nightlife, paragliding, and more.

Most of the residents of Jounieh are Maronite Catholics, and the seat of the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church is located on a hill that overlooks Jounieh and its bay.

Byblos

Among the contenders for world’s oldest city is Byblos, which has been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years. Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Byblos was an ancient Phoenician city that was an important center for trade with Egypt and Greece. Byblos is also noted for being one of the first cities to perfect shipbuilding.

View from a high point of a coastal scene with docked boats, a stone building, and ancient ruins under a clear sky.
Byblos Port

In modern times, the city has become a popular locale for tourists in the region because of its many ruins, sandy beaches, and surrounding mountains.

Aley

The city of Aley is only 15 km from Beirut, located in the Mount Lebanon Governorate, and is the capital of the Aley District. It has several nicknames, two of which are β€œCapital of the Mountain,” and β€œLebanese City of Fog.”

Aley is a popular resort city for wealthy tourists due to its location and pleasant climate; shopping, and dining are some of the main attractions. It’s also home to a wide diverse group of residents, which makes it representative of many different Lebanese demographics.

Nabatieh

The name of this city comes from a Phoenician word meaning β€œthe appearance,” and it’s home to Lebanon’s largest fortress, the Beaufort Castle. The city is also notable for having been the birthplace of several famous linguists, writers, politicians, and scientists. It is the capital city of the district and governorate of the same name.

Baalbek

Baalbek is the capital city of the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate and was known as Heliopolis when Greeks and Romans dominated the area, which means β€œSun City” in Greek. This city is another UNESCO World Heritage site, in part because it houses two of the largest Roman temple ruins: the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter.

Ancient temple ruins with columns under a clear sky, possibly located in Greece.
Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon

The city was also the site of a military operation carried out by Israeli Defense Forces during the Lebanon War of 2006. There was some minor damage to ruins near the city because of bombing, but repair efforts have been made.

Zahle

This is another Lebanese city known by multiple nicknames: β€œThe Neighbor of the Gorge” and β€œThe City of Wine and Poetry” are two. The latter name comes from the fact that the city is the birthplace of at least 50 noteworthy writers and poets over the last 100 years. Wine is another celebrated part of the city’s culture; the Festival of the Vine is one of the city’s most important cultural events, celebrated each September.

Image Sources and Copyright Information
  • Color-coded Map of Lebanon’s Governorates: Β© vectorissimo/Shutterstock