Lebanon is a republic between Israel and Syria with a long stretch of the coast on the Mediterranean Sea.  The population is approximately 3,874,000 and the country covers 10,230 sq km.

 

The currently GDP growth rate is approximately 0.5%.  Following civil war the country rebuilt much of its war torn infrastructure by borrowing heavily but has recently been trying to restructure these debts at lower interest rates.

 

The legal system is a mixture of Ottoman law, Cannon law, Napoleonic codes and civil law.  There is no judicial review of legislative acts and Lebanon has not accepted the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

 

Around 60% of the population are Islamic (of various denominations, and around 39% are Christian (of many different denominations).

 

Arabic is the official language but French, English and Armenian are also spoken.