MigrantoImmigrants in Lebanon
1.4M foreign-born residents — the #48 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 95% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Syria | 784884 |
| Palestine | 490636 |
| Ethiopia | 50432 |
| Bangladesh | 30406 |
| Sudan | 11539 |
| Egypt | 10620 |
| Philippines | 6816 |
| Iraq | 5101 |
| Sri Lanka | 0 |
By region of origin
Middle East is the leading region of origin at 92%
1.3M
72.6K
37.2K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Lebanon.
Syria is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Syria accounts for 56% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 35%.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
45% of the population growth of Lebanon since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 76% to 56%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 4 residents of Lebanon is foreign-born — 1.4M out of 5.8M, representing 23.9% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 396977 |
| 1995 | 441544 |
| 2000 | 485137 |
| 2005 | 523024 |
| 2010 | 591101 |
| 2015 | 1723421 |
| 2020 | 1540920 |
| 2024 | 1390434 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Syria | Palestine | Ethiopia | Bangladesh | Sudan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 301697 | 36585 | 22644 | 7560 |
| 1995 | 0 | 345968 | 36585 | 22644 | 7560 |
| 2000 | 0 | 376774 | 40495 | 25064 | 8368 |
| 2005 | 0 | 401675 | 46077 | 28519 | 9521 |
| 2010 | 198 | 427871 | 51659 | 31974 | 10674 |
| 2015 | 1105309 | 455535 | 57241 | 35429 | 11828 |
| 2020 | 887943 | 477795 | 62822 | 38884 | 12981 |
| 2024 | 784884 | 490636 | 50432 | 30406 | 11539 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Lebanon as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Lebanon
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Lebanon?
Around 1.4M foreign-born residents live in Lebanon, making it the #48-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Lebanon come from?
Most immigrants in Lebanon come from Syria, Palestine and Ethiopia — these three countries account for about 95% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Lebanon are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 24% of the population of Lebanon — that's 1.4M out of a total population of 5.8M.
How has immigration to Lebanon changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Lebanon has fallen from 1.7M to 1.4M people, a decline of about 19%.
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