MigrantoImmigrants in Lebanon
1.4M foreigners live in Lebanon — 24% of the country's population
Immigrants in Lebanon by country
The 3 largest groups make up 95% of all immigrants
| 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
92% of immigrants come from the Middle East
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Key facts
Immigrants in Lebanon in numbers
Syrians are the largest group by a wide margin
56% of all immigrants were born in Syria, while the next group accounts for just 35%.
Immigration drives population growth
45% of the population growth of Lebanon since 1990 came from immigrants.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 76% to 56%.
1 in 4 residents of Lebanon was born abroad
1.4M of 5.8M residents were born abroad — 23.9% of the population.
1 in 11 people born in Palestine lives in Lebanon
490.6K people born in Palestine live in Lebanon — 9.28% of the population of Palestine.
The share of immigrants from the Middle East has grown since 1990
78% of immigrants came from the Middle East in 1990, compared with 92.1% today.
Immigrant population in Lebanon over time
Foreigners living in Lebanon, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 396977 |
| 1995 | 441544 |
| 2000 | 485137 |
| 2005 | 523024 |
| 2010 | 591101 |
| 2015 | 1723421 |
| 2020 | 1540920 |
| 2024 | 1390434 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Lebanon, by year
| Year | Syrians | Palestinians | Ethiopians | Bangladeshis | Sudanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Lebanon
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Lebanon
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Lebanon?
Around 1.4M immigrants live in Lebanon — the world's #48 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Syrians live in Lebanon?
Around 784.9K Syrians live in Lebanon — about 56% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Lebanon growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Lebanon has fallen from 1.7M to 1.4M, about 19%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Lebanon come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Lebanon. Their children born in Lebanon are not included.
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Living in Lebanon
See the full country overview