Economic+Analysis

As estimated in July of 2009, the population of Lebanon was 4,017,095. 1. **Growth Rates** The population continues to grow at a rate of 1.107%. 2. **Number of Live Births** 3. **Birthrates** Per 1,000 populations, 17.1 births occur. 1. **Age** Of the 4 million people of Lebanon, 25.8% are between the ages of infants and 14 years old; 67.1% between 15 and 64 years old, and the remaining 7.2% of the population are 65 years old and up. For the total population, there is a 0.95 male to female sex ratio for Lebanon (Embassy of Lebanon). The average life expectancy for the people of Lebanon is 73.66 years with females outliving males by approximately five years longer (World Fact Book). 2. ** Sex ** 3. **Geographic Areas** In 2008, nearly 87% of the total population lives in an urban area. 4. ** Migration Rates and Patterns ** The Arab ethnic group holds a vast majority of ethnic groups in Lebanon, making up 95% of the population. Armenian’s make up 4% of the population (World Fact Book).
 * II. Population**
 * A.** **Total**
 * B.** **Distribution of Population**
 * 5.** **Ethnic Groups**

Lebanon has a liberal economy. Their economy is based on competition and private ownership Services and banking areas dominate the economy, raising nearly 70% of the gross national product. Agriculture is also very strong in Lebanon, with 10% of the gross national product. And finally industry fills the remaining 20% of the gross national product (Embassy of Lebanon). Lebanon’s gross domestic product (GDP) is growing at a rate of 7% in 2009. The GDP’s purchasing power parity is $47.82 billion (World Fact Book). The GDP per capita is an estimated $11,500 in 2009 (World Fact Book). The workforce in Lebanon is approximately 1.481 million people. Lebanon also experiences a 9.2% unemployment rate in 2007 (World Fact Book). In 1999, 28% of Lebanon’s population lives below the poverty line. The inflation rate was 3.4% in 2009 (World Fact Book). Lebanon has seven airports in the country. Five of the seven airports have paved runways. There are 43 kilometers (km) of gas pipelines. Railways extend for 401 km in Lebanon. Roadways measure 6,970 km in Lebanon which include 170 km of expressways. Lebanon has two ports and terminals which are in Beirut and Tripoli. These ports offer ports and terminals for the 33 different kinds of merchant marines (World Fact Book). In Lebanon, approximately 714,000 households use a main line telephone in 2008. Cellular phones are also popular in Lebanon with 1.43 million people using a mobile phone. Individuals using the internet are also popular. Nearly 2.19 million users are online. Information is also broadcast over 15 television stations, 20 AM radio stations, 32 FM stations, and about 12 unlicensed radio stations (World Fact Book).
 * III. Economic Statistics and Activity**
 * A.** **Gross National Product (GNP)**
 * B. **** Personal Income per Capita **
 * C.** **Average Family Income**
 * D.** **Distribution of Wealth**
 * E. **** Minerals and Resources **
 * F.** **Surface Transportation**
 * G.** **Communication Systems**
 * H.** ** Working conditions **.

I. Principal industries 1. What proportion of the GNP does each industry contribute? 2. Ratio of private to publicly owned industries J. Foreign investment

1. Opportunities? There are opportunities for foreign investment in Lebanon, especially since it has a free market economy and is fairly open to trade and foreign investment. There is an educated workforce and a good standard of living in an environment with limited restrictions for investments (interex). 2. Which industries? The industries which are the most opportunistic include the field of reconstruction of basic and productive infrastructures, supermarkets, and general construction (interex). K. International trade statistics

1. Major exports The main export commodities include jewelry, base metals, chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit and vegetables, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, and paper (cia). a. The major exports for 2009 were $3.5 billion. (cia) b. The main customers of Lebanese exports are the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria (cia). 2. Major imports The major import commodities are petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco, electrical machinery and equipment, and chemicals (cia). a. As of 2009 the imports were $16.25 billion (cia). b. The majority of imports in Lebanon come from the United States, China, France, Italy, and Germany (cia). 3. Balance-of-payments situation a. The trade balance as of 2007 was $-7,850 million in U.S. dollars (interex). b. Lebanon has received billions of dollars in financial aid due to increased indebtedness in order to try to rebuild internally. Recent aid has been promised based upon the completion of benchmarks set for the five-year economic and social reform programs. Therefore, their balance of payments is still skewed negatively. (state.gov) 4. Exchange rates a. The exchange rate for Lebanese pounds (LBP) per U.S. dollar is 1,507.5 (cia). b. The exchange rate has been consistent against the U.S. dollar from 2004-2008 (interex).

Just over a decade later, Downtown has emerged as Beirut's most fashionable and desirable neighborhood, with gloriously restored French Mandate-era buildings, European and Lebanese cafes, world-class restaurants, luxurious boutiques, and stylish pubs. Maarad Street, with its arabesque arches and sidewalk cafes, is unquestionably the beating heart of Downtown.
 * V: Channels of Distribution: **
 * A. **** Retailers: **

ABC is a major superstore in Lebanon. Also is the Dunes Commercial Center Shopping mall on Verdun Street in Beirut. Also contains the Empire Dunes cinemas owned by the Empire chain, a commercial center, residential facilities and the Holiday Inn Hotel. Hypermarket Bou Khalil first chain of supermarket. Lots of other large super centers. C. ** Import/Export agents: ** Imports in 2009 $16.25 billion (such as: cars, clothing, medicine products, meat, live animals, consumer goods) Exports in 2009 $3.5 billion (such as: jewelry, base metals, chemicals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, textile fibers, paper) D. **Warehousing:** Beirut Cargo Center is the first to introduce this service in the market. For this purpose, BCC acquired a very sophisticated warehouse in the suburbs of Beirut. The warehouse is well organized to accommodate the orders placed by local companies, at their convenience and with extreme security. It is eventually fully covered by comprehensive insurance policy, but BCC, and for further security measures, has arranged to cover each shipment by a separate insurance policy in accordance with the value of goods declared by the clients.
 * B. **** Wholesale Middleman **
 * 1. **** Number and Size: **
 * 2. **** Customary markup for various classes of goods: **
 * 3. **** Method of operation: **
 * E. **** Penetration of urban and rural markets: **

A. ** Availability of media: ** very good 1. ** Television: ** 9 national television channels (1.18 million in 1997), ranked 76th 4. ** Other media: ** Internet hosts 45,352-Users 2.19 million; Cell subscribers per 100 in 2006 30.53
 * VI: Media **
 * B. **** Costs **
 * 2. **** Radio: ** (2. 85 in 1997) Ranked 78th
 * 3. **** Print: **
 * C. **** Agency Assistance: **
 * D. **** Coverage of various media: **
 * E. **** Percentage of population reached by each medium: **