Full History Of Lebanon In Timeline From 1916

1916: Sykes-Picot Agreement

In 1916, the Sykes–Picot Agreement, a secret pact between Britain and France, delineated Lebanon and its surrounding areas as regions open to potential French influence or control.

1918: End of Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate

The Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (1861–1918, Arabic: متصرفية جبل لبنان; Turkish: Cebel-i Lübnan Mutasarrıflığı) was one of the Ottoman Empire's subdivisions following the Tanzimat reform. After 1861 there existed an autonomous Mount Lebanon with a Christian mutasarrıf, which had been created as a homeland for the Maronites under European diplomatic pressure following the 1860 massacres.

1919: Paris Peace Conference

After World War I, at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, Patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek successfully campaigned for an expanded territory, including areas with Muslim and Druze populations, in addition to the Christian-dominated Mount Lebanon.

September 1920: Establishment of Greater Lebanon

On September 1920, Greater Lebanon, or Grand Liban, was established under French control as a League of Nations Mandate, following the terms outlined in the proposed Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon.

1920: Dissolution of Arab Kingdom of Syria

In 1920, the Arab Kingdom of Syria, which had asserted control over Lebanon, was dissolved after being defeated by the French at the Battle of Maysalun. At the San Remo Conference it was determined that Syria and Lebanon would fall under French rule.

1920: Greater Lebanon name introduced

In 1920, the name Greater Lebanon (Arabic: دولة لبنان الكبير Dawlat Lubnān al-Kabīr; French: État du Grand Liban) was introduced as the name of an administrative unit.

July 1922: Ratification of Greater Lebanon

In July 1922, the arrangement for Greater Lebanon was ratified.

1923: Publication of "The Prophet" in 1923

In 1923, Kahlil Gibran published his book "The Prophet", which has been translated into over twenty different languages.

The Prophet: The Original 1923 Edition With Complete Illustrations (A Classics Kahlil Gibran Novel)

Check it on Amazon

May 1926: Adoption of the Lebanese constitution

On 23 May 1926, the Lebanese Republic adopted a constitution inspired by the French constitution.

September 1926: Proclamation of the Lebanese Republic

On 1 September 1926, the Lebanese Republic was officially proclaimed.

1932: Promulgation of Code des Obligations et des Contrats

In 1932, the Code des Obligations et des Contrats was promulgated, equivalent to the French Civil Code.

1932: Christian Population in Lebanon in 1932

In 1932, when the last census was held, Christians made up 53% of Lebanon's population.

1932: Last Official Census

No official census has been conducted in Lebanon since 1932.

1932: Last National Census Conducted

The last national census in Lebanon was conducted in 1932 due to the sensitive nature of religious demographics.

November 1941: Announcement of Lebanese independence

On 26 November 1941, General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government.

1941: Germany moves aircraft

In 1941, Lebanon gained a measure of independence while France was occupied by Germany. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraq where they were used against British forces. The United Kingdom, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.

November 1943: Lebanese government abolishes the mandate

On 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by imprisoning the new government, leading Lebanese nationalists to declare a provisional government. The French reluctantly released the government officials on 22 November 1943, and accepted the independence of Lebanon.

1943: Christian Emigration Before 1943

Before 1943, there was a large period of Christian emigration from Lebanon, contributing to the fact that over 50% of the Lebanese diaspora are Christian.

1943: Republic of Lebanon independence

In 1943, Lebanon became the sovereign Republic of Lebanon (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية al-Jumhūriyyah al-Lubnāniyyah) upon its independence.

1943: Lebanon gains independence

In 1943, Lebanon gained independence from Free France and established a confessional government, apportioning political powers among major religious groups.

1943: The National Pact

In 1943, the National Pact was established as a governing arrangement in Lebanon to harmonize the interests of the country's major religious groups.

October 1945: UN officially came into existence

When the UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of the United Nations Charter by the five permanent members, as both Syria and Lebanon were founding member states, the French mandate for both was legally terminated on that date and full independence attained.

December 1946: Withdrawal of last French troops

In December 1946, the last French troops withdrew from Lebanon.

May 1948: Lebanon supports neighboring Arab countries in a war against Israel

In May 1948, Lebanon supported neighboring Arab countries in a war against Israel. While some irregular forces crossed the border and carried out minor skirmishes against Israel, it was without the support of the Lebanese government, and Lebanese troops did not officially invade. Lebanon agreed to support the forces with covering artillery fire, armored cars, volunteers and logistical support.

June 1948: Lebanese army captured Al-Malkiyya

On 5–6 June 1948, the Lebanese army – led by the then Minister of National Defense, Emir Majid Arslan – captured Al-Malkiyya. This was Lebanon's only success in the war.

1956: Estimated Christian and Muslim Population in 1956

In 1956, it was estimated that the population of Lebanon was 54% Christian and 44% Muslim.

1958: Insurrection in Lebanon

In 1958, during the last months of President Camille Chamoun's term, an insurrection broke out, instigated by Lebanese Muslims who wanted to make Lebanon a member of the United Arab Republic. Chamoun requested assistance, and 5,000 United States Marines were briefly dispatched to Beirut on 15 July.

1960: Lebanese Space Program Started

In 1960, a science club from a university in Beirut started a Lebanese space program called "the Lebanese Rocket Society".

1966: Lebanese Space Program Stopped

In 1966 the Lebanese Space Program was stopped because of both war and external pressure.

1970: Palestinian militants relocated to Lebanon

With the defeat of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Jordan, many Palestinian militants relocated to Lebanon in 1970 and increased their armed campaign against Israel.

1971: Fertility Rate

In 1971, Lebanon's fertility rate was 5.00.

1975: Civil war broke out

In 1975, following increasing tensions, largely boosted by Palestinian militant presence in the south, a full-scale civil war broke out in Lebanon.

1975: Start of Lebanese Emigration Wave

Starting in 1975, Lebanon experienced a significant emigration wave, with over 1.8 million people leaving the country between 1975 and 2011.

1975: Start of Civil War

The 1975 Lebanese civil war heavily damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure.

1975: Outbreak of Lebanese Civil War

The Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, shattering the relative stability of the new Lebanese state.

1975: Loss of 'Free Country' Status

Until 1975, Freedom House considered Lebanon to be among only two politically free countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The country lost this status with the outbreak of the Civil War.

October 1976: Arab League establishes Arab Deterrent Force

In October 1976 the Arab League agreed to establish a predominantly Syrian Arab Deterrent Force, which was charged with restoring calm.

1976: Syrian military occupation

In 1976, Lebanon was subjugated by a military occupation by Syria, which lasted until 2005.

1977: PLO attacks escalate tensions

PLO attacks from Lebanon into Israel in 1977 and 1978 escalated tensions between two countries.

March 1978: Fatah militants hijacked passenger buses

On 11 March 1978, Fatah militants in northern Israel, hijacked two passenger buses, that killed 37 Israelis before being killed in a firefight with Israeli forces. Israel invaded Lebanon four days later and occupied most of the area south of the Litani River. The UNSC passed the Resolution 425 calling for immediate Israeli withdrawal and creating the U.N Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), charged with attempting to establish peace.

1978: First Israeli invasion

In 1978, Lebanon experienced the first Israeli invasion since then, marking a series of conflicts with Israel.

April 1980: Killing of UNIFIL soldiers

In April 1980 the killing of two UNIFIL soldiers and the injuring of a third by the South Lebanon Army, near At Tiri, in the buffer zone led to a military conflict.

July 1981: Israeli aircraft bombed Beirut buildings

On 17 July 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed multi-story apartment buildings in Beirut that contained offices of PLO associated groups. The Lebanese delegate to the United Nations Security Council claimed that 300 civilians had been killed and 800 wounded.

August 1981: Sharon plans attack on PLO infrastructure

In August 1981, defense minister Ariel Sharon began planning an attack on PLO military infrastructure in West Beirut.

September 1982: Civil war re-emerges after Gemayel assassination

In September 1982, the civil war in Lebanon re-emerged following the assassination of President Bachir Gemayel, an Israeli ally, and subsequent fighting which led to sectarian massacres.

1982: Hezbollah comes into existence

In 1982, Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist militant group and political party, came into existence through the efforts of Shiite clerics financially supported and trained by Iran and actively engaged in combat against Israel as well as suicide attacks, car bombings and assassinations.

1982: Closure of Asfouriyeh Hospital in 1982

In 1982, the Asfouriyeh Hospital, the first modern mental health hospital in the Middle East, closed due to the impact of the Lebanese Civil War.

1983: Multinational force deployed in Beirut

In 1983, a multinational force of American, French and Italian contingents (joined by a British contingent) were deployed in Beirut to supervise the evacuation of the PLO.

1984: Multinational force withdrawn

In the spring of 1984, the multinational force was withdrawn after a devastating bombing attack the previous year.

1985: Israeli military occupation

In 1985, Lebanon was subjugated by a military occupation by Israel, which lasted until 2000.

1987: Lebanese pound collapses

Towards the end of 1987, the Lebanese pound collapsed and the legal minimum wage was worth just $17 a month. Most goods in shops were priced in dollars.

September 1988: Parliament fails to elect a successor to President Gemayel

In September 1988, the Parliament failed to elect a successor to President Gemayel due to differences between Christians, Muslims, and Syrians.

May 1989: Arab League Summit forms committee to solve the crisis

The Arab League Summit of May 1989 led to the formation of a Saudi–Moroccan–Algerian committee to solve the crisis.

September 1989: Peace plan issued and accepted

On 16 September 1989, a peace plan was issued and accepted by all parties. A ceasefire was established, and the Taif Agreement was reached to outline Syrian withdrawal and de-confessionalize the Lebanese political system.

1990: Civil war ends

At the end of 1990, the Lebanese civil war ended after 16 years, causing massive loss of life and economic devastation.

1990: Amendment of article 95

In 1990, article 95 was amended to address political structure based on religious affiliation.

1990: End of Lebanese Civil War

The Lebanese Civil War, which began in 1975, ended in 1990.

May 2000: Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanon

In May 2000, Israeli forces fully withdrew from Lebanon, marking the end of their presence. Since then, 25 May is regarded by the Lebanese as the Liberation Day.

2000: Lebanon Participates in 2000 Rugby League World Cup

In 2000, the Lebanon national rugby league team participated in the Rugby League World Cup.

2000: End of Israeli military occupation

The Israeli military occupation of Lebanon, which began in 1985, ended in 2000.

2001: Enactment of Investment Law No. 360

In 2001, Investment Law No.360 was enacted to reinforce the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon's mission.

2001: Lebanon concludes negotiations with the EU

In late 2001, Lebanon concluded negotiations on an association agreement with the European Union.

January 2002: Association agreement initialed with the EU

In January 2002, Lebanon and the European Union initialed an association agreement.

March 2002: Arab League Summit in Lebanon

In March 2002, Lebanon hosted an Arab League Summit for the first time in over 35 years.

October 2002: Francophonie Summit hosted in Lebanon

In October 2002, Lebanon hosted the Francophonie Summit.

2004: Fertility Rate

In 2004, Lebanon's fertility rate dropped to 1.75.

2004: Industry Ranked Second in Workforce

In 2004, industry ranked second in workforce, with 26% of the Lebanese working population.

February 2005: Rafic Hariri assassinated in car bombing

On 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion, triggering demonstrations and demands for Syrian withdrawal and an international investigation.

October 2005: UN investigation publishes preliminary findings

On 20 October 2005, the UN International Independent Investigation Commission published preliminary findings in the Mehlis report, citing indications that the assassination was organized by Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services.

2005: French Language Use in 2005

As of 2005, approximately 20% of the population in Lebanon used French on a daily basis.

2005: Largest Proportion of Skilled Labor

In 2005, Lebanon had the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States.

2005: Major recipient of foreign aid

Since 2005, Lebanon has been a major recipient of foreign military aid.

2005: End of Syrian military occupation

The Syrian military occupation of Lebanon, which began in 1976, ended in 2005.

2005: Restrictions on Palestinian Employment

Until 2005, Palestinians were forbidden to work in over 70 jobs because they did not have Lebanese citizenship.

July 2006: Hezbollah attacks Israel

On 12 July 2006, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks and raids into Israeli territory, leading to the 2006 Lebanon War.

July 2006: Start of 2006 War

Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable stability. The month-long 2006 war severely damaged Lebanon's fragile economy.

August 2006: Economic Decline Expected

According to a report published on 30 August 2006, a major economic decline was expected as a result of the fighting.

August 2006: UNSC Resolution ends Lebanon War

On 14 August 2006, the UNSC Resolution 1701 officially ended the 2006 Lebanon War, ordering a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and Hezbollah disarmament.

2006: Series of protests begin

Between 2006 and 2008, a series of protests led by groups opposed to the pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora began demanding the creation of a national unity government.

October 2007: Presidential term ends, no successor elected

When Émile Lahoud's presidential term ended in October 2007, the opposition refused to vote for a successor, leaving Lebanon without a president.

2007: Liberalization Laws Passed

After liberalization laws were passed in 2007, the number of banned jobs for Palestinians dropped to around 20.

May 2008: Hezbollah and Amal forces seize western Beirut

On 7 May 2008, Hezbollah and Amal forces seized western Beirut after a government declaration deemed Hezbollah's communications network illegal. On 21 May 2008, the Doha Agreement was signed, ending the fighting and electing Michel Suleiman as president.

2008: Series of protests end

Between 2006 and 2008, a series of protests led by groups opposed to the pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ended demanding the creation of a national unity government.

2008: Deadliest clashes since 2008

Days later, sectarian violence in Beirut killed a number of people in the deadliest clashes in the country since 2008.

2008: Tourism Statistics

In 2008, Lebanon attracted around 1,333,000 tourists, placing it 79th out of 191 countries.

2008: Remittances from Lebanese Abroad

In 2008, remittances from Lebanese abroad totalled $8.2 billion, accounting for one-fifth of the country's economy.

2008: Lebanon Misses Qualification for the 2008 Tournaments

In 2008, the Lebanon national rugby league team narrowly missed qualification for the Rugby League World Cup.

2008: United Nations Education Index in 2008

In 2008, the United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871, ranking the country 88th out of 177 participating countries.

2008: Rebuilding of Infrastructure

Over the course of 2008 Lebanon rebuilt its infrastructure mainly in the real estate and tourism sectors.

2009: Armenian Population in Lebanon in 2009

As of 2009, there were approximately 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, constituting around 5% of the population.

2009: Jeux de la Francophonie in Lebanon

In 2009, Lebanon hosted the Jeux de la Francophonie.

2009: Lebanon Hosts the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie

In 2009, Lebanon hosted the Jeux de la Francophonie.

2009: Beirut Ranked No. 1 Travel Destination

In 2009, The New York Times ranked Beirut the No. 1 travel destination worldwide.

2009: Lebanon Defeats Ireland in the 2009 European Cup

In 2009, the Lebanon national rugby league team defeated Ireland to finish 3rd in the European Cup tournament.

2009: Physicians and Nurses per Capita in 2009

In 2009, there were 31.29 physicians and 19.71 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants in Lebanon.

January 2010: Tourist Arrivals Announced

In January 2010, the Ministry of Tourism announced that 1,851,081 tourists had visited Lebanon in 2009.

November 2010: Report leaked about Hezbollah takeover plans

A report leaked by the Al-Akhbar newspaper in November 2010 stated that Hezbollah had drafted plans for a violent takeover of the country in case the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued an indictment against its members.

2010: Equal Work Rights Granted to Palestinians

In 2010, Palestinians were granted the same rights to work as other foreigners in the country.

2010: Healthcare Spending in 2010

In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 7.03% of Lebanon's GDP.

2010: Environment Ministry's 10-Year Plan

In 2010, the Environment Ministry set a 10-year plan to increase the national forest coverage by 20%, equivalent to planting two million new trees each year, funded by USAID and implemented by USFS through the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI).

January 2011: National unity government collapses

In early January 2011, the national unity government collapsed due to tensions stemming from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Najib Mikati was elected Prime Minister.

2011: End of Lebanese Emigration Wave

By 2011, over 1.8 million people had emigrated from Lebanon since 1975, marking the end of a significant migration wave.

2011: Christian Population in 2011

By 2011, voter registration numbers showed that the Christian population was 34.35% of the total population, while Muslims, including the Druze, were 65.47%.

2011: Popular Origin Countries of Tourists

In 2011, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Japan were the three most popular origin countries of foreign tourists to Lebanon.

2011: Life Expectancy at Birth in 2011

In 2011, the life expectancy at birth in Lebanon was 72.59 years.

2011: Inauguration of Reforestation Plan

In 2011, the reforestation plan was inaugurated by planting cedar, pine, wild almond, juniper, fir, oak and other seedlings, in ten regions around Lebanon.

2011: Subsidized Hospital Admissions in 2011

In 2011, there were 236,643 subsidized admissions to hospitals in Lebanon, with 164,244 in private hospitals and 72,399 in public hospitals.

2012: Forest Coverage in Lebanon

As of 2012, forests covered 13.4% of the Lebanese land area, facing constant threat from wildfires during the long, dry summer season.

2012: Rise in Popularity of Japanese Cuisine

In 2012, it was reported that an influx of Japanese tourists had caused a rise in popularity of Japanese cuisine in Lebanon.

2012: Syrian civil war threatens to spill over

In 2012, the Syrian civil war threatened to spill over into Lebanon, causing sectarian violence in Tripoli.

2012: Emergence of the Lebanon Water Festival NGO since 2012

Since 2012 and with the emergence of the Lebanon Water Festival NGO, more emphasis has been placed on water sports in Lebanon.

2012: Decline in Tourist Arrivals

Tourist arrivals fell by 37% for the first 10 months of 2012, a decline caused by the war in neighbouring Syria.

May 2013: Clarification on Seismic Images of Seabed

On 10 May 2013, the Lebanese minister of energy and water clarified that seismic images of the Lebanese sea bed are undergoing detailed explanation of their contents.

2013: Global Information Technology Report 2013 Rankings

According to the World Economic Forum's 2013 Global Information Technology Report, Lebanon was ranked as the fourth best country globally for math and science education and tenth best overall for quality of education.

2013: Concerns voiced over Syrian refugees

In 2013, Lebanese parties voiced concerns that the country's political system was being undermined by the influx of Syrian refugees.

2013: Lebanon Misses Qualification for the 2013 Tournaments

In 2013, the Lebanon national rugby league team narrowly missed qualification for the Rugby League World Cup.

2013: United Nations Estimate of Syrian Refugees

In 2013, the United Nations estimated the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon to be over 1.25 million.

2013: First Gender and Sexuality Conference

Lebanon held a gender and sexuality conference every year starting in 2013.

2013: "Partly Free" Rating

Lebanon was rated "Partly Free" in 2013 by Freedom House, although it remains among the most democratic nations in the Arab world.

May 2014: Lebanon without a President

In May 2014, Lebanon was without a President, initiating a period that would last until October 2016.

November 2014: Parliament extends its term

In November 2014, the Lebanese parliament extended its own term, an act contradicting democracy and the constitution as no elections took place.

2014: Syrian refugees in Lebanon increase

In late 2014, the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon increased to 1,000,000, according to the UNHCR.

2014: Atheist Percentage in Lebanon in 2014

The World Values Survey of 2014 put the percentage of atheists in Lebanon at 3.3%.

May 2015: UNHCR suspends registration of Syrian refugees

On 6 May 2015, UNHCR suspended registration of Syrian refugees at the request of the Lebanese government.

July 2015: Closure of Al-Naameh Dumpsite

In July 2015, residents forced the closure of the al-Naameh dumpsite, which had exceeded its capacity by 13 million tons due to government inefficiency and corruption within the waste management company Sukleen. This resulted in piles of garbage blocking streets in Mount Lebanon and Beirut.

December 2015: Agreement to Export Waste

In December 2015, the Lebanese government signed an agreement with Chinook Industrial Mining to export over 100,000 tons of untreated waste from Beirut and the surrounding area. The contract was jointly signed with Howa International at a cost of $212 per ton.

February 2016: Lebanese government signs Lebanon Compact

In February 2016, the Lebanese government signed the Lebanon Compact, granting a minimum of €400 million of support for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese citizens.

February 2016: Withdrawal from Waste Export Negotiations

In February 2016, the government withdrew from negotiations for waste export after discovering that documents relating to exporting the trash to Russia were forgeries.

March 2016: Reopening of Naameh Landfill

On 19 March 2016, the Cabinet reopened the Naameh landfill for 60 days, as part of a plan to end the trash crisis.

October 2016: Government estimates 1.5 million Syrians

As of October 2016, the Lebanese government estimated that the country hosts 1.5 million Syrians.

October 2016: Presidential Vacancy Ends

In October 2016, Lebanon finally had a President after being without one since May 2014.

2016: Forest Coverage Update

As of 2016, forests covered 13.6% of Lebanon, with other wooded lands representing a further 11%.

2017: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

As of 2017, between 174,000 and 450,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon with about half in refugee camps (although these are often decades old and resemble neighborhoods).

2017: Health Risks from Garbage Crisis

In 2017, Human Rights Watch found that Lebanon's garbage crisis, particularly open burning of waste, posed a health risk to residents and violated international law.

2017: Lebanon Qualifies Again for 2017 World Cup

In 2017, the Lebanon national rugby league team qualified again for the Rugby League World Cup reaching the quarter-finals, narrowly losing to Tonga.

2017: Top 10 Causes of Hospital Deaths in 2017

In 2017, the top 10 leading causes of reported hospital deaths in Lebanon included malignant neoplasm of bronchus or lung, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia.

May 2018: Nationwide Elections Scheduled

Nationwide elections were finally scheduled for May 2018 in Lebanon.

September 2018: Law banning open dumping and burning of waste passed

In September 2018, Lebanon's parliament passed a law banning open dumping and burning of waste, but Lebanese municipalities continued to burn waste openly despite penalties.

October 2018: Human Rights Watch researchers witnessed the open burning of dumps

In October 2018, Human Rights Watch researchers witnessed the open burning of dumps in al-Qantara and Qabrikha.

2018: Hezbollah Called Heavily Armed Non-State Actor

A 2018 report called Hezbollah "the world's most heavily armed non-state actor."

2018: Start of Economic Decline

As of 2023, Lebanon's GDP has shrunk by 40% since 2018 due to the ongoing economic crisis.

2018: Security forces shut down gender conference

In 2018, General Security Forces shut down the gender and sexuality conference and denied re-entry to non-Lebanese LGBT activists.

August 2019: Hezbollah Affiliated Ministers in Cabinet

As of August 2019, the Lebanese cabinet included ministers directly affiliated with Hezbollah.

October 2019: Mass civil demonstrations erupt

On 17 October 2019, mass civil demonstrations erupted in Lebanon, triggered by planned taxes on gasoline, tobacco, and online phone calls, expanding into condemnation of sectarian rule and corruption.

October 2019: Forest Fires Break Out

On Sunday 13 October 2019 at night, a series of about 100 forest fires broke out and spread over large areas of Lebanon's forests. Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey and Greece participated in firefighting.

December 2019: Hassan Diab designated Prime Minister

On 19 December 2019, Hassan Diab was designated the next prime minister, facing continued protests against his designation.

2019: Survey on Homosexuality Acceptance

According to a 2019 survey, 85% of Lebanese respondents believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

2019: Unsustainable Deposits Lead to Bank Closures

By 2019, insufficient new deposits led to an unsustainable situation, resulting in weeks-long bank closures.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Lebanon had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.76/10, ranking it 141st globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Gender and sexuality conference moved abroad

In 2019, the gender and sexuality conference, held annually in Lebanon since 2013, was moved abroad after threats and calls for the organizers' arrest.

July 2020: Lebanon suffers worst economic crisis

By July 2020, Lebanon was suffering its worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation exceeding 50% for 30 consecutive days.

August 2020: Explosion at the port of Beirut

On 4 August 2020, an explosion at the port of Beirut destroyed the surrounding areas. As a result, Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet resigned on 10 August 2020.

2020: Holy Spirit University of Kaslik Ranking as of 2020

As of 2020, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik was ranked in the #600s worldwide.

2020: Agriculture contributes to GDP

As of 2020, the agricultural sector in Lebanon contributed 3.1% to the country's GDP.

2020: Lebanon Defaults

In 2020, Lebanon defaulted amid a severe economic crisis.

2020: Beirut explosion

In 2020, the Beirut explosion, combined with the Lebanese liquidity crisis and nationwide corruption, caused the collapse of Lebanon's currency, political instability, widespread resource shortages, and high unemployment and poverty.

2020: CIA World Factbook Estimates (2020)

In 2020, the CIA World Factbook estimated that Lebanon's population consisted of 67.8% Muslim, 32.4% Christian, and 4.5% Druze. This data does not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations

March 2021: Lebanon threatened with total darkness

On 11 March 2021, Lebanon was warned of "total darkness" by the end of the month if fuel wasn't secured for power stations.

August 2021: Fuel explosion in northern Lebanon

In August 2021, a fuel explosion in northern Lebanon killed 28 people.

October 2021: Nation loses power

On 9 October 2021, the entire nation lost power for 24 hours due to fuel shortages. Sectarian violence in Beirut also killed a number of people.

2021: Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) Ranking as of 2021

As of 2021, Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) was ranked #701 worldwide.

2021: Demonstrations continue

Demonstrations continued into 2021 with Lebanese blocking the roads with burned tires protesting against the poverty and the economic crisis.

2021: Lebanon Participates in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup

In 2021, the Lebanon national rugby league team participated in the Rugby League World Cup, losing to Australia in the quarter-finals.

2021: Estimated Population

Lebanon had an estimated population of 5,592,631 in 2021.

January 2022: Crisis in Lebanon deepens

By January 2022, the crisis in Lebanon had deepened further, with the value of the Lebanese pound plummeting and a scheduled general election expected to be delayed indefinitely.

April 2022: Boat Sinking in Tripoli

In April 2022, an overloaded boat sunk in Tripoli resulting in the death of 6 people. Around 50 people were rescued after the incident.

May 2022: Lebanon Holds First Election Since Economic Crisis

In May 2022, Lebanon held its first election since the start of a painful economic crisis. The Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement and its allies lost their parliamentary majority in the election.

May 2022: Parliamentary Elections Held

The most recent parliamentary elections were held on 15 May 2022.

2022: American University of Beirut Ranking in 2022

As of 2022, the American University of Beirut was ranked #2 in the Middle East and #226 worldwide.

February 2023: Lebanese Pound Devalued

On 1 February 2023, the central bank of Lebanon devalued the Lebanese pound by 90% amidst the ongoing financial crisis, marking the first devaluation in 25 years.

2023: Second Most Electoral Democratic Country

According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Lebanon is in 2023 the second most electoral democratic country in the Middle East.

2023: Economic Crisis Deepens

As of 2023, Lebanon's GDP has shrunk by 40% since 2018, with the currency experiencing a 95% depreciation and annual inflation exceeding 200%.

June 2024: Hezbollah's Rocket Arsenal Estimated

In June 2024, experts estimated that Hezbollah possessed 150,000–200,000 rockets and missiles of various ranges.

September 2024: Escalation of Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

Starting with the Israeli explosion of Lebanese pagers and walkie talkies in September 2024, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated severely, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 558 people and sparking a mass exodus from southern Lebanon.

October 2024: Israeli Invasion of Lebanon

On 1 October 2024, Lebanon was invaded by Israel with the objective of destroying infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the south of the country.

November 2024: Ceasefire Deal Signed

In November 2024, a ceasefire deal was signed between Israel and Hezbollah to end 13 months of conflict. Hezbollah was given 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon and Israeli forces were obliged to withdraw from the area over the same period.

December 2024: Syrian Regime Change

The Syrian regime change in December 2024 was said to start a new chapter in Lebanese politics, marking another blow to Hezbollah.

2024: Lebanon Hosts Over 1.6 Million Refugees

As of 2024, Lebanon hosted over 1.6 million refugees and asylum seekers, including those from Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan.

January 2025: Joseph Aoun Elected President

In January 2025, Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army commander, was elected as Lebanon's 14th president after a two-year vacancy.

February 2025: New Government Formed

In February 2025, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam formed a new government of 24 ministers after a two-year caretaker cabinet, and on 26 February 2025, his government won a confidence vote in parliament.

May 2025: UAE to Lift Travel Ban

On 4 May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it would lift its travel ban on Lebanon, effective 7 May 2025.

2025: Storm Adam

In 2025 Storm Adam, a severe polar weather system affected Lebanon with low temperatures and snow expected to fall at elevations as low as 300 meters above sea level.

2025: Lebanon's Global Innovation Index Ranking

Lebanon was ranked 90th in the Global Innovation Index in 2025.

March 2026: Intensified Israeli Attacks and Buffer Zone Plans

Since 2 March 2026, intensified Israeli attacks across Lebanon have resulted in over 1,000 deaths and displaced nearly 1 million people. On 24 March, plans were announced to establish a "defensive buffer zone" by occupying southern Lebanon, expanded on 31 March to include demolishing residential structures to prevent the return of displaced residents.