Lebanon

At a Glance

Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country of extraordinary cultural and geographic density, where the cedar forests and ski slopes of the mountains are less than an hour from ancient Phoenician ruins and the remarkable urban energy of Beirut. The culture is among the most sophisticated and outwardly expressive in the Arab world, with a tradition of food, art, literature, and nightlife that punches well above its size. Those who can navigate the complexities of the region will find it one of the most captivating places in the Middle East.

• More Lebanese diaspora live abroad than residents live in Lebanon.
• Once the banking and media capital of the Arab world — now in near-total economic collapse.
• Has the highest concentration of banks per capita outside Switzerland.