Lebanon

The Lebanese Republic is located on the eastern Mediterranean coast, with a population of around 5.3 million. The country spans about two-thirds of the size of Schleswig-Holstein. Lebanon shares borders with Israel to the south and Syria to the north and east. The capital, Beirut, lies directly on the Mediterranean coast in the western part of the country and is home to the American University of Beirut (AUB), one of the world’s leading universities.

Lebanon operates under a market economy with strong international ties through its large Lebanese diaspora. Remittances from Lebanese abroad provide significant economic stability. The service sector dominates the economy, contributing about 83% of the total GDP, while the primary sector represents just 3.9%. The main industries include banking, tourism, real estate, and construction.

The country imports goods such as petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemical products, and motor vehicles. Germany is one of Lebanon’s largest trading partners, primarily exporting motor vehicles.

Lebanon’s recent history has been affected by the Syrian civil war. As of 2020, there were approximately 846,000 refugees from Syria residing in Lebanon, representing over 15% of the population. The country’s Beirut port has seen increased traffic due to shifts in maritime trade, with viable alternatives emerging after the civil conflict in Syria. However, on August 4, 2020, a massive explosion devastated the Beirut Port and parts of the city center. A German-led consortium, including Hamburg Port Consulting, Colliers International, the Fraunhofer Institute, and Roland Berger, presented the most promising bid to rebuild the port, with funding from the European Investment Bank.

Lebanon’s economic prosperity has historically been affected by a 15-year Civil War in the 1970s and 1980s, and the country continues to recover from that. Current challenges include the Beirut port explosion, a severe economic crisis, political instability, and tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.