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Religion
Main articles: Religion in Lebanon, Freedom of religion in Lebanon, and Secularism in Lebanon
Lebanon religions |
Religion | | | Percent | |
All Muslims |    | 54% |
AllChristians |    | 41% |
Other religions / Non-religion |    | 5% |

Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in the Middle East.[137]

Religions in Lebanon by sect (2010)[138]
Lebanon'spopulation is estimated to be 54% Muslim (27% Sunni; 27% Shia), 5% Druze, who do not consider themselves to be Muslims, 41% Christian (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, SyriacCatholic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), and 5% other.[5]
Over the past 60 years, there has been a steady decline in the ratio of Christiansto Muslims, due to higher emigration rates of Christians, and a higher birth rate in the Muslim population.[138] The most recent study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm,found that approximately 27% of the population was Sunni, 27% Shi'a, 21% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Druze, 5% Greek Catholic, and 7% other Christian sects such as Armenians who are 4% of thepopulation and Syrian Orthodox.[138] There are 18 state-recognized religious sects – 4 Muslim, 12 Christian, 1 Druze, and 1 Jewish.[138]
The Shi'a community is estimated to be 27%[138] of Lebanon's totalpopulation. Shi'a residents primarily live in South Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.[139]
The Sunni community is estimated to be 27% of Lebanon's total population.[138] Sunni residentsprimarily live in West Beirut, the southern coast of Lebanon, and northern Lebanon.[139] Kurds in Lebanon are Sunni Muslims.
The Maronite community is estimated to be approximately 21% of Lebanon'stotal population.[138] Maronite residents tend to live in East Beirut and the mountains of Lebanon.[139] They are the largest Christian community in Lebanon.[139]
The Greek Orthodox community is...