Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lebanon instead of Iran, you would:

Health

live 3.5 years longer

In Iran, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 24.0% more likely to be obese

In Iran, 25.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 24.1% less money

Iran has a GDP per capita of $16,200 as of 2023, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 27.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Iran, 9.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

be 46.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Iran, 18.7% live below the poverty line as of 2007. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

be 52.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Iran, approximately 14.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Lebanon, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2022.

have 11.9% fewer children

In Iran, there are approximately 14.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 10.1% more likely to have internet access

In Iran, approximately 79.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Lebanon, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 52.8% less on education

Iran spends 3.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 50.9% more on healthcare

Iran spends 5.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lebanon, that number is 8.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 90.8% less coastline

Iran has a total of 2,440 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
Read more

How big is Lebanon compared to Iran? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Lebanon.or Iran It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.