Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.6 years less

In Israel, the average life expectancy is 83 years (81 years for men, 85 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 22.6% more likely to be obese

In Israel, 26.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

pay a 60.0% lower top tax rate

Israel has a top tax rate of 50.0% as of 2016. In Lebanon, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

make 74.5% less money

Israel has a GDP per capita of $48,300 as of 2023, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Israel, 3.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

be 24.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Israel, 22.0% live below the poverty line as of 2014. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

be 7.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Israel, approximately 3.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lebanon, 21.0 women do as of 2020.

be 97.8% more likely to die during infancy

In Israel, approximately 3.6 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 34.0% fewer children

In Israel, there are approximately 19.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 76.1% less on education

Israel spends 7.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 17.6% less coastline

Israel has a total of 273 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Ministry of Finance, Lebanon, The World Factbook, Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority.

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

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