Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Lebanon instead of United States, you would:

Health

be 11.6% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

live 1.8 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

pay a 49.5% lower top tax rate

United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. In Lebanon, the top tax rate is 20.0% as of 2016.

make 83.3% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $73,600 as of 2023, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 3.2 times more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

be 81.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

be 36.2% more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.2 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.

Expenditures

spend 72.1% less on education

United States spends 6.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 57.4% less on healthcare

United States spends 18.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lebanon, that number is 8.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 98.9% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Internal Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance, Lebanon.

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 United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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