Lebanon: immigration

How many refugees are there in Lebanon?

Lebanon hosted 535,168 refugees at the end of 2025, down from 758,642 a year earlier, according to the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. There were also 7,617 asylum seekers.

UNHCR counts people under its mandate. Palestinian refugees are counted separately by UNRWA and are not included. UNHCR also lists 40,000 stateless people in Lebanon and 64,417 people displaced inside the country at the end of 2025, down from 123,774 at the end of 2024.

Official sources: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder

How many Lebanese are refugees abroad?

There were 9,568 refugees from Lebanon in other countries at the end of 2025, and 8,798 asylum seekers, according to the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder.

These figures count only people recognised as refugees or waiting for a decision on an asylum claim. They do not include the much larger number of Lebanese who have emigrated for work or study, for whom no official count was found on the sites of General Security and the Central Administration of Statistics, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder

What is the population of Lebanon?

Lebanon's population was 5,849,421 in 2025, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank figure is a modelled estimate built from UN population data. It counts everyone living in the country regardless of nationality, including refugees. Because it is modelled, it may differ from population figures in Lebanese household surveys, which cover only the people living in the households sampled.

Official sources: World Bank: population

What share of Lebanon's population are immigrants?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 24.5%. In 2015 the figure was 27.2%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 11.5%; Lebanon is 9th highest of 22. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 22nd highest.

Are more people leaving Lebanon than arriving?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -10,230. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 733,500; its low point was 2019, at -266,992. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: -376; Lebanon is 14th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 131st of 193.

How many refugees live in Lebanon?

535,168: that is the number of refugees in the country in Lebanon for 2025, according to UNHCR. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 1.15 million; its low point was 2005, at 1,078. It is 4th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 15,377. World rank, highest first: 16th of 169.

How many refugees have fled Lebanon?

In 2025, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Lebanon was 9,568, according to UNHCR. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3,809 (2013) to 18,325 (2005). Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 7,322; Lebanon is 10th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 62nd of 189.

How much are remittances to Lebanon?

In 2023, personal remittances received in Lebanon was 33.3% of GDP, according to the World Bank. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 1st highest of 15 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 0.8% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 3rd of 164.