Lebanon has a population of roughly 5.5 million, plus an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees and several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees who have lived in the country for generations. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the Middle East.
The Lebanese are ethnically Arab, with Armenian, Kurdish and other minorities. What makes Lebanon distinctive is its extraordinary religious diversity -- the country officially recognises 18 religious sects, including Maronite Christians, Sunni and Shia Muslims, Druze, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Armenian Orthodox and others. Political power is shared between these communities under a confessional system established in 1943, with the president always a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shia Muslim.
This diversity is visible everywhere. You will hear church bells and the call to prayer within minutes of each other. Villages in the mountains may be entirely Christian or Druze; the south is predominantly Shia; Tripoli and Sidon are mainly Sunni; Beirut is a mix of everything. The Lebanese are generally tolerant and cosmopolitan, but sectarian tensions have shaped the country's modern history, including the devastating civil war of 1975-1990.
Arabic is the official language, spoken in a Lebanese dialect that borrows heavily from French. French is widely spoken, especially among Christians and the older generation, and English is increasingly common among younger people. It is not unusual to hear all three languages in a single conversation. Many Lebanese are educated abroad and maintain strong connections to diaspora communities -- there are more Lebanese-descended people outside Lebanon than inside it.
The Lebanese are famously warm and generous hosts. Hospitality is a deeply held value, and visitors are often overwhelmed by the kindness they encounter. Don't be surprised if a casual conversation leads to an invitation to dinner.