Population in largest city in Lebanon
Lebanon: Population in largest city was 2.38 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2.38 million
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
77th
of 153 countries
All-time high
2.43 million
in 2021
All-time low
560,908
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Lebanon, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Lebanon recorded 2.38 million for population in largest city in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Lebanon peaked at 2.43 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 560,908, in 1960.
That places Lebanon 77th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in largest city in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 560,908 | — |
| 1961 | 592,802 | +5.7% |
| 1962 | 626,558 | +5.7% |
| 1963 | 662,237 | +5.7% |
| 1964 | 700,000 | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 732,959 | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 767,520 | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 803,709 | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 841,659 | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 881,288 | +4.7% |
| 1970 | 922,842 | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 1.00 million | +8.4% |
| 1972 | 1.11 million | +10.7% |
| 1973 | 1.22 million | +10.6% |
| 1974 | 1.36 million | +10.7% |
| 1975 | 1.50 million | +10.7% |
| 1976 | 1.52 million | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 1.55 million | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 1.57 million | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 1.60 million | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 1.62 million | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 1.65 million | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 1.68 million | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 1.64 million | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 1.61 million | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 1.59 million | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 1.56 million | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 1.53 million | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 1.50 million | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 1.39 million | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 1.29 million | -7.2% |
| 1991 | 1.20 million | -7.2% |
| 1992 | 1.22 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.23 million | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 1.25 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 1.27 million | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 1.29 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 1.30 million | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 1.49 million | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 1.55 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 1.68 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 1.71 million | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 1.74 million | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 1.78 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 1.82 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 1.86 million | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 1.90 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.95 million | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 1.99 million | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 2.04 million | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 2.08 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 2.13 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 2.18 million | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 2.23 million | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 2.28 million | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 2.33 million | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 2.39 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.41 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 2.42 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 2.43 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.43 million | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 2.42 million | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 2.40 million | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 2.38 million | -1.0% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 2.38 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 91% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 2.38 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.05 million, 78% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 716,964 | 560,908 | 881,288 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.34 million | 922,842 | 1.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.58 million | 1.39 million | 1.68 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.28 million | 1.20 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.75 million | 1.49 million | 1.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.20 million | 1.99 million | 2.41 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.42 million | 2.38 million | 2.43 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More urban development data for Lebanon
- Population in the largest city 44.7% (2025)
- Population density 564.37 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 26.69 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.4068 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 2.38 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual -0.9636 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 236.69 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.15 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 23.95 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Lebanon?
- Population in largest city in Lebanon was 2.38 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 2.43 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 560,908 in 1960.
- How does Lebanon rank for population in largest city?
- Lebanon ranks 77th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lebanon data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.