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Status
| Independent republic, but under great control and partial occupation of Syria. Lebanon is divided into 6 governorates (muhafaza(t)).
Day of independence: November 22, 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration).
| Government
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Head of state: President Michel Sleiman.
Prime minister: Fouad Saniora. There are 37 ministeries.
Speaker of parliament: Nabih Berri.
The president of Lebanon must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of parliament a Shi'i Muslim.
National Assembly: 128 members.
| Geography
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Inhabitants: 4.0 million (2009 estimate).
Population growth rate: 1.4%
Total area: 10,452 kmē
Density: 359 per kmē
Water: 170 km²
Border: 454 km (Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km).
Coastline: 225 km.
Highest point: Qurnat as-Sawda 3,088 m
Arable land: 17.6%
Capital: Beirut
| Human Development Index
| World rank (of 177): 78
Index (1.0 max): 0.774
Explanation
| Demography
| Ethnic groups: Arabs (Phoenicians), Armenians and others.
Languages: Arabic (official), Armenian, English.
Religions: Christianity, Sunni Islam, Shi'i Islam, Druze, Isma'ili Islam, Alawites.
| Economy
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Currency: Pounds (LBD)
1,000 Pounds=US$0.67. US$1=1,502 Pounds (Sep. 2008)
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