Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon
Lebanon: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 30.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Lebanon recorded 30.6% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020.
The figure is down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon peaked at 67.5% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Lebanon 35th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 48.0% | — |
| 1970 | 53.0% | +10.6% |
| 1975 | 67.5% | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 62.9% | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 53.3% | -15.3% |
| 1990 | 38.1% | -28.4% |
| 1995 | 32.6% | -14.5% |
| 2000 | 33.3% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 34.4% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 33.6% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 28.5% | -15.2% |
| 2020 | 30.6% | +7.2% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 30.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 17.4%, 1.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 30.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.1%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.0% | 0.0% | 48.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 60.3% | 53.0% | 67.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 58.1% | 53.3% | 62.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 35.4% | 32.6% | 38.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.9% | 33.3% | 34.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 28.5% | 33.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.6% | 30.6% | 30.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More reference data data for Lebanon
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0413 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1892 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.3495 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0181 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.3495 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1386 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0543 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9479 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0986 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Lebanon was 30.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 67.5% in 1975.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Lebanon rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Lebanon ranks 35th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.