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Lebanon vs Palestine
Side-by-side comparison of Lebanon and Palestine from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Lebanon
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 83 years
Palestine
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 38 years
In short
Palestine scores 32.5 in the NationsTree Index (156th in the world) and Lebanon scores 31.9 (157th), a gap of 0.6 points. Their trees are 4.5 m and 2.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Lebanon and Palestine have a similar population. Lebanon has 73% more land area than Palestine. Lebanon has an economy 2.6 times the size of Palestine (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Lebanon 5.8 million and Palestine 5.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $11,917 in Lebanon and $5,000 in Palestine (2025, international dollars). People in Lebanon live on average 8.7 years longer (77.9 vs 69.2 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Lebanon ranks higher in the world on 15 and Palestine on 15. Lebanon is clearly stronger in military, tourism and science & innovation. Palestine is clearly stronger in main industries and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, Lebanon is the older of the two (statehood since 1943, 83 years), compared with Palestine (since 1988). Over the last five years Lebanon improved faster (direction score 3 vs 1 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Lebanon and Palestine.
Lebanon
-7.1%
209th of 210
Palestinebetter
4.3%
71st of 210
Life expectancySociety & health
Lebanonbetter
77.9
72nd of 217
Palestine
69.2
160th of 217
Safely managed sanitationInfrastructure & digital
Lebanon
25.7%
117th of 144
Palestinebetter
73.5%
62nd of 144
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Lebanon
2.2
73rd of 145
Palestinebetter
0.6
18th of 145
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Lebanon
49%
189th of 193
Palestinebetter
88%
117th of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Lebanon overtook Palestine in life expectancy in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Palestine overtook Lebanon in the NationsTree Index in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Lebanon has been ahead of Palestine in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1994.
Lebanon has been ahead of Palestine in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
LebanonPalestine All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Lebanon | Palestine |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 10,452164th/216 · 2024 | 6,025167th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 10,230161st/216 · 2024 | 6,025166th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.8 m115th/217 · 2025 | 5.4 m123rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.75%117th/217 · 2025 | 2.33%33rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 567.519th/216 · 2024 | 877.912th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 91.0%31st/217 · 2025 | 87.4%43rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 25.6%92nd/217 · 2025 | 37.6%37th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 10.4%96th/217 · 2025 | 3.9%170th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $25.97 bn121st/210 · 2024 | $17.17 bn140th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $69.19 bn119th/199 · 2024 | $27.07 bn151st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $60.78 bn118th/199 · 2024 | $23.13 bn151st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,473145th/210 · 2024 | $3,171158th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,917135th/199 · 2024 | $5,000165th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $3,560146th/201 · 2024 | $3,250149th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -7.1%209th/210 · 2024 | 4.3%71st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 14.6%168th/180 · 2025 | 9.8%159th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.0%154th/187 · 2023 | 24.4%183rd/187 · 2022 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 128.6%1999 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 139.4%183rd/189 · 2025 | — |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 3.3%16th/192 · 2025 | — |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.0%170th/197 · 2024 | 5.5%104th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 2.6%199th/200 · 2024 | 16.3%156th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.4%181st/192 · 2021 | 11.3%83rd/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 35.7%193rd/200 · 2024 | 60.2%81st/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.06 bn126th/182 · 2024 | $3.64 bn141st/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $15.30 bn104th/182 · 2024 | $9.19 bn122nd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 23.3%129th/183 · 2024 | 21.2%143rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 58.9%57th/183 · 2024 | 53.5%70th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 82.2%92nd/183 · 2024 | 74.8%107th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 7.7%60th/170 · 2024 | 0.1%135th/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 55.6%61st/171 · 2024 | 63.3%52nd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 19.1%78th/171 · 2024 | 21.4%71st/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 9.3%40th/171 · 2024 | 14.4%34th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.9%121st/168 · 2024 | 1.8%133rd/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -22.5%184th/191 · 2025 | — |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 6.8%30th/196 · 2024 | 1.9%104th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%179th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | — |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%165th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 10.8%98th/206 · 2024 | 7.0%121st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 836134th/183 · 2022 | 165167th/183 · 2021 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.9 m70th/194 · 2019 | 93,000165th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.37 bn47th/175 · 2020 | $245.0 m113th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 27.0%28th/168 · 2020 | 9.4%59th/168 · 2018 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.972nd/217 · 2024 | 69.2160th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.6114th/196 · 2024 | 37.9152nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6868th/174 · 2020 | 2.172018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.766th/145 · 2021 | 1.3107th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 49%189th/193 · 2024 | 88%117th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.0%2019 | 69.5%83rd/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 63.8%143rd/173 · 2024 | 89.1%108th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 54.6%2004 | 24.4%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 16.3%92nd/217 · 2025 | 6.6%166th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.6%115th/193 · 2023 | 10.7%21st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 92.0%2019 | 97.9%20th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 54.4%72nd/150 · 2023 | 44.5%88th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.752102nd/193 · 2023 | 0.674133rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.562nd/108 · 2022 | 36.470th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 5.8%78th/108 · 2022 | 2.1%59th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 47.7%111th/150 · 2024 | 80.6%75th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 25.7%117th/144 · 2024 | 73.5%62nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 80.6%101st/186 · 2024 | 86.6%76th/186 · 2023 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 74172nd/210 · 2022 | 77169th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.3131st/208 · 2022 | 8.2125th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.6479th/164 · 2018 | — |
| Rail lines route-km | 4012002 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 2.7 m73rd/161 · 2023 | — |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.9087th/203 · 2024 | — |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 6.8%161st/212 · 2021 | 15.4%120th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 26.7144th/200 · 2023 | 22.4131st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 13.8%148th/214 · 2024 | 1.8%190th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 733108th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 29.9182nd/205 · 2025 | 25.4189th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 23.3181st/207 · 2025 | 36.3141st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.2169th/207 · 2025 | 42.8163rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 43.4183rd/207 · 2025 | 32.1198th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 40.8168th/205 · 2025 | 48.5127th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 46.8132nd/205 · 2025 | 35.9163rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.273rd/145 · 2020 | 0.618th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $828.3 m87th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.5%40th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 16.6%14th/154 · 2025 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 80,00056th/170 · 2020 | 0166th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 4.10%8th/168 · 2020 | 0.00%166th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 9.0 m111th/163 · 2024 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 48.0 m2002 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.45%2013 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1102015 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 2,07971st/197 · 2023 | 86288th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Lebanon or Palestine?
Lebanon has the larger population: 5.8 m (2025) compared with 5.4 m for Palestine (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Lebanon or Palestine?
Lebanon is larger: 10,452 km² (2024) compared with 6,025 km² for Palestine (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Lebanon or Palestine?
Lebanon has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $69.19 bn intl. (2024) compared with $27.07 bn intl. for Palestine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Lebanon or Palestine?
Lebanon has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $11,917 intl. (2024) compared with $5,000 intl. for Palestine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Lebanon or Palestine?
Lebanon has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024) compared with 69.2 years for Palestine (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Lebanon or Palestine?
Palestine: 32.5 points (156th in the world); Lebanon: 31.9 points (157th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Djibouti
Malta
SyriaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Lebanon vs Palestine — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/lebanon-vs-palestine. Data as of 26 October 2026.