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Lebanon vs Syria
Side-by-side comparison of Lebanon and Syria 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
Syria
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 106 years
In short
Lebanon scores 31.9 in the NationsTree Index (157th in the world) and Syria scores 24.9 (177th), a gap of 7.0 points. Their trees are 4.5 m and 5.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Syria has 4.4 times the population of Lebanon. Syria is 18 times larger than Lebanon by land area. The economy of Syria is 59% larger than that of Lebanon (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Lebanon 5.8 million and Syria 25.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $11,917 in Lebanon and $4,905 in Syria (2024, international dollars). People in Lebanon live on average 5.4 years longer (77.9 vs 72.6 years).
Of 27 indicators reported by both countries, Lebanon ranks higher in the world on 23 and Syria on 4. Lebanon is clearly stronger in trade, science & innovation and infrastructure & digital. Syria is clearly stronger in main industries, natural resources and land & people.
As a nation, Syria is the older of the two (statehood since 1920, 106 years), compared with Lebanon (since 1943). Over the last five years Syria improved faster (direction score 33 vs 3 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Lebanon and Syria.
Lebanonbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Syria
89.3%
162nd of 215
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Lebanon
35.5
62nd of 108
Syriabetter
26.4
7th of 108
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Lebanonbetter
2.64
79th of 164
Syria
2.20
131st of 164
Human Development IndexSociety & health
Lebanonbetter
0.752
102nd of 193
Syria
0.564
162nd of 193
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Lebanonbetter
46.8
132nd of 205
Syria
28.0
186th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Lebanon overtook Syria in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Lebanon overtook Syria in life expectancy in 1991 and has stayed ahead since.
Syria has been ahead of Lebanon 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
LebanonSyria 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 | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 10,452164th/216 · 2024 | 185,18088th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 10,230161st/216 · 2024 | 183,63088th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.8 m115th/217 · 2025 | 25.6 m57th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.75%117th/217 · 2025 | 3.77%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 567.519th/216 · 2024 | 134.484th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 91.0%31st/217 · 2025 | 72.1%81st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 25.6%92nd/217 · 2025 | 28.4%78th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 10.4%96th/217 · 2025 | 4.8%151st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $25.97 bn121st/210 · 2024 | $23.74 bn125th/210 · 2022 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $69.19 bn119th/199 · 2024 | $110.18 bn99th/199 · 2022 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $60.78 bn118th/199 · 2024 | $102.86 bn96th/199 · 2022 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,473145th/210 · 2024 | $1,057196th/210 · 2022 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,917135th/199 · 2024 | $4,905167th/199 · 2022 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $3,560146th/201 · 2024 | $720193rd/201 · 2022 |
| GDP growth % | -7.1%209th/210 · 2024 | -0.2%195th/210 · 2022 |
| Inflation % | 14.6%168th/180 · 2025 | 13.4%2019 |
| Unemployment % | 11.0%154th/187 · 2023 | 13.6%168th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 128.6%1999 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 139.4%183rd/189 · 2025 | 30.0%2010 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 3.3%16th/192 · 2025 | -7.8%2010 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.0%170th/197 · 2024 | 42.9%2nd/197 · 2022 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 2.6%199th/200 · 2024 | 11.9%175th/200 · 2022 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 1.4%181st/192 · 2021 | — |
| Services % of GDP | 35.7%193rd/200 · 2024 | 44.7%170th/200 · 2022 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.06 bn126th/182 · 2024 | $1.61 bn153rd/182 · 2022 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $15.30 bn104th/182 · 2024 | $6.80 bn131st/182 · 2022 |
| Exports % of GDP | 23.3%129th/183 · 2024 | 6.8%180th/183 · 2022 |
| Imports % of GDP | 58.9%57th/183 · 2024 | 28.7%139th/183 · 2022 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 82.2%92nd/183 · 2024 | 35.4%168th/183 · 2022 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 7.7%60th/170 · 2024 | 49.9%2010 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 55.6%61st/171 · 2024 | 24.7%2010 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 19.1%78th/171 · 2024 | 21.0%2010 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 9.3%40th/171 · 2024 | 2.7%2010 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.9%121st/168 · 2024 | 1.4%2010 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -22.5%184th/191 · 2025 | -2.8%2010 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 6.8%30th/196 · 2024 | 1.2%2011 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%179th/209 · 2021 | 6.4%65th/209 · 2020 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 4.02%29th/197 · 2020 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 2.33%20th/197 · 2020 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2020 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2020 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%165th/209 · 2021 | 0.03%137th/209 · 2020 |
| Arable land % of land area | 10.8%98th/206 · 2024 | 24.0%41st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 836134th/183 · 2022 | 318160th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.9 m70th/194 · 2019 | 2.4 m59th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.37 bn47th/175 · 2020 | $1.82 bn2011 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 27.0%28th/168 · 2020 | 32.2%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 6.3 m2010 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 77.972nd/217 · 2024 | 72.6130th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.6114th/196 · 2024 | 18.4119th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6868th/174 · 2020 | 1.5293rd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.766th/145 · 2021 | 1.4102nd/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 49%189th/193 · 2024 | 73%162nd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 65.0%2019 | 34.1%2009 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 63.8%143rd/173 · 2024 | 38.7%165th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 54.6%2004 | 8.2%2003 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 16.3%92nd/217 · 2025 | 7.3%158th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.6%115th/193 · 2023 | 2.7%184th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 92.0%2019 | 94.4%41st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 54.4%72nd/150 · 2023 | 43.8%2016 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.752102nd/193 · 2023 | 0.564162nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 35.562nd/108 · 2022 | 26.47th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 5.8%78th/108 · 2022 | 18.0%89th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 89.3%162nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 47.7%111th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 25.7%117th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 80.6%101st/186 · 2024 | 33.8%2018 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 74172nd/210 · 2022 | 71175th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.3131st/208 · 2022 | 6.9134th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.6479th/164 · 2018 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 4012002 | 2,1392010 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 2.7 m73rd/161 · 2023 | 610,745114th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.9087th/203 · 2024 | 1.2771st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 6.8%161st/212 · 2021 | 1.1%187th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 26.7144th/200 · 2023 | 32.1159th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 13.8%148th/214 · 2024 | 2.9%187th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 733108th/149 · 2024 | 333137th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 29.9182nd/205 · 2025 | 19.9196th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 23.3181st/207 · 2025 | 15.4204th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.2169th/207 · 2025 | 28.7201st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 43.4183rd/207 · 2025 | 25.0205th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 40.8168th/205 · 2025 | 24.3200th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 46.8132nd/205 · 2025 | 28.0186th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.273rd/145 · 2020 | 2.12010 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $828.3 m87th/156 · 2025 | $2.49 bn2011 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.5%40th/156 · 2025 | 4.1%2010 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 16.6%14th/154 · 2025 | 13.6%2010 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 80,00056th/170 · 2020 | 269,00026th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 4.10%8th/168 · 2020 | 5.44%3rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 9.0 m111th/163 · 2024 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 48.0 m2002 | 30.0 m2010 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.04%107th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1102015 | 10469th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 2,07971st/197 · 2023 | 64694th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Lebanon or Syria?
Syria has the larger population: 25.6 m (2025) compared with 5.8 m for Lebanon (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Lebanon or Syria?
Syria is larger: 185,180 km² (2024) compared with 10,452 km² for Lebanon (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Lebanon or Syria?
Syria has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $110.18 bn intl. (2022) compared with $69.19 bn intl. for Lebanon (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Lebanon or Syria?
Lebanon has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $11,917 intl. (2024) compared with $4,905 intl. for Syria (2022). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Lebanon or Syria?
Lebanon has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024) compared with 72.6 years for Syria (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Lebanon or Syria?
Syria spends more on the military: $2.49 bn (2011) compared with $828.3 m for Lebanon (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Lebanon or Syria?
Lebanon: 31.9 points (157th in the world); Syria: 24.9 points (177th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Djibouti
Malta
Palestine
Jordan
LibyaSources
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 Syria — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/lebanon-vs-syria. Data as of 26 October 2026.