Beirut, Lebanon Population 2024

Beirut's 2024 population is now estimated at 2,402,480In 1950, the population of Beirut was 322,360Beirut experienced a decrease of -18,870 residents over the past year, marking an annual decline of -0.78%.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Beirut, which typically includes Beirut's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

The city of Beirut is located in Lebanon. It serves as the capital city. Not only is it the capital, but it also the largest by population, despite not having a recent census. Estimates put the population at around 361,000, with the broader metro area being home to over 2.2 million residents.

Beirut Demographics

One of the most interesting things about Beirut is that a formal census or population count has not been taken since the 1930s. Because of that, the population numbers are estimated and vary depending upon the source. The most recent estimates of the city put it at 361,000. The population of the metro area have been estimated from just under 1 million to over 2 million.

Another standout feature about the population of Beirut is that it is one of the most religiously diverse cities in the Middle East. There is a total of 18 recognized religions within the area, include four Muslim sects, twelve Christian sects, and a Jewish sect. The city was relatively well blended until the civil war when segregation occurred. The eastern side of the city is mainly Christian, while the western side has a Sunni Muslim majority. However, in recent years, religious groups are becoming more integrated.

Beirut History

Beirut was settled over 5,000 years ago and has a very long history. Throughout its earliest history, the city was taken over multiple times. It was also destroyed and rebuilt. It was during the 1500s that the city came under the rule of the Ottomans. It was fortified in the 17th century before the Ottomans retook rule in 1763.

During the 19th century, the city was strengthening its ties among European powers. Beirut was carving out a name for itself as a major port and a hub for commercial activity.

During the 1860s, the Lebanon conflict occurred as the result of religious disputes and changes in the political system. Because many Christians fled the area, the ethnic composition changed, and this sowed the seeds for future conflict.

In the late 1800s, the city was more cosmopolitan and had ties to Europe and the United States. At the end of World War I, the city went under the French Mandate. However, Lebanon – and with it, Beirut – gained its independence in 1943. The city soon became prosperous as a tourist destination and a center for financial and banking activity, but this came to an end during the 1970s. At that time, the Lebanese Civil War occurred, divided the Muslims and Christians of the city. Tens of thousands of people died because of the war, and many others left to reside in other countries.

Another war occurred in 1982, which finally came to an end in 1990. The people began to rebuild the city and had made progress toward becoming the prosperous and cultural city of yesteryear. However, the city has continued to see its share of dark times, including the 2006 Lebanon War, the assassination of Rafic Hariri and the subsequent Cedar Revolution, and bombings.

Population Growth

The future growth of Beirut’s population is difficult to predict. While the city has made attempts to rebuild and to bring together its divided population, continuous wars and bombings have become a threat to this city. Add in the fact that a formal census does not exist, and current numbers are unknown and difficult to track, and it’s easy to see why predicting population growth is more difficult for this city. In recent years, Christian residents have been fleeing the city to live elsewhere, a trend that is expected to continue through the 2020s and beyond. Because the country is war-torn and there is still much work to be done to bring its people together, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a declining population in the meantime.

Country
Lebanon
Growth Rate
-0.78%

86 Rows

Year
Population
20352,303,800
20342,299,160
20332,297,020
20322,298,350
20312,304,250
20302,311,060
20292,319,530
20282,329,630
20272,342,520
20262,359,130
20252,379,330
20242,402,480
20232,421,350
20222,433,160
20212,434,610
20202,424,420
20192,406,880
20182,385,270
20172,331,900
20162,279,720
20152,228,700
20142,178,830
20132,130,080
20122,082,420
20112,035,820
20101,990,260
20091,945,730
20081,902,190
20071,859,620
20061,818,010
20051,777,350
20041,743,570
20031,710,340
20021,677,790
20011,554,240
20001,486,690
19991,421,890
19981,360,000
19971,303,080
19961,285,340
19951,267,790
19941,250,500
19931,233,450
19921,216,660
19911,200,040
19901,292,530
19891,392,480
19881,500,000
19871,527,880
19861,556,230
19851,585,110
19841,614,480
19831,644,480
19821,675,000
19811,648,800
19801,623,050
19791,597,630
19781,572,640
19771,548,040
19761,523,870
19751,500,000
19741,355,500
19731,224,910
19721,107,060
19711,000,270
1970922,842
1969881,288
1968841,659
1967803,709
1966767,520
1965732,959
1964700,000
1963662,237
1962626,558
1961592,802
1960560,908
1959530,648
1958502,059
1957475,010
1956449,453
1955425,206
1954402,298
1953380,624
1952360,145
1951340,716
1950322,360

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
1950322,3600%0
1951340,7165.69%18,356
1952360,1455.7%19,429
1953380,6245.69%20,479
1954402,2985.69%21,674
1955425,2065.69%22,908
1956449,4535.7%24,247
1957475,0105.69%25,557
1958502,0595.69%27,049
1959530,6485.69%28,589
1960560,9085.7%30,260
1961592,8025.69%31,894
1962626,5585.69%33,756
1963662,2375.69%35,679
1964700,0005.7%37,763
1965732,9594.71%32,959
1966767,5204.72%34,561
1967803,7094.72%36,189
1968841,6594.72%37,950
1969881,2884.71%39,629
1970922,8424.72%41,554
19711,000,2708.39%77,428
19721,107,06010.68%106,790
19731,224,91010.65%117,850
19741,355,50010.66%130,590
19751,500,00010.66%144,500
19761,523,8701.59%23,870
19771,548,0401.59%24,170
19781,572,6401.59%24,600
19791,597,6301.59%24,990
19801,623,0501.59%25,420
19811,648,8001.59%25,750
19821,675,0001.59%26,200
19831,644,480-1.82%-30,520
19841,614,480-1.82%-30,000
19851,585,110-1.82%-29,370
19861,556,230-1.82%-28,880
19871,527,880-1.82%-28,350
19881,500,000-1.82%-27,880
19891,392,480-7.17%-107,520
19901,292,530-7.18%-99,950
19911,200,040-7.16%-92,490
19921,216,6601.38%16,620
19931,233,4501.38%16,790
19941,250,5001.38%17,050
19951,267,7901.38%17,290
19961,285,3401.38%17,550
19971,303,0801.38%17,740
19981,360,0004.37%56,920
19991,421,8904.55%61,890
20001,486,6904.56%64,800
20011,554,2404.54%67,550
20021,677,7907.95%123,550
20031,710,3401.94%32,550
20041,743,5701.94%33,230
20051,777,3501.94%33,780
20061,818,0102.29%40,660
20071,859,6202.29%41,610
20081,902,1902.29%42,570
20091,945,7302.29%43,540
20101,990,2602.29%44,530
20112,035,8202.29%45,560
20122,082,4202.29%46,600
20132,130,0802.29%47,660
20142,178,8302.29%48,750
20152,228,7002.29%49,870
20162,279,7202.29%51,020
20172,331,9002.29%52,180
20182,385,2702.29%53,370
20192,406,8800.91%21,610
20202,424,4200.73%17,540
20212,434,6100.42%10,190
20222,433,160-0.06%-1,450
20232,421,350-0.49%-11,810
20242,402,480-0.78%-18,870
20252,379,330-0.96%-23,150
20262,359,130-0.85%-20,200
20272,342,520-0.7%-16,610
20282,329,630-0.55%-12,890
20292,319,530-0.43%-10,100
20302,311,060-0.37%-8,470
20312,304,250-0.29%-6,810
20322,298,350-0.26%-5,900
20332,297,020-0.06%-1,330
20342,299,1600.09%2,140
20352,303,8000.2%4,640

Beirut Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Beirut2,402,480-0.78%

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