Lebanon’s factory output and business financing are being squeezed while major social and economic pressures keep stacking up. Debt stress has pushed the debt to GDP ratio above 140% in 2020, and by 2021 real GDP contracted 6.3%, setting the stage for how industry weathered the downturn. At the same time, the country hosted 3,536,000 refugees in 2023 and ran electricity and logistics chokepoints, making Lebanon Industry statistics a window into both human impact and industrial constraints.
Key Takeaways
- 4.7 million people in Lebanon were living in poverty in 2020 (about 52% of the population)—one of the highest poverty levels recorded in decades
- 3,536,000 refugees were hosted in Lebanon in 2023 (primarily Syrian)—making Lebanon one of the largest per-capita refugee host countries globally
- 0.2% of Lebanon’s births were registered via Civil Status in 1960 compared with near-universal levels today—illustrating expansion of vital registration capacity over time
- 6.3% contraction in real GDP was recorded for Lebanon in 2021—continuing the multi-year downturn
- Lebanon’s gross domestic product per capita was $3,417 in 2022 (current US$)—a measure of national income available for industrial investment and consumption
- Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 140% in 2020—indicating fiscal stress and constraints on public industrial support
- Lebanon’s inflation rate averaged 154.2% in 2022 (World Bank CPI)—eroding real revenues and worsening working capital needs for firms
- Lebanon’s Doing Business (legacy) distance-to-frontier score was below 50 prior to suspension—indicating weaker ease-of-doing-business relative to peers and impacts on industrial operations
- In 2021, Lebanon’s business environment indicators showed significant tax/payment compliance burden for firms (World Bank Enterprise Surveys context)—increasing operating costs
- Lebanon’s manufacturing exports share remained below 20% of total exports in the early crisis period (UN Comtrade by SITC/HS group analysis)—pointing to diversification challenges
- Lebanon exported about $1.8 billion of goods in 2023—measuring total outward shipments across industrial and agricultural categories
- Lebanon imported about $15.4 billion of goods in 2023—indicating large import demand for industrial inputs and consumer goods
- US$12.2 billion of industrial and commercial energy-related arrears were described in Lebanon’s electricity sector assessments—indicating large payment bottlenecks affecting industrial operations
- In 2022, Lebanon’s electricity generation from renewables was below 1% of total—highlighting a limited renewable share compared with regional peers
- Water supply and sanitation coverage gaps remain significant: about 60% of the population had access to improved sanitation systems as of 2022 (World Bank/WHO compiled indicator)—affecting industrial wastewater and municipal systems
Lebanon’s industrial outlook is strained by deep poverty, high inflation, fiscal stress, and energy bottlenecks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics4 stats
01
4.7 million people in Lebanon were living in poverty in 2020 (about 52% of the population)—one of the highest poverty levels recorded in decades
02
3,536,000 refugees were hosted in Lebanon in 2023 (primarily Syrian)—making Lebanon one of the largest per-capita refugee host countries globally
03
0.2% of Lebanon’s births were registered via Civil Status in 1960 compared with near-universal levels today—illustrating expansion of vital registration capacity over time
04
1.4 million Syrians and other non-Lebanese nationals were reported in Lebanon as “registered refugees” by UNHCR in 2023—showing the continuing burden on services and jobs
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographics perspective, Lebanon has faced mounting pressure as poverty covered about 52 percent of the population in 2020 with roughly 3.536 million refugees hosted in 2023, alongside 1.4 million registered refugees, reshaping both labor and service needs over time.
02 · Category
Macroeconomic3 stats
01
6.3% contraction in real GDP was recorded for Lebanon in 2021—continuing the multi-year downturn
02
Lebanon’s gross domestic product per capita was $3,417in 2022 (current US$)—a measure of national income available for industrial investment and consumption
03
Lebanon’s debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 140% in 2020—indicating fiscal stress and constraints on public industrial support
Interpretation
Macroeconomic Interpretation
From a macroeconomic perspective, Lebanon’s 6.3% real GDP contraction in 2021 and a debt-to-GDP ratio above 140% in 2020 point to continuing fiscal and growth strain, even as GDP per capita reached $3,417 in 2022 which may still limit industrial investment and consumption.
03 · Category
Finance And Business Environment10 stats
01
Lebanon’s inflation rate averaged 154.2% in 2022 (World Bank CPI)—eroding real revenues and worsening working capital needs for firms
02
Lebanon’s Doing Business (legacy) distance-to-frontier score was below 50 prior to suspension—indicating weaker ease-of-doing-business relative to peers and impacts on industrial operations
03
In 2021, Lebanon’s business environment indicators showed significant tax/payment compliance burden for firms (World Bank Enterprise Surveys context)—increasing operating costs
04
Lebanon’s bank credit to the private sector decreased markedly from pre-crisis levels by 2021–2022—reducing financing for industry (World Bank/IMF credit monitoring)
05
Lebanon’s lending rates and risk premia increased during 2020–2022, raising borrowing costs for firms (IMF Financial Sector Assessment Programs summaries)—affecting investment
06
Lebanon’s overdue loans (non-performing or problem loans) increased during 2021–2023 in IMF banking sector analyses—tightening credit availability to industry
07
Lebanon’s exchange rate volatility peaked in 2020–2021, with the unofficial market rate far exceeding official rates (IMF exchange rate assessments)—increasing import and cost risks for industry
08
Lebanon’s corporate tax rate is 17% for most companies (Lebanon tax regulation summaries)—affecting effective after-tax returns in industry
09
Lebanon’s VAT standard rate is 11% (tax regulation summaries)—affecting pricing and demand in industrial sectors
10
Lebanon’s statutory minimum wage is set in Lebanese pounds and adjusted periodically; the 2023 minimum wage was reported at 675,000 LBP per month—impacting labor cost structures
Interpretation
Finance And Business Environment Interpretation
With inflation averaging 154.2% in 2022 and private sector bank credit falling sharply by 2021 to 2022, Lebanon’s finance and business environment has tightened dramatically, driving up borrowing costs, worsening working capital, and making it harder for industry to invest.
04 · Category
Trade And Investment7 stats
01
Lebanon’s manufacturing exports share remained below 20% of total exports in the early crisis period (UN Comtrade by SITC/HS group analysis)—pointing to diversification challenges
02
Lebanon exported about $1.8 billion of goods in 2023—measuring total outward shipments across industrial and agricultural categories
03
Lebanon imported about $15.4 billion of goods in 2023—indicating large import demand for industrial inputs and consumer goods
04
Lebanon had $0.3 billion of net FDI inflows in 2021—lower than pre-crisis levels and affecting industrial capacity expansion
05
Lebanon imported fuel and lubricants representing a large share of total imports in 2022 in UN Comtrade data by HS section—illustrating the input intensity of industrial activity
06
$1.2 billion in merchandise exports were recorded in 2020—reflecting the demand shock from the crisis and disruptions
07
Lebanon’s container traffic fell to about 600,000 TEU in 2022 in port statistics published for the region—showing weakened industrial logistics throughput
Interpretation
Trade And Investment Interpretation
With merchandise exports dropping to $1.2 billion in 2020 and climbing to about $1.8 billion in 2023 while net FDI inflows were just $0.3 billion in 2021 and container traffic fell to roughly 600,000 TEU in 2022, Lebanon’s Trade and Investment outlook reflects trade contraction, fragile industrial diversification, and weaker logistics for scaling up capacity.
05 · Category
Energy And Utilities5 stats
01
US$12.2 billion of industrial and commercial energy-related arrears were described in Lebanon’s electricity sector assessments—indicating large payment bottlenecks affecting industrial operations
02
In 2022, Lebanon’s electricity generation from renewables was below 1% of total—highlighting a limited renewable share compared with regional peers
03
Water supply and sanitation coverage gaps remain significant: about 60% of the population had access to improved sanitation systems as of 2022 (World Bank/WHO compiled indicator)—affecting industrial wastewater and municipal systems
04
Lebanon’s fixed-broadband subscriptions were about 16.8 per 100 inhabitants in 2023—indicating the scale of fixed connectivity for industrial networks and services
05
Lebanon’s electricity transmission and distribution losses were reported around 12–15% in utility performance data published in sector assessments—impacting industrial energy costs
Interpretation
Energy And Utilities Interpretation
For Lebanon’s Energy and Utilities sector, major payment bottlenecks tied to US$12.2 billion in electricity arrears and high grid losses of about 12 to 15 percent are compounded by very low renewable electricity generation below 1 percent, leaving industry with higher costs and less reliable, cleaner power.
06 · Category
Industry Performance4 stats
01
In 2022, food and beverage manufacturing accounted for a large portion of Lebanon’s industrial activity measured by enterprise surveys—highlighting resilience relative to other sectors
02
Lebanon’s textile and apparel production faced output reductions in 2020–2021 due to currency collapse and import disruptions (trade press and industry notes)—measurable via export drops
03
Lebanon’s insolvency and business closure pressures increased in 2021–2022 according to local registries and legal reports summarized in reputable assessments—showing a higher churn rate
04
In 2023, Lebanon ranked among the lowest for manufacturing competitiveness in global assessments of industry structure (UNIDO competitive industrial performance tracking)—reflecting weaker industrial capability
Interpretation
Industry Performance Interpretation
In the Industry Performance category, Lebanon’s manufacturing showed resilience in 2022 with food and beverage leading enterprise activity, but the output slump in textiles and apparel during 2020 to 2021 and the rise in insolvencies and closures in 2021 to 2022, followed by Lebanon ranking among the lowest for manufacturing competitiveness in 2023, point to a sector that is struggling to sustain stable industrial capability.
More related reading
07 · Category
Business Environment2 stats
01
24.3% of Lebanon’s firms reported access to finance as a major constraint (World Bank Enterprise Surveys - Lebanon), limiting industrial investment and working capital
02
Lebanon’s corporate income tax rate is 17% (OECD Tax Database), influencing after-tax returns for industrial investors
Interpretation
Business Environment Interpretation
With 24.3% of Lebanon’s firms citing access to finance as a major constraint and a 17% corporate income tax shaping after-tax returns, the business environment is clearly tilting toward weaker industrial investment and tighter working-capital conditions.
08 · Category
Supply Chains2 stats
01
Lebanon imported 0.9 million tons of crude oil (HS 2709) in 2022 (ITC Trade Map), showing reliance on imported petroleum inputs affecting refining/blending and industrial fuels
02
Lebanon’s merchandise trade balance was about -US$20.5 billion in 2022 (WTO/World Trade Statistical Review country data), indicating structural import dependence for industrial inputs
Interpretation
Supply Chains Interpretation
In 2022 Lebanon imported 0.9 million tons of crude oil and ran a -US$20.5 billion merchandise trade balance, underscoring how strongly its supply chains depend on imported energy and industrial inputs.
09 · Category
Energy & Utilities1 stats
01
Lebanon’s electricity final consumption was 6.0 TWh in 2022 (International Energy Agency data product), reflecting overall consumption available to industrial users
Interpretation
Energy & Utilities Interpretation
In Energy and Utilities, Lebanon’s electricity final consumption reached 6.0 TWh in 2022, indicating the scale of power available to industrial users and underscoring the central role of electricity demand in the sector.
10 · Category
Finance & Credit1 stats
01
Lebanon’s central government revenue was 15.7% of GDP in 2023 (IMF WEO dataset), limiting fiscal capacity for industrial subsidies and utility support
Interpretation
Finance & Credit Interpretation
With Lebanon’s central government revenue at just 15.7% of GDP in 2023, financing for industrial subsidies and utility support is likely constrained, underscoring how limited public credit capacity affects the Finance & Credit backdrop for industry.
11 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
Lebanon’s manufacturing value-added growth was -9.8% in 2020 (UNIDO data as shown in UNIDO Statistics), quantifying industrial contraction during the early crisis shock
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the Industry Trends category, Lebanon’s manufacturing value-added dropped by 9.8% in 2020, signaling a clear contraction in the industrial sector during the early crisis shock.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Lebanon Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lebanon-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Lebanon Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/lebanon-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Lebanon Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lebanon-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+19 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)