Despite the return of a large number of Syrian refugees to their homeland following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, Lebanon continues to rank first in the world in terms of refugees relative to its population and land area—not in absolute refugee numbers.
This indicator is measured by the number of refugees per 1,000 residents, placing Lebanon at the top of the global ranking, according to data from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In 2024, Lebanon hosted approximately 137 refugees for every 1,000 residents—equivalent to 13.7% of its population—well ahead of countries such as Chad, Jordan, and Germany.
Today, the Lebanese government estimates that between 1.3 and 1.5 million Syrian refugees remain in the country, including more than 716,000 registered with the UNHCR, in addition to refugees of other nationalities. Although the overall number has declined compared with the previous year, the United Nations says that the continued presence of such a large refugee population places significant pressure on Lebanon’s infrastructure, public services, and economy.
