Editing Demographics of Lebanon (section)

===The sectarian system===
{{Unreferenced section |date=June 2024}}
Lebanon's [[religion|religious]] divisions are extremely complicated, and the country is made up by a multitude of religious groupings. The ecclesiastical and demographic patterns of the sects and denominations are complex. Divisions and rivalries between groups date back as far as 15 centuries, and still are a factor today. The pattern of settlement has changed little since the 7th century, but instances of civil strife and [[ethnic cleansing]], most recently during the [[Lebanese Civil War]], has brought some important changes to the religious map of the country. (See also [[History of Lebanon]].)

Lebanon has by far the largest proportion of [[Christianity in Lebanon|Christians]] of any [[Arab world|Middle Eastern country]], but both Christians and [[Islam in Lebanon|Muslims]] are sub-divided into many splinter sects and denominations. Population statistics are highly controversial. The various denominations and sects each have vested interests in inflating their own numbers. [[Shia Islam in Lebanon|Shias]], [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Sunnis]], [[Maronite Christianity in Lebanon|Maronite]]s and [[Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Eastern Orthodox]] (the four largest denominations) all often claim that their particular religious affiliation holds a majority in the country, adding up to over 150% of the total population, even before counting the other denominations. One of the rare things that most Lebanese religious leaders will agree on is to avoid a new general [[census]], for fear that it could trigger a new round of denominational conflict.{{Citation needed |date=June 2024}} The last official census was performed in 1932.

Religion has traditionally been of overriding importance in defining the Lebanese population. Dividing state power between the religious denominations and sects, and granting religious authorities judicial power, dates back to [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] times (the [[millet (Ottoman Empire)|millet]] system). The practice was reinforced during [[France|French]] mandate, when Christian groups were granted privileges. This system of government, while partly intended as a compromise between sectarian demands, has caused tensions that still dominate Lebanese politics to this day.

The Christian population majority is believed to have ended in the early 1970s, but government leaders would agree to no change in the political power balance. This led to Muslim demands for increased representation, and the constant sectarian tension slid into violent conflict in 1958 (prompting [[Lebanon crisis of 1958|U.S. intervention]]) and again in the grueling [[Lebanese Civil War]], in 1975–90.
[[File:Natural Growth Rate in Lebanon throughout years.png|thumb|right|140px|Natural Growth Rate in Lebanon throughout years]]
The balance of power has been slightly adjusted in the 1943 [[National Pact]], an informal agreement struck at [[independence]], in which positions of power were divided according to the 1932 census. The [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Sunni]] elite was then accorded more power, but Maronites continued to dominate the system. The sectarian balance was again adjusted towards the Muslim side but simultaneously further reinforced and legitimized. Shia Muslims (by now the second largest sect) then gained additional representation in the state apparatus, and the obligatory Christian-Muslim representation in [[Lebanese Parliament|Parliament]] was downgraded from a 6:5 to a 1:1 ratio. Christians of various denominations were then generally thought to constitute about 40% of the population, although often Muslim leaders would cite lower numbers, and some Christians would claim that they still held a majority of the population.

====18 recognized religious groups====
[[File:Lebanon religious groups.jpg|thumb|140px|upright|An estimate of the area distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups]]
[[File:Lebanon religious groups distribution.jpg|thumb|140px|upright|Distribution of Lebanon's religious groups according to 2009 municipal election data]]
The present [[Constitution of Lebanon|Lebanese Constitution]] officially acknowledges 18 religious groups (see below). These have the right to handle [[family law]] according to their courts and traditions, and they are the basic players in Lebanon's complex sectarian politics.

* [[Alawites in Lebanon|Alawite]]
* [[Armenian Catholic]]
* [[Armenian Orthodox]]
* [[Assyrian Church of the East]]
* [[Chaldean Catholic Church|Chaldean Catholic]]
* [[Copt]]s
* [[Druze in Lebanon|Druze]]
* [[Greek Orthodox Christianity in Lebanon|Greek Orthodox]]
* [[Ismailis in Lebanon|Isma'ili]]
* [[Lebanese Jews|Jewish]]
* [[Roman Catholicism in Lebanon|Latin Catholic]]
* [[Maronite Christianity in Lebanon|Maronite Catholic]]
* [[Melkite Christianity in Lebanon|Melkite Greek Catholic]]
* [[Protestantism in Lebanon|Protestant]]
* [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Sunni]]
* [[Shia Islam in Lebanon|Shia]]
* [[Syriac Catholic Church]]
* [[Syriac Orthodox Church]]