Lebanon

Summary

Official Name: Lebanese Republic
Population: 6,685,000
Principal Languages: French, North Levantine Spoken Arabic, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 95% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Fischer and Jastrow 1980, Fleisch 1974, Sebeok 1963
Deaf Population: 12,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Lebanon is 8. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 4 are institutional, 2 are developing, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 9 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 118,000 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 23,700 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Widespread. Users: 6,759,000 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 6,400,000 in Lebanon (2020). L2 users: 359,000 (2020). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Lebanese-Syrian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Syro-Lebanese Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 5,220,000 in Lebanon (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1943, Constitution, Article 11). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Beqaa province: Zahle district, Anjar town; Beyrouth province: Beirut suburbs Bourj Hammoud and Mezher; Mont-Liban province: El Metn district; other scattered communities; centuries-old established presence, Beirut and Tripoli cities. Users: 336,000 in Lebanon (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii: Beyrouth. Users: 2,330 in Lebanon (2020). Ethnic population: 40,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Chaldean Neo-Aramaic cld: Beyrouth. Users: 35,500 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Domari rmt: Beqaa valley. Users: A few scattered and isolated speaker populations (Herin 2016). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Dom, Qurbāti Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Dom
English eng: Scattered. Users: 2,740,100 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 10,100 in Lebanon (2020). L2 users: 2,730,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Scattered. Users: 2,541,100 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 31,100 in Lebanon (2022). L2 users: 2,510,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Greek ell: Users: 6,520 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Italian ita: Users: 6,520 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Beqaa province: Bekah Valley; Beyrouth, Liban-Nord (Tripoli), and Liban-Sud (Sidon) provinces: scattered urban areas. Users: 23,000 in Lebanon (2020). Ethnic population: 70,000 (2020 H. Salimi). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Portuguese por: Users: 2,960 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Spanish spa: Users: 22,300 in Lebanon (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Turkish tur: Baalbek-Hermel province: Baalbek district, Addus, Al Qaa, Duris, Hadidiye, Nananiye, and Sheymiye villages; Beirut; Liban-Nord province: Akkar district, Aydamun and Kavashra villages; Tripoli district, Tripoli city. Users: 188,900 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 38,900 in Lebanon (Orhan 2010). L2 users: 150,000 (2022 A. Dusséaux). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turoyo tru: Scattered. Users: 29,300 in Lebanon (2015). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1943, Constitution, Article 11). 5,220,000 in Lebanon (2015 SIL), all users.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 6,759,000 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 6,400,000 in Lebanon (2020). L2 users: 359,000 (2020).

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). 2,740,100 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 10,100 in Lebanon (2020). L2 users: 2,730,000 (Ramaswami et al 2012).

French

[fra] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 2,541,100 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 31,100 in Lebanon (2022). L2 users: 2,510,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).

5 (Dispersed)

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] 5* (Dispersed). 23,000 in Lebanon (2020). Ethnic population: 70,000 (2020 H. Salimi).

5 (Developing)

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. 336,000 in Lebanon (2020).

6b (Threatened)

Domari

[rmt] 6b* (Threatened). A few scattered and isolated speaker populations (Herin 2016).

Turkish

[tur] 6b (Threatened). 188,900 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 38,900 in Lebanon (Orhan 2010). L2 users: 150,000 (2022 A. Dusséaux).

Unestablished

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 118,000 in Lebanon (2020).

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 23,700 in Lebanon (2020).

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

[aii] Unestablished. 2,330 in Lebanon (2020). Ethnic population: 40,000.

Chaldean Neo-Aramaic

[cld] Unestablished. 35,500 in Lebanon (2020).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 6,520 in Lebanon (2020).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 6,520 in Lebanon (2020).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 2,960 in Lebanon (2020).

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 22,300 in Lebanon (2020).

Turoyo

[tru] Unestablished. 29,300 in Lebanon (2015).

Maps

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Lebanon with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Lebanon is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Lebanon with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Lebanon is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Lebanon in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Lebanon ($149.95, 25 page PDF)

Lebanon

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action