Lebanon has the most religiously diverse society in the Middle East.  The population of Lebanon is estimated to be 4,400,000 . Lebanon was host to over 375,000 refugees and asylum seekers: 270,800 Palestinians, 50,000 from Iraq, and 4,500 from Sudan. Lebanon forcibly repatriated more than 300 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007.

No official census has been taken since 1932, reflecting the political sensitivity in Lebanon over confessional balance between different religious groups. The main religious groups of Lebanon are the Muslims (56%), the Christians (39%), and the Druze (5%).Over the past 60 years, there had been a steady decline in the number of Christians as compared to Muslims, because of higher emigration rates among Christians and a higher birth rate among the Muslim population.

In 2007, approximately 28% of the population was Sunni Muslim, 28% Shi'a Muslim, 22% Maronite Christian, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Druze, 4% Greek Catholic, Armenian Christians and Syrian Orthodox who number 4% and 1% of the population.  There are 18 state-recognized religious sects.

Arabic is the official national language but English is increasingly used in science and business interactions. French is still the language generally used by intellectuals. Lebanese people of Armenian or Greek descent often speak Armenian or Greek fluently. Kurdish Lebanese are estimated between 5,000 and 10,000, most of whom live around Beirut. There are currently around 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, or around 4% of the population.

Between 11 and 13 million people of Lebanese descent are spread throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Brazil has the largest expatriate population, with 7 million Lebanese Brazilians. Large numbers of Lebanese migrated to West Africa, particularly in the Ivory Coast and Senegal. Australia is home to over 270,000 Lebanese.