Islam in Lebanon

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Islam in Lebanon is divided between five Muslim sects; Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Alawites, and Ismailis. All but Ismailis enjoy proportional representation in parliament.

Islam in Lebanon

Muslims account for 75% of the total population of Lebanon, where as 25% are Christians. About one-fifth of the Lebanese population is Sunni, concentrated largely in coastal cities. Shi'is - about 50% of the total population of Lebanon - live mostly in the northern area of the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon and generally hold lower social and economic status than other Lebanese peoples. By the 1980s Shi'is constituted the largest confessional group in Lebanon, leading to demands for better educational and employment opportunities and redistribution of power based on actual numbers. Druze constitute about 10 percent of the population. Alawis are numerically insignificant - around 5% - but have risen in importance since the Gulf War of 1990-1991 due to the growing influence of Syria, where Alawis dominate the government. Ismailis number only a few hundred and play no significant political role. Religious officials of each sect maintain jurisdiction over personal status law. The distribution of political power is based on religious affiliation: the president must be Maronite Christian, the prime minister must be Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the parliament must be Shiite Muslim.