Lebanon

What we do / Social and Local Development / Living Conditions of Households in Lebanon in 1997

The Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) released in February the results of the national Survey of Living Conditions of Households Residing in Lebanon, undertaken in the first half of 1997 with financial and technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The survey aimed at studying the different aspects of living conditions of households with a view to revealing the problems and difficulties faced by households in their daily life. The results of the survey could eventually be used to formulate a composite indicator to identify specific needy population groups, on the one hand, and to establish the links, relationships and constraints among the different dimensions of living conditions, on the other. The sampling frame of the survey was based on the census of all built-up property undertaken in 1996. The sample was randomly selected and was constituted of 20,432 housing units.

The survey results were grouped into demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics including education, employment, housing, transport and health, expenditure patterns, income sources, and family budgets. Among the main findings of the survey are the following:

1. Demographic characteristics: The resident population (excluding seasonal workers who do not have a fixed residence in the country) was found to number 4,005,000, of whom 92 percent are Lebanese. Average family size was 4.76 persons, with the highest number in North Lebanon, 5.5 persons per household. The highest concentration of population was in Mount Lebanon, 37.6 percent of total, including 22 percent in the Beirut suburbs. Only 10 percent of the population resided in Beirut compared to 22.3 percent in 1970.

2. Socio-economic characteristics: The gross enrollment rate was 30.3 percent, without significant difference in gender participation rate. By age group, the highest enrollment rate was noted in the 5-9 year age group (95.4 percent). The enrollment rate remained almost at this level in the 10-14 year age group but decreased significantly after the age of 15 years with significant gender differences occurring in favour of females (67.6 percent for females and 61.2 percent for males). Illiteracy, at 11.6 percent in 1997, marks a sharp decrease from the level of 31.8 percent in 1970; however, considerable age and gender differentials remain (16 percent female and 7.2 percent male).

a) The labor force was 34 percent of the total population, with a female and male activity rate of 14.7 percent and 53.1 percent, respectively. The highest rate of economic activity was found in the 24-30 year age group. The highest percentage of the labor force was employed in the services sector (40.8 percent) followed by trade (23.2 percent). Construction, industry, and agriculture employed 11.6 percent, 15.1 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively. Unemployment was 8.5 percent (9 percent for males and 7.2 percent for females), with the worst results recorded in North Lebanon (10.3 percent) and the Bekaa (10 percent).

b) Critical crowding conditions (more than 3 persons in a room or more than 8 persons in less than 4 rooms) were revealed for 24.1 percent of households, representing 34.1 percent of the population. 80 percent of housing units were connected to the public water distribution network and 20 percent had an artesian well. Nearly all were connected to the national electricity grid. 58.5 percent were not connected to a wastewater network. 62 percent of households owned a car. 47 percent complained of the lack of public transport.

c) School fees in the public sector amounted to LL 147,000 per year and in the private sector to LL 1,817,000. Fees at university level averaged LL 6,517,000. Only 42 percent of persons benefited from a medical insurance. 11.6 percent have taken out private sector insurance.

3. Income patterns: Average annual household income was found to be LL 18.5 million or per month LL 1,540,000. Average per capita income amounted to LL 327,700 per month, with wide regional variations from LL 247,500 in Nabatiyeh to LL 481,200 in Beirut. 12.9 percent of households representing 17.7 percent of the population had a per capita income of less than LL 100,000 per month.

4. Household budget: Total annual expenditures of a household were at just under LL 20 million, ranging from LL 7.2 million for households with revenues of less than LL 300,000 to LL 60.9 million for households with revenues of more than LL 5 million per month. Average monthly per capita expenditures were estimated at LL 350,000 (or LL 4.2 million annually), with considerable regional variations (expenditures recorded to be highest in Beirut). Expenditures on food-related items represented the highest share of the family expenditure basket (34 percent), followed by housing (15 percent) and education (13 percent). Around 38 percent of Lebanese families could not make ends meet. Only 13 percent of Lebanese families indicated their living standard to be satisfactory.

a) The survey findings conceal important regional and gender variations, as revealed by two specific studies concerning the Baalbeck-Hermel districts and the Akkar district. The overall findings showed wide regional variations in annual household income, from LL 13.1 million in Nabatieh mohafazat to LL 24.8 million in Beirut. The average annual household income in the Baalbeck-Hermel and Akkar districts was less than half that of Beirut, LL 11,829 and LL 10,690,000, respectively, see graph.

A second illustration pertains to regional variations in illiteracy. Illiteracy rates in Akkar are the highest in the country and are almost four times those prevailing in Mount Lebanon. Female illiteracy rates reaches 32 percent in Akkar and 26 percent in Baalbeck-Hermel compared to 16 percent at the national level, see graph.

Source: Administration Centrale de la Statistique, Conditions de Vie des Ménages en 1997, Etudes Statistiques, No. 9, Beyrouth, Février 1998 (French/Arabic, 257 p. and 85 p.); Conditions de Vie des Ménaes dans la Région de Baalbeck-Hermel en 1997, Etudes Statistiques, No. 7, Beyrouth, Novembre 1997 (146 p. and 81 p.); and, Conditions de Vie des Ménaes dans la Région du Akkar en 1997, Etudes Statistiques, No. 10, Beyrouth, Avril 1998 (146 p. and 93 p.)