1.
Demographic characteristics
|
The results of the Population and
Housing survey indicate that the low level of satisfaction of basic
needs is positively correlated with the large size of the household. The
average size of the household classified as having a low degree of
satisfaction is 5.11 individuals, compared to 4.72 for households with
an intermediate degree of satisfaction, and 3.99 individuals for
households having a high degree of satisfaction; the national average
being 4.65 individuals per household. This correlation is particularly
strong in the case of the two extreme cases: very small subsistence
households and large households. Thus, households with a low degree of
satisfaction make up 48.3 percent and 34.9 percent of households
composed of one or two individuals, respectively; 52.4 percent of
households consisting of 8 persons; and 63.2 percent and 71.4 percent of
households that consist of 9 and 10 persons or more, respectively. In
contrast, the proportion of households of medium size (3-6 individuals)
having a low degree of satisfaction varies between 20.7 percent and 30.9
percent, i.e. below the national average of 32.1 percent.
The low level of satisfaction is also correlated with the small size of
the household in the case of informal households, i.e. households that
are classified under the category of "other" in the
questionnaire of the Population and Housing Survey, and which form 44.9
percent of households that fall below the threshold. A closer
examination shows that these households consist in their majority of one
or two individuals (88.9 percent), and include a high percentage of old
people, widows and women who do not work. They also include a high ratio
of illiterates and individuals with below elementary education. These
attributes explain the high degree of deprivation in their ranks.
Correlation can also be observed between the extended household, and the
nucleus household with relatives, and the low and intermediate degrees
of satisfaction.
|
Table
15. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction and household
characteristics
|
| (Percent of
households having the specified characteristic) |
| Type of
household and its size |
All
Lebanon |
Degree
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
|
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Type of household |
(percent)
|
|
|
|
|
| Nucleus |
77.4
|
29.8 |
42.8 |
27.3 |
100 |
| Nucleus with relatives or
more |
3.4
|
36.4 |
42.0 |
21.6 |
100 |
| Extended |
9.4
|
35.9 |
45.3 |
18.8 |
100 |
| Other |
9.3 |
44.9 |
27.1 |
28.0 |
100 |
| Number of household
members |
asdfasdf |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
7.1
|
48.3 |
25.0 |
26.6 |
100 |
| 2 |
11.7
|
34.9 |
35.7 |
29.3 |
100 |
| 3 |
13.4
|
22.7 |
41.2 |
36.2 |
100 |
| 4 |
17.8
|
20.0 |
43.9 |
36.1 |
100 |
| 5 |
18.2 |
22.6 |
48.7 |
28.7 |
100 |
| 6 |
13.7
|
30.9 |
48.2 |
20.9 |
100 |
| 7 |
7.8
|
41.6 |
44.6 |
13.7 |
100 |
| 8 |
4.4
|
52.4 |
38.8 |
8.8 |
100 |
| 9 |
2.6
|
63.2 |
31.3 |
5.5 |
100 |
| 10 or more |
3.3
|
71.4 |
24.9 |
3.7 |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100
|
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
| Average size of household
(individuals) |
4.65 |
5.11 |
4.72 |
3.99 |
4.65 |
|
2.
Characteristics of the house
|
Living in an independent house
and having a low index of satisfaction of basic needs are correlated;
while a high degree of satisfaction is found to be correlated with
living in an apartment, or a rented house (Table 16). This can be
explained by what is considered as an independent dwelling in the
present context which includes modest village houses, or inherited old
houses, both of which are not considered to be an indicator of social
well-being. The picture becomes clearer when this indicator and the
living conditions index are related to the area and number of rooms in
the dwelling. The correlation is then evident between the smallness of
the area and the number of rooms, and the low degree of satisfaction.
Thus, it appears that 80 percent of households that occupy dwellings
consisting of one room are households that have a low degree of
satisfaction. The same is also true of households that occupy dwellings
consisting of two rooms. With respect to area, 78.5 percent of
households that occupy dwellings having an area of less than 30 square
meters, and 50.4 percent of those where the area is between 31 and 80
square meters, are also households with a low degree of satisfaction.
These figures provide an idea about the characteristics of independent
dwellings that are owned, or occupied, by households classified as
having a low degree of satisfaction, and indicate that ownership is not
in itself an adequate indicator of high living standards.
In the case of heating, an association can be noted between the low
level of satisfaction and the absence of heating, or the use of means
other than those specified in the questionnaire. A correlation can also
be observed between the intermediate degree of satisfaction and heating
by means of gas, fuel oil or kerosene. However, households with a high
degree of satisfaction tend to rely on central heating or electrical
appliances.
|
Table
16. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction and characteristics
of the dwelling
(Percent of households having the specified characteristics)
|
| Ownership of
dwelling and number of rooms |
All
Lebanon |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
| (persent) |
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Ownership |
|
|
|
|
|
| Full ownership |
63.8
|
30.5 |
41.0 |
28.5 |
100 |
| Partial ownership |
3.7
|
41.5 |
41.5 |
17.0 |
100 |
| Rented |
23.3
|
29.5 |
43.2 |
27.3 |
100 |
| Other |
9.2
|
45.8 |
41.3 |
12.9 |
100 |
| Number of rooms |
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
4.9
|
80.9 |
16.5 |
2.5 |
100 |
| 2 |
17.0
|
59.3 |
35.1 |
5.7 |
100 |
| 3 |
24.9
|
38.9 |
47.6 |
13.5 |
100 |
| 4 |
25.3
|
22.2 |
49.5 |
28.3 |
100 |
| 5 |
17.5
|
10.6 |
42.2 |
47.3 |
100 |
| 6 and above |
10.1
|
5.8 |
30.0 |
64.2 |
100 |
| Not applicable
(improvised or mobile and other similar cases) |
0.3
|
9.7 |
2.6 |
- |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100 |
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
|
3.
Water and sewerage
|
Differences between households
with respect to satisfaction scores in this field, as already noted, are
smaller than in other fields. Households having a low degree of
satisfaction account for the majority of households that live in
dwellings which are not connected to the water network, as well as among
households that rely on springs and other uncontrolled sources for
potable water. Similar correlation is found in the case of dwellings
that are not connected to the sewage network and that use septic tanks
and open sewers.
|
Table
17. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction and indicators of
water and sewerage
|
| (Percent of
households having the specified characteristic) |
| Water and
sewerage services |
All
Lebanon |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
| (percent) |
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Connection to water
network |
|
|
|
|
|
| Public network |
79.3 |
29.7 |
43.9 |
26.4 |
100 |
| Public network and a well
|
6.2 |
13.5 |
33.6 |
52.9 |
100 |
| Private source |
9.8
|
37.7 |
41.4 |
20.9 |
100 |
| Not connected |
4.7 |
85.2 |
13.0 |
1.80 |
100 |
| Main source of potable
water |
|
|
|
|
|
| Network (not sterilized)
|
60.6 |
31.9 |
45.7 |
22.4 |
100 |
| Network (sterilized) |
13.0 |
10.7 |
38.4 |
50.9 |
100 |
| Spring water |
10.2 |
44.4 |
37.8 |
17.8 |
100 |
| Bottled water |
5.1 |
7.8 |
27.9 |
64.3 |
100 |
| Other |
11.1 |
57.8 |
32.6 |
9.6 |
100 |
| Sewerage facility
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A general sewerage network
|
60.2 |
24.5 |
42.1 |
33.4 |
100 |
| Open sewerage |
1.2 |
63.7 |
24.8 |
11.5 |
100 |
| Septic tank |
37.2
|
41.9 |
42.0 |
16.1 |
100 |
| Other |
0.6 |
38.1 |
39.7 |
22.2 |
100 |
| None |
0.8
|
94.1 |
5.2 |
0.8 |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100 |
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
|
Table
18. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction, gender and
age-characteristics of head of household
(Percent of households having the specified characteristic) |
| Gender and
age of head of household |
All
Lebanon |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
| (percent) |
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Gender |
|
|
|
|
|
| Male |
85.9 |
30.1 |
42.7 |
27.2 |
100 |
| Female |
14.1
|
43.8 |
34.9 |
21.3 |
100 |
| Age (years) |
|
|
|
|
|
| 24 and below |
1.6 |
36.5 |
44.8 |
18.7 |
100 |
| 25 - 29 |
5.6 |
30.5 |
44.2 |
25.3 |
100 |
| 30 - 34 |
10.9
|
30.9 |
45.4 |
23.6 |
100 |
| 35 - 39 |
11.9
|
31.7 |
44.0 |
24.4 |
100 |
| 40 - 44 |
11.4 |
30.2 |
44.7 |
25.1 |
100 |
| 45 - 49 |
10.3 |
27.0 |
45.3 |
27.7 |
100 |
| 50 - 54 |
10.1 |
26.2 |
42.2 |
31.6 |
100 |
| 55 - 59 |
9.6 |
27.1 |
40.4 |
32.6 |
100 |
| 60 - 64 |
9.3 |
29.5 |
38.6 |
31.9 |
100 |
| 65 and above |
19.4 |
43.5 |
34.8 |
21.7 |
100 |
| Unspecified |
0.0 |
77.7 |
22.3 |
- |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100 |
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
|
5.
Educational characteristics of the household head
|
The low degree of satisfaction is
strongly correlated with the low level of educational attainment of the
household head. About 70 percent of households headed by an illiterate
person, and 46 percent of those headed by a person who can only read and
write have a low degree of satisfaction. In contrast, three-quarters and
four-firths of households where the head has a university education, or
higher studies, respectively, have a high degree of satisfaction. In
this connection, it is worth noting that the ratio of deprived
households declines steadily with the rise in the level of education of
the head of the household, and conversely.
|
Table
19. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction and educational
characteristics of head of household
(Percent
of households within level of education specified) |
| Level of
education of household head |
All
Lebanon |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
| (percent) |
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Illiterate |
18.7 |
70.2 |
26.2 |
3.6 |
100 |
| Can read and write |
16.7 |
46.1 |
43.8 |
10.1 |
100 |
| Elementary |
24.9
|
29.4 |
52.5 |
18.1 |
100 |
| Intermediate |
16.6
|
16.6 |
52.6 |
30.8 |
100 |
| Secondary |
12.3 |
7.4 |
42.5 |
50.1 |
100 |
| University |
8.8 |
2.4 |
22.1 |
75.5 |
100 |
| Higher studies |
1.9 |
1.4 |
18.6 |
80.0 |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100 |
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
|
6.
Relation to the labor force and main occupation of head of household
|
The low level of satisfaction of
basic needs is clearly correlated with unemployment. Households having a
low degree satisfaction account for 59.5 percent and 46.7 percent,
respectively, of all households whose head is either unemployed but has
worked previously, or is unemployed without having worked before.
Moreover, there are no significant differences between wage earners and
the self-employed as far as the relation with a low degree of
satisfaction is concerned. Correlation is most evident between the high
degree of satisfaction and the head of the household being an employer
(56.8 percent of households whose head is an employer).
Certain occupations appear to be more closely associated with
deprivation, while others are associated with social well-being (Table
20). The occupations which are found to be associated with low
satisfaction are those of: agricultural workers and fishermen (76.4
percent); unskilled workers in mines, construction, public works and
transport (67.8 percent); unskilled workers and employees in the sales
and services sector (58.6 percent); farmers and skilled agricultural
workers and fishermen (58.4 percent); and workers in various industrial
branches and in construction. Occupations which are associated with a
high level of social well-being include senior managerial posts in the
public and private sectors, and intellectual and scientific professions.
The highest proportion of households having a low degree of satisfaction
can be observed in the sectors of agriculture and hunting, domestic
services, social-service activities, and transport; whereas the highest
proportion for the high degrees of satisfaction is recorded among those
engaged in research and projects, banks and financial intermediation,
health and social work.
Finally, a strong apparent is evident between the low degree of
satisfaction and the lack of a car (59.4 percent of all households that
do not own a car), while the ratio of households having a high degree of
satisfaction rises with the number of cars owned. The ownership of a car
in this context is a direct indicator of the satisfaction of the need
for transport, and an indirect indicator of the level of income.
|
Table
20. Cross classification of degrees of satisfaction and main occupation
and sector of economic activity of head of household
(Percent of total households whose head belongs to the specified
occupation or sector) |
| Main
occupation and sector of economic activity of head of household |
All
Lebanon |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index
|
|
Low |
Intermediate
|
High |
Total |
| Main Occupation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ministers and members of
parliament and senior private and public officials |
7.4 |
3.0 |
24.0 |
73.0 |
100 |
| Intellectuals and scientists
|
5.4 |
1.8 |
20.4 |
77.9 |
100 |
| Professors, teachers and
specialists in education |
3.9
|
4.8 |
35.5 |
59.7 |
100 |
| Intermediate and supporting
occupations |
5.8 |
8.8 |
43.4 |
47.7 |
100 |
| Employees in the field of
administration |
5.5 |
14.9 |
49.7 |
35.4 |
100 |
| Workers in the field of
personnel services and protection |
4.6 |
25.0 |
55.0 |
20.0 |
100 |
| Vendors, sales assistants and
models |
13.4 |
20.4 |
46.6 |
33.0 |
100 |
| Farmers and skilled
agricultural workers and fishermen |
5.8 |
58.4 |
34.6 |
7.0 |
100 |
| Miners and workers in
construction and stone crushing |
7.8 |
33.0 |
53.3 |
13.7 |
100 |
| Workers in metal
installation, and repair and installation of electrical and
electronic equipment |
6.3 |
21.9 |
58.1 |
19.9 |
100 |
| Workers in the area of
precision instruments, artistic and manual occupations and
handicrafts |
6.6
|
29.0 |
52.8 |
18.2 |
100 |
| Operators of industrial and
fixed equipment |
2.6 |
34.9 |
48.8 |
16.3 |
100 |
| Drivers and operators of
heavy machinery and equipment and cranes |
8.8 |
36.6 |
51.9 |
11.4 |
100 |
| Unskilled workers and
employees in the sales and services sectors |
5.1 |
58.6 |
36.2 |
5.1 |
100 |
| Agricultural workers and
fishermen |
3.3 |
76.4 |
22.6 |
1.0 |
100 |
| Unskilled workers in mines,
construction, public works, industry and transport |
3.0 |
67.8 |
28.7 |
3.5 |
100 |
| Other and unspecified |
4.5 |
31.7 |
51.8 |
16.4 |
100 |
| Economic Sector (percent) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Agriculture, hunting and
forestry |
9.7 |
63.2 |
31.0 |
5.8 |
100 |
| Industry, petroleum and
mining |
17.0 |
25.6 |
48.5 |
25.9 |
100 |
| Electricity and water |
1.1 |
17.9 |
53.9 |
28.2 |
100 |
| Construction and building
|
11.6 |
34.5 |
46.4 |
19.1 |
100 |
| Trade, repair and maintenance
|
20.0 |
21.3 |
45.5 |
33.2 |
100 |
| Hotels, restaurants and
entertainment |
1.9 |
24.5 |
44.6 |
30.9 |
100 |
| Transport, post and
telecommunications |
8.5 |
31.1 |
47.4 |
21.5 |
100 |
| Banks and financial
intermediation |
2.0 |
6.9 |
37.2 |
55.9 |
100 |
| Project and research
activities |
3.3 |
3.2 |
25.0 |
71.7 |
100 |
| Public administration |
10.5 |
24.6 |
49.6 |
25.8 |
100 |
| Education and teaching
grown-ups |
5.8 |
11.2 |
38.4 |
50.4 |
100 |
| Health and social work
|
2.5 |
12.8 |
33.3 |
53.9 |
100 |
| Social services activity
|
4.4 |
38.5 |
37.1 |
24.4 |
100 |
| Domestic services |
0.8 |
56.8 |
37.0 |
6.3 |
100 |
| International agencies and
organizations |
0.3 |
19.0 |
37.0 |
44.1 |
100 |
| Unspecified |
0.6 |
17.4 |
36.3 |
46.3 |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
100 |
32.1 |
41.6 |
26.4 |
100 |
|
7. Age
structure and degrees of satisfaction of basic needs
|
Children (0-14 years) account for
a higher proportion of the population having a low degree of
satisfaction (35.6 percent), compared to the degrees of intermediate
satisfaction (29.2 percent) and high satisfaction (19.8 percent). The
corresponding percentages for the age group 65 years and above, which
generally represents the retirees, are 8.3 percent, 6 percent and 6.3
percent, respectively; the degree of satisfaction rising with the ratio
of individuals of working age is.
|
Table
21. Cross classification of age groups and degrees of satisfaction
(Percent of all individuals having the specified degree of satisfaction)
|
| Age
(years) |
Degrees
of satisfaction according to the Living Conditions Index |
All
Lebanon |
| Low |
Intermediate |
High |
| 14 and below |
35.6 |
29.2 |
19.8 |
29.3 |
| 15 - 64 |
56.0 |
64.8 |
73.9 |
63.8 |
| 65 and above |
8.3 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
6.8 |
| Unspecified |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| All Lebanon |
35.2 |
42.2 |
22.6 |
100 |
|
Chart
7. Age composition of individuals within each of the three degrees of
satisfaction
(Percent)
|
 |
