Lebanon Archaeology and Literature
Reliable data on the Lebanese population were difficult to find even before the civil war (which caused about one hundred thousand deaths between 1975 and 1982): the 1932 census was, in fact, never repeated to prevent political equilibrium from being questioned. from the possible observation of a changed numerical ratio between Christians and Muslims, then ascertained to the extent of 6 to 5. This ratio has actually changed in the following half century to the detriment of Christians, characterized by a greater propensity to emigrate and by a lower birth rate than Muslims, who are believed to make up (1990) 60% of the population. A 1970 estimate, based on statistical sampling, gave a total population of 2,126,000 residents (excluding 187,529 Palestinian refugees, now 302. 000 in 1990). Other estimates suggest…