Lebanon Religions

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The present Lebanese Constitution officially acknowledges 18 religious groups (see below). These have the right to handle family law according to their own courts and traditions, and they are the basic players in Lebanon's complex sectarian politics.
 * Alawite
 * Armenian Catholic
 * Armenian Orthodox
 * Assyrian Church of the East
 * Chaldean Catholic
 * Copts
 * Druze
 * Melkite Catholic
 * Eastern Orthodox
 * Isma'ili
 * Jewish
 * Latin Catholic
 * Maronite
 * Protestant
 * Sunni
 * Shia
 * Syriac Catholic
 * Syriac Orthodox

The 1932 census stated that Christians made up 54% of the population. Maronites, largest among the Christian denominations, accounted for 29% of the total resident population. But since the 19th century, Muslim birth rates have been continually higher than Christian birth rates. Also, far larger numbers of Christians emigrated from Lebanon than Muslims.

A study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, cited by the United States Department of State found that of Lebanon's population of approximately 4.3 million is estimated to be:
 * 54% Islam (Shia and Sunni, 27% each)
 * 40.5% Christian **21% Maronite **8% Eastern Orthodox **5% Melkite Catholic **1% Protestant **6% other Christian denominations non-native to Lebanon like Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, and Copt
 * 5.6% Druze (who do not consider themselves to be Muslims, but according to the Lebanese Constitution are included within the Muslim group)
 * There are also very small numbers of other religions such as Judaism, Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Hindusim and Mormons.