If you lived in Lebanon instead of Japan, you would:

Health

be 96.0% less likely to die by suicide

Japan has a suicide rate of 17.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Lebanon, it is 0.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 6.1 years less

In Japan, the average life expectancy is 84 years (81 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Lebanon, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 5.2 times more likely to be obese

In Japan, 5.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Lebanon, that number is 30.7% of people as of 2024.

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see 88.0% less spent on your healthcare

Japan spends $5,365 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Lebanon spends $644 as of 2023.

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have 12.0% less access to essential health services

Japan scores 83 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Lebanon scores 73 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 4.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Japan, 2.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Lebanon, that number is 11.0% as of 2023.

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be 70.2% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Japan, 16.1% live below the poverty line as of 2013. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

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make 87.6% less money

Japan has a GDP per capita of $35,951 as of 2025, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $4,473 as of 2024.

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Life

have 2.8 times more children

In Japan, there are approximately 5.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 16.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 5.0 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Japan, approximately 3.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Lebanon, 15.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 8.5 times more likely to die during infancy

In Japan, approximately 1.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Lebanon, on the other hand, 15.3 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 63.5% less on education

Japan spends 3.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Lebanon spends 1.2% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 48.1% less on healthcare

Japan spends 10.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 5.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 99.2% less coastline

Japan has a total of 29,751 km of coastline. In Lebanon, that number is 225 km.

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Safety

be 9.7 times more likely to be murdered

Japan has a homicide rate of 0.2 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 2.2 per 100,000 as of 2020.

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be 3.6 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Japan, road accidents kill 2.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Lebanon, they kill 9.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 81.1% less home broadband

Japan has 38.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Lebanon has 7.3 as of 2022.

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live with 60.5% more strain on fresh water

Japan withdraws 37% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Lebanon withdraws 59% as of 2022.

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use 87.0% less electricity

Japan uses 7,530 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Lebanon uses 975 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 75.8% less CO2

Japan emits 7.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Lebanon emits 1.9 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 4.9 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Japan, air pollution causes 12.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Lebanon, it causes 59.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2011–2013), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
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