Economic & Social Survey 04-05

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Economic & Social Survey 04-05

The ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Development program and the Central Administration for Statistics have recently released the results of the “National Survey on Living Conditions 2004”. The report reveals updated economic and social indicators based on the results of the Multipurpose Survey conducted in 2004-2005


1) Demographic characteristics of residents:
The 2004-2005 multipurpose survey estimated Lebanon population to be in the vicinity of 3,755,034, out of which 93.4% are Lebanese nationals and the rest are non-Lebanese. In comparison to the 1970 levels, the size of the Lebanese household dropped from 5.4 to 4.3 individuals.


2) Educational status:
The school enrollment rate at the elementary kevel in Lebanon, for both males and females, is considered to be very high (respectively at 98% and 95% for age groups 5-9 and 10-14) in comparison to international standards. Enrollment rates for females and males are quite similar at all educational stages, with a slight difference in favor of females at certain levels. Furthermore, 53.2% of Lebanon’s Students attend private educational institutions while the remaining 44.6% are enrolled in public schools. Illiteracy rate for age groups above 10 years was estimated at 8.8%, a weighted average between the 5.6% male illiteracy rate and the 11.8% female illiteracy rate. Concerning schooling levels, the report reveals that around 13% of Lebanon’s population, aged above 4 years, has earned university degree.


3) Labor force and Economic activity:
The report estimates that country’s total labor force constitutes around 32% while the actual labor force not more than 29.5%, of the total population. The employment rate for the age group 15 years and above is in the vicinity of 7.9%, resulting from a 9.6% female & 7.4% male “employment rates”. In percentage of the total working population, employment by category came as such: 10% General and Corporate Managers, 9.6% Specialists, 7.4% Intermediate Professions, 8.9% Office Employees, 10.5% Service Sector Workers, 4.7% Agriculture & Fishers, 19.2% Skilled Workers, 9.1% Drivers, 15.5% Unskilled labors, 4.4% Armed Forces.


4) Employment by sector:
It was noted that the economic activity rate (the percentage of working individuals) for males reaches its maximum of 94.3% within the age group 35-39, while for the women category, it peaks at a much lower of 37.3% within the age group 25-29
*** Agriculture: 8%
*** Processing Industry: 15%
*** Construction: 9%
*** Trade: 22%
*** Other Services: 46%


5) Health Insurance and Chronic Diseases:
The report confirms that less than half of Lebanon’s residents, around 44.9%, benefit from at least one type of health insurance, while around 53.3% are without any health coverage plan. More than 51% of working females benefit from at least one type of health insurance compared to 48.3% in the working males’ category. However, for both sexes, the age group 0-24 represents 45.7% of the beneficiaries, with lower percentages for the older age groups.


Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture