Lebanon
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
41 / 100
Partly Free
Internet Freedom
50 / 100
Partly Free
Lebanon’s political system ensures representation for its officially recognized religious communities, but limits competition and impedes the rise of cross-communal or civic parties. While residents enjoy some civil liberties and media pluralism, they also suffer from pervasive corruption and major weaknesses in the rule of law.
Research & Recommendations
Lebanon
Partly Free
41
100
| PR Political Rights | 15 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 26 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
39
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Lebanon’s political system ensures representation for its officially recognized religious communities, but limits competition and impedes the rise of cross-communal or civic parties. While residents enjoy some civil liberties and media pluralism, the country suffers from pervasive corruption and major weaknesses in the rule of law. Hezbollah, a Shiite political and militant group, maintains significant influence in the country. The country’s large population of noncitizens, including refugees and migrant workers, remains subject to legal constraints and societal attitudes that severely restrict their access to employment, freedom of movement, and other fundamental rights. Conflict with Israel has significantly eroded physical security and other fundamental rights in the south of Lebanon, as well as periodically in Beirut and other parts of the country.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Lebanon
Partly Free
50
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 10 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 22 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 18 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
50
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Political Overview
Lebanon’s political system ensures representation for its officially recognized religious communities, but limits competition and impedes the rise of cross-communal or civic parties. While residents enjoy some civil liberties and media pluralism, they also suffer from pervasive corruption and major weaknesses in the rule of law. Hezbollah, a Shiite political and militant group, maintains significant influence in the country. Lebanon’s large population of noncitizens, including refugees and migrant workers, remain subject to legal constraints and societal attitudes that severely restrict their access to employment, freedom of movement, and other fundamental rights. Israeli intelligence operatives simultaneously detonated thousands of pagers across Lebanon in September 2024, killing at least 12 people and injuring approximately 2,800. Shortly afterward, a significant escalation in hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military took place, culminating in the Israeli military’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon in October. The Lebanese government said in December that more than 4,000 people had been killed and more than 16,000 had been injured by Israeli forces since October 2023, with the majority of casualties occurring after the escalation in hostilities in September 2024.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Policy & Advocacy
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
41
/ 100
Partly Free
Freedom on the Net Score
50
/ 100
Partly Free
Population: 5,490,000
Internet Facts
Status
Partly Free
Networks Restricted
No
Social Media Blocked
No
Websites Blocked
Yes
Pro-government Commentators
Yes
Users Arrested
Yes
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
May 15, 2022
Type of Election
Parliamentary
Internet Penetration
78.20%
Election Year
2022
Vulnerability Index
51
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
