Lebanon is the only Middle Eastern country where Christians were once dominant and retain considerable political power.
Total pop: 4.3m
Christians: 1.35m-1.5m
31-35% of total pop
Main Churches: Maronite; Greek Orthodox; Greek Catholic; Armenian Orthodox; Armenian Catholic
Issues: Political instability
Sources: CIA World Factbook; World Christian Database; UN
The country fought a civil war from 1975-1989 largely along religious lines, and relations between the patchwork of Lebanon's religious communities remain delicate.
The last official census was conducted in 1932, but current estimates suggest there are slightly more Muslims than Christians. There is a widespread perception among Christians that their numbers and influence are declining.
The constitution dictates that the president is always Christian, the prime minister Sunni Muslim, and the parliamentary speaker Shia Muslim.
The largest Church is the Maronite Church, which traces its origins to a 4th Century Syrian hermit, St Maron. The Church united with the Catholic Church in 1736, although it retains its own traditions and practices.
The Greek Orthodox Church is also strong in Lebanon, and there is a wide range of other denominations. Most religious groups operate freely.
Muslim-Christian relations have generally been calm in recent years. However, tensions increased in 2005 with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the withdrawal of Syrian troops and a wave of bombings in Christian areas.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-15239529
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