The World Bank has announced that the poverty rate in Lebanon has more than tripled over the past decade, affecting 44 percent of the population. Based on a household survey covering the governorates of Akkar, Beirut, Bekaa, North Lebanon, and most of Mount Lebanon, the report concluded that one in three Lebanese people in these areas was affected by poverty in 2022. This highlights the need to strengthen social safety nets and create job opportunities to help alleviate poverty and address growing inequalities.
The report, titled "Lebanon Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024: Overcoming a Prolonged Crisis," addresses the current state of poverty and inequality in the country. The World Bank report reveals a significant increase in the cash poverty rate from 12 percent in 2012 to 44 percent in 2022 in the surveyed areas.
According to the report, with the rapid growth of the dollarized economy, Lebanese families earning income in US dollars find themselves able to maintain their purchasing power, while families unable to access US dollars face increasing risks from rising inflation.
The findings indicate stark differences in poverty levels across various regions of the country, between Lebanese citizens and the large number of Syrian refugees in the country. The poverty rate among Lebanese respondents in 2022 was about 33 percent, while it reached 87 percent among Syrians. The survey revealed that despite an increase in the percentage of Lebanese citizens working in unskilled jobs such as agriculture and construction, most Lebanese still work in skilled occupations, while the majority of Syrians are employed in unskilled positions.
