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Will Lebanon’s economic crunch stir demographic change?

The emigration of Lebanese, especially Christians, raises concerns in Lebanon in terms of the demographic change that it may lead to, in light of the economic crisis that the Lebanese have been experiencing for nearly two years.

Lebanese arriving to Cyprus
People arriving from Beirut are pictured at the arrivals hall in Larnaca airport in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus on August 6, 2020. — IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images

BEIRUT — Recently, the number of Lebanese who are emigrating, especially Christians, has soared, amid the exacerbation of an unmatched economic crisis hitting the country. Some fear this brain drain will inevitably lead to a demographic change and cause a new distribution of the sectarian map in the country.

Father Tony Khadra, head of the Labora Foundation that aims to provide job opportunities for young people, especially Christians, told Al-Monitor, “The number of Lebanese emigrants has witnessed an upward trend for two years now. The percentage of Christian emigrants has exceeded 60% in the last two years.”

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