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Lebanon — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

ChartThe estimated total number of guns (both licit and illicit) held by civilians in Lebanon is

2017: 1,927,0001
2007: 750,0002

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

ChartThe estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) per 100 people in Lebanon is

2017: 31.901
2007: 21.02

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a 2007 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Lebanon ranked at No. 583

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a 2007 comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Lebanon ranked at No. 282

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Lebanon are reported to have 130,1504 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Lebanon are reported to have 41,0005 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Lebanon, annual homicides by any means total

2016: 2356
2015: 231
2014: 240
2013: 236
2012: 194
2011: 168
2010: 163
2009: 145
2008: 183
2007: 108
2006: 857 8 9
2005: 156
2004: 1237 8

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Lebanon, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2016: 3.776
2015: 3.74
2014: 4.08
2013: 4.58
2012: 4.21
2011: 3.72
2010: 3.63
2009: 3.24
2008: 4.14
2007: 2.67 8 10
2006: 2.17 8
2005: 3.9
2004: 3.2

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Male Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Lebanon, annual male homicides by any means total

2015: 19511
2010: 13011

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Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Lebanon, the annual rate of male homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 6.6411

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Female Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Lebanon, annual female homicides by any means total

2015: 3611
2010: 33

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Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Lebanon, the annual rate of female homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 1.2311

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Gun Homicides

ChartIn Lebanon, annual firearm homicides total

2006: 317 9
2005: 8

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Lebanon, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2006: 0.8012 9
2005: 0.21

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Proportion of Homicides Committed With a Gun

ChartIn Lebanon, the percentage of homicides committed with a firearm is reported to be

2006: 37%7
2005: 5%

ProductionGun Industry

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Regulation of Firearm Makers

In Lebanon, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence, but is not conducted in practice13

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Firearm Exports

In Lebanon, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law14

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Lebanon is reported by Customs to be US$1,063,14315 (2011)

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Firearm Imports

In Lebanon, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law14

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Lebanon is reported by Customs to be US$

2016: 29,000,00016

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Lebanon is moderate17

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Lebanon, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are specifically regulated by law18

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Lebanon is categorised as restrictive19

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Lebanon are regulated by the Central Government13

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Right to Possess Firearms

In Lebanon, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law20 21

Restricted Firearms and Ammunition

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Regulation of Handguns

In Lebanon, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted without licence, for hunting, protection and security only13

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Gun Ownership and Possession

In Lebanon, unlicensed, non-disqualified persons of minimum age13 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Possession

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Lebanon are required to establish a genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example personal protection, security13

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Lebanon is 21 years13

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Lebanon must pass a background check which considers criminal and mental health13 records

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Domestic Violence and Firearms

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Lebanon does not stipulate13 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Lebanon, the law does not require13 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Private

Firearm regulations in Lebanon do not include13 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners

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Firearm and Ammunition Transport Regulations

Regulations in Lebanon do not include13 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, Lebanon adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200222

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Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development

The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was signed in 200623 by Lebanon.

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Arms Trade Treaty

The Arms Trade Treaty has been signed, but not yet ratified24 by Lebanon

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed and ratified25 by Lebanon

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Lebanon committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects26

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UNPoA Implementation Monitor Score

In its UN small arms Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (PoAIM Phase 1), the Small Arms Survey scored Lebanon against its commitments to the PoA, then ranked it at No. 15427 28 29 30 among 159 Member States

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Lebanon has submitted one or more national reports31 18 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Lebanon, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated32 18

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Lebanon, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated32 18

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Lebanon submitted to the UN from 2001 to 2010, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities was not apparent18

UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated18 by Lebanon to other UN Member States

UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided18 to Lebanon by other UN Member States

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United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Lebanon has not declared33 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Lebanon has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194534

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list35 Lebanon as a Participating State

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal Profile

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About SDG 16

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part. SDG 16,36 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2). In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing.

Link
Conflict Deaths

For a profile of conflict in Lebanon, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University

Disarmament

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Firearms Surrendered and Seized

ChartIn Lebanon, the number of firearms voluntarily surrendered, bought back or seized by authorities is reported to be

2017: 1,54837
2016: 1,359

Marking and Tracing

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Firearm Marking

In Lebanon, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is not required by law38

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Firearm Tracing

In Lebanon, state authorities do not carry out39 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

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Global Peace Index

To see where Lebanon ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Civilian Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13434)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms - Annexe online.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Military Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Military-Owned Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13436)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Law Enforcement Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Law Enforcement Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13435)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2020.‘Intentional Homicide Victims.’ Crime and Drugs Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q13355)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2014.‘Homicides and Gun Homicides in Lebanon.’ Global Study on Homicide 2013: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),10 April. (Q10292)Full Citation

8.

UNODC.2013.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Lebanon.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,26 June. (Q6283)Full Citation

9.

UNODC.2008.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Tenth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2005-2006).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q10)Full Citation

10.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Middle East and North Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington, DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3813)Full Citation

11.

UNODC.2017.‘Intentional Homicide Victims by Sex.’ Crime and Drugs Data.Vienna:UNODC,19 May. (Q13356)Full Citation

12.

GunPolicy.org.2015.‘Calculated Rates - Lebanon.’ Historical Population Data - USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,16 June. (Q10310)Full Citation

13.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

14.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York, NY:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

15.

Marsh, Nicholas.2014.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,22 December. (Q16)Full Citation

16.

Picard, Michael, Paul Holtom and Fiona Mangan.2019.‘Annexe A2: Annual Authorized Small Arms and Light Weapons Imports by Major Importers.’ Trade Update 2019: Transfers, Transparency, and South-east Asia Spotlight.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,12 December. (Q14070)Full Citation

17.

Florquin, Nicolas, Sigrid Lipott, and Francis Wairagu.2019.‘Excerpts on Trafficking - Lebanon.’ Weapons Compass: Mapping Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 January. (Q13987)Full Citation

18.

UNODA.2018.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) - Implementation Support System.New York, NY:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,23 July. (Q1309)Full Citation

19.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A staff report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

20.

Sherman, Amy and Tom Ginsburg.2014.‘Gun Rights in National Constitutions.’ Marco Rubio Says Second Amendment Is Unique in Speech to NRA.Miami, FL:Miami Herald (PolitiFact Florida),29 April. (Q8507)Full Citation

21.

Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and James Melton. 2013. ‘U.S. Gun Rights Truly Are American Exceptionalism.’ Bloomberg (USA). 7 March. (N422) Full Citation

22.

League of Arab States / UNODA.2002.‘Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York, NY:Council of the League of Arab States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 January. (Q3215)Full Citation

23.

GDAV.2006.‘Geneva Declaration.’ Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development.Geneva:Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Secretariat,7 June. (Q7162)Full Citation

24.

UNODA.2013.‘Towards Entry Into Force.’ Arms Trade Treaty.New York, NY:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,2 April. (Q7226)Full Citation

25.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York, NY:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

26.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York, NY:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

27.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Findings - Table 3: Reporting States by Rank and Score.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8752)Full Citation

28.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘What do the PoAIM Scores Represent? How Should the PoAIM Scores Be Interpreted?.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8753)Full Citation

29.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Point Allocation System.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8754)Full Citation

30.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Introduction.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8755)Full Citation

31.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

32.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York, NY:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

33.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - The Global Reported Arms Trade.New York, NY:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

34.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York, NY:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

35.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation

36.

United Nations.2017.‘Relevant Targets & Indicators.’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.New York NY:United Nations Statistics Division,6 July. (Q14093)Full Citation

37.

UNODC.2020.‘Arms Seized, Found, and Surrendered, by Type.’ Illicit Arms Flows Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,7 January. (Q14056)Full Citation

38.

Lebanon.2008.‘Implementation of the International Tracing Instrument.’ National Report of Lebanon on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York, NY:Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations,1 April. (Q4664)Full Citation

39.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York, NY:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q323)Full Citation