Armenians in Lebanon
Ethnic group in Lebanon / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Armenians have lived in Lebanon for centuries. According to Minority Rights Group International, there are 156,000[1] Armenians in Lebanon, around 4% of the population. Prior to the Lebanese Civil War, the number was higher, but the community lost a portion of its population to emigration.
Total population | |
---|---|
Core population: 156,000[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Beirut (Ashrafieh) Mezher Bourj Hammoud Anjar Antelias Zahle Jbeil | |
Languages | |
Armenian (Western) · Arabic · French · Turkish[2][3][4][5] | |
Religion | |
Armenian Apostolic Church • Armenian Catholic Church • Armenian Evangelical Church |
Lebanon experienced a significant migration of Armenian refugees primarily between 1918 and 1920, seeking sanctuary from the Armenian genocide carried out by Ottoman authorities. These refugees established Bourj Hammoud, a suburb east of Beirut, in the site of what was then a swampy marshland. Another wave of migration occurred in 1939, as refugees fleeing the Turkish annexation of Alexandretta founded the town of Anjar in the Beqaa region.[6] The Armenian population gradually grew and expanded until Beirut (and Lebanese towns like Anjar) became a center of Armenian culture. The Armenians became one of Lebanon’s most prominent and productive communities.[7]
Armenians in Lebanon strive to balance their Lebanese identity with ties to their homeland, keeping a distance from sectarian divisions. In areas like Bourj Hammoud and the coastal area northeast of Beirut, they maintain Armenian-language media and political parties. While most adhere to the Armenian Apostolic Church, there are also Armenian Protestants and Catholics.[6]