Almost half of Lebanese are seeking to leave their homeland for opportunities abroad

BEIRUT — Out of 15 Arab populations surveyed, Lebanese people were the most pessimistic about their country’s economic future, according to a report published by Arab Barometer on Tuesday. About 48 percent of the surveyed Lebanese “are seeking to leave their homeland for better opportunities abroad.”

Here’s what we know:

    • “When asked about the primary reason for wanting to emigrate, economic conditions (7 percent) are not the dominant reason given” by people in Lebanon, according to the study. “Instead, the most commonly named reason is corruption (44 percent), followed by security considerations (29 percent), and political reasons (22 percent), implying citizens are even more frustrated by the failure of the political system which ultimately led to the financial crisis,” the study states.

    • There is not a significant gender gap in the desire to emigrate, and around 63 percent of youth aged 18-29 want to leave, according to the study

    • “Lebanon is also at risk for brain drain, with 61 percent of those with a college education wanting to emigrate compared with 37 percent of those with a secondary degree or less,” the report continues.

    • Lebanon is witnessing the worst economic crisis in its modern history. Around 80 percent of the population have been plunged into poverty since the onset of the crisis in 2019.