UNRWA: 2023 Socioeconomic Survey Report of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon

9 March 2025

Executive Summary:

The data for this survey was collected between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 based on a representative sample of Palestine refugees living in Lebanon including Palestine Refugees from Syria residing in the country. The combined survey results present a snapshot of the socio-economic situation of the Palestine Refugee community in Lebanon. The survey records the effects of decades of social and economic segregation and exclusion which are linked to the legal status of this population in Lebanon, and are evidenced by poor indicator outcomes across all sections of the report. Palestinians in Lebanon have been unable to work legally in a number of key professions, are not permitted to own property or businesses and are excluded from accessing public service employment and use of public services. The survey data confirms that UNRWA is the core reference and service provider for Palestinians in Lebanon.

Key findings:

The average age of the Palestine refugee population in Lebanon is 31 years, with an average 4 persons per household.

A total of 27 per cent of households report at least one family member living abroad. Remittances are received by 37 per cent of households.

Waged labour was reported as one of the main sources of income by about half of the households. UNRWA’s cash assistance was reported as one of the main income sources by 70 per cent of camp inhabitants and 58 per cent of refugees living outside the camps. About ten per cent of households indicated political organisations being one of the main income sources.

Among the population 25 years and above, 21 per cent did not complete elementary level education and a total of 54 per cent did not complete the mandatory preparatory education level. A total of 12.5 per cent hold an academic degree.

School enrolment is high in the early years; 95 per cent of children aged 6-12 years are enrolled. For the age group 13-15 years, a total of 92 per cent of girls remain enrolled in school, but only 81 per cent of boys. The gender gap further increases at the age of 16-18 years reflecting the general regional trends, with 77 per cent of girls enrolled but only 55 per cent of boys.

Among all children enrolled, 70 per cent are learning in UNRWA primary or secondary schools, 17 per cent in private education institutions, 9.5 per cent in government institutions and 2.8 per cent in free private institutions for children with special needs.

Nearly three out of 10 persons across all age groups suffer from chronic illnesses that indicate limited ability to generate income and incur additional high costs on households for medical expenses where UNRWA is unable to cover for full medication and treatment. Particularly concerning are high malnutrition rates among children with 6 per cent of children under the age of 5 years holding a respective medical certificate.

The poverty rate at the beginning of 2023 stood at 83 per cent as per the adjusted national poverty line of 2012.

The labour force participation rate is 41 per cent for the population above 15 years (as per ILO definition). This compares to a national labour force participation rate of 50 per cent in Lebanon for the same time period (Worldbank, 2022). Respectively, the unemployment rate among Palestine refugees stands at 32 per cent compared to 11 per cent nationally (Worldbank, 2022).