Lebanon ranks among the most depressed nations

 Lebanon has been ranked the fifth most depressed country globally, according to new 2026 data released by the World Population Review (WPR). The report places Lebanon among the countries with the highest prevalence of depression worldwide, estimating that 6.12% of the population roughly 336,000 people, or 5,890 per 100,000 inhabitants are living with the disorder. Only the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Tunisia rank higher.

A convergence of crises

Depression is a widespread global condition, affecting an estimated 5.7% of adults worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Lebanon, however, the scale of the problem is shaped by a convergence of extraordinary stressors. Since 2019, the country has endured a near-total collapse of its financial system, runaway inflation, mass unemployment, and the breakdown of public institutions that once provided basic services. These pressures have been compounded by the 2020 Beirut port explosion, recurring border tensions, and the burden of hosting one of the highest per-capita refugee populations in the world.

The WHO has long identified depression as closely linked to financial strain, bereavement, trauma exposure, prolonged stress, and social isolation conditions that have intensified sharply in Lebanon over the past five years. As living standards have deteriorated, many Lebanese have been left grappling with persistent uncertainty, feelings of entrapment, and a diminished sense of control over their futures.

A growing mental health emergency

A recent NIH-backed study analyzing data from Lebanon’s national suicide helpline found that adults aged 25 to 35 were the most likely to report suicidal ideation or concerns related to self-harm. The primary triggers included mental illness, financial hardship, relationship difficulties, and loneliness, highlighting how the country’s economic collapse has become deeply intertwined with a broader mental health crisis. The study also found that individuals with greater mental health awareness or access to support networks demonstrated higher resilience during emotional crises and acute periods of distress.

With public mental health services under severe strain, several organizations have moved to fill critical gaps. The National Lifeline for Emotional Support and Suicide Prevention, jointly operated by the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and the Lebanese NGO Embrace, provides telephone-based emotional support for individuals experiencing psychological distress or suicidal thoughts. Since its launch in 2017, the hotline has received more than 58,000 calls, reflecting a steep rise in demand.

Embrace also offers psychotherapy, psychiatric consultations, and group support sessions. In 2023, it expanded its reach by launching a Mobile Mental Health Clinic aimed at underserved communities. In 2024 alone, the organization conducted 4,364 mental health sessions, with depressive disorders accounting for 51% of diagnoses at the mobile clinic and 27% at its main center.

Why Lebanon ranks so high

Data from the NIH study and Embrace’s annual reports point to a set of reinforcing factors behind Lebanon’s placement among the world’s most depressed countries:

Economic collapse: One of the worst globally since the 19th century, according to the World Bank.

- Political paralysis: Repeated institutional breakdowns that have eroded public trust.

- Conflict exposure: Persistent instability along Lebanon’s southern border.

- Population pressure: Hosting the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide.

- Public health strain: An underfunded mental health system and costly private care.

- Social stressors: Family migration, job insecurity, and a steadily declining quality of life.

Together, these dynamics have created conditions in which depression is no longer solely an individual struggle, but an increasingly pervasive social phenomenon.

A call for urgent action

Lebanon’s ranking should be viewed as a warning and a call for urgent investment in mental health services, public awareness, and community-based support. As the country continues to navigate deep economic hardship and social instability, the burden of depression is likely to grow in the absence of structural intervention. For now, Lebanon’s place among the most depressed countries in the world underscores not only the depth of its crisis, but also the resilience of the individuals and organizations working, often with limited resources, to confront it.