Religions of Beirut

authorities, but civil marriages held in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities. Until the mid-20th century, Beirut was also home to a Jewish community in the Bab Idriss sector of Zokak el-Blat. In the 2009 Lebanese general elections, 435,462 people voted in Beirut: 192,910 (45%) were Sunni Muslims, 60,202 (14%) Shia Muslims, 46,744 (11%) Armenian Orthodox, 42,728 (10%) Greek Orthodox, 24,800 (6%) Maronite Catholics, 18,923 (4%) Greek Catholics, 9,623 (2%) Armenian Catholics, 6,883 (1%) Protestants, 5,374 (1%) Jews, 5,251 (1%) Druze, 218 Alawis, and 21,806 other Christians.

Before the civil war the neighborhoods of Beirut were fairly heterogeneous, however they became largely segregated by religion since the conflict. East Beirut has a mainly Christian population with a small Muslim minority, while West Beirut has a Sunni majority with small minorities of Christians, Druze and Shi'aas. Since the end of the civil war, East and West Beirut have begun to see an increase in Sunni Muslims and Christians moving into each half. The southern suburbs are populated largely by Shia Muslims, while the eastern and northern suburbs are largely Christian. Northern Beirut has also had a large Lebanese Protestant community since the 19th century.

The city has five dioceses within its territory. The Maronite Catholic Church has had an episcopal see since 1577, under Archbishop Paul Youssef Matar, the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, under Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros. It also has the Armenian Church under the jurisdiction of Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, as well as the Chaldean Catholic Church which has had a presence in the city since 1957. It also has the Syrian Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of Ignatius Joseph III Yonan.

The city is also home to a small number of Roman Catholics in the form of an apostolic