According to McKinsey Global Institute, 865 out of every 1,000 residents in Lebanon own a car. This is based on a recent study performed on Lebanon’s economic sectors.
Lebanon is among the countries with a very high rate of cars ownership – especially when compared to other countries in the region. For example, in Dubai, the rate is 550 per 1,000.
This puts Beirut in 25th place as the most crowded city in the world. The daily traffic at Beirut’s main entrances, where most of the economic activity is concentrated, increases the daily journey by about 46%. It also puts Beirut in 2471 out of the 3,000 most polluted cities in the world.
As for the reasons, this is mainly due to the absence of a proper public transit system.