E-commerce is gaining momentum in Lebanon, with promising growth projections despite significant structural and regulatory hurdles. According to Statista Market Insight, Lebanon’s e-commerce market generated $1.311 billion in 2024 and is forecast to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.88% between 2025 and 2029, reaching approximately $2.006 billion by 2029.
By then, Lebanon is expected to have 1.243 million users, with penetration increasing from 20.9% in 2024 to 26.6% in 2029, and an average revenue per user (ARPU) of $1,323. Current trends show Lebanese consumers mainly purchasing electronics, followed by fashion, food and beverages, and beauty and personal care products.
Despite this potential, Lebanon’s e-commerce sector faces persistent challenges. Weak logistics infrastructure, fragmented platforms, high programming costs, and weak regulation undermine consumer confidence. Fraudulent stores and inconsistent delivery experiences further erode trust, leaving buyers reliant on established platforms with proven reputations. Meanwhile, successive economic and logistical crises have added to transport difficulties, inventory risks, and shipping damages, with sellers often absorbing the costs.
Still, e-commerce offers Lebanese businesses a lifeline. Cash-on-delivery payments have fueled adoption in a largely cash-based economy, while small entrepreneurs leverage online platforms to bypass the costs of physical storefronts. Social media has also become a critical sales channel, offering affordable advertising and direct access to customers. Yet profitability remains elusive for many, as rising competition and economic pressures drive the need for innovation in loyalty-building and omnichannel logistics.
E-Commerce on the Global Stage
Lebanon’s trajectory reflects wider global growth. Statista reports that global e-commerce revenues reached $4.117 trillion in 2024 and are projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.49% through 2029, bringing the market volume to $6.478 trillion. By then, the number of global e-commerce users is expected to reach 3.6 billion, with penetration rising from 40.5% in 2024 to 49.1% in 2029, and an ARPU of $1,620.
These figures highlight both the scale of global e-commerce and Lebanon’s relatively modest—but rapidly expanding—role within it. For Lebanon, the road ahead lies in strengthening infrastructure, improving regulation, and restoring consumer trust to align more closely with global standards of digital commerce.
Source: thisisbeirut.com.lb, Statista
