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In the period 1970 – 1984, crude birth rates and sex-age adjusted birth rates declined in several areas in Lebanon, but the decline was most pronounced in the southern suburb of Beirut. The relatively low marital fertility of suburban women was due to their distinctive pattern of contraceptive use, as a significantly higher percentage of married women were using efficient methods of contraception in the suburb than any other district, including the capital. Area Variations in female labor force participation, urbanization levels, family planning services, and female illiteracy rates did not explain this result. Soan index of the intensity and scale of war was constructed. This index had two distinct levels: high and low, with variations within each level. It was found that where the intensity of war high, fertility was low, irrespective of the illiteracy level. But at low intensity, fertility was moderate, irrespective of minor variations in the intensity of war. Thus the impact of war on fertility is felt only when the war is protracted, atrocious and highly destructive. Otherwise, socioeconomic factors are the main determinants of fertility.