Lebanon
Asia · Western Asia
Beirut is famously resilient; economic collapse since 2019, but the cultural life never stopped.
At a Glance
📈Lebanon's Human Development Index
0.723
High human development#108 of 191 countries worldwide, #27 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 44% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Lebanon
Lebanon is a small Mediterranean country of extraordinary cultural and geographic density, where the cedar forests and ski slopes of the mountains are less than an hour from ancient Phoenician ruins and the remarkable urban energy of Beirut. The culture is among the most sophisticated and outwardly expressive in the Arab world, with a tradition of food, art, literature, and nightlife that punches well above its size. Those who can navigate the complexities of the region will find it one of the most captivating places in the Middle East.
- More Lebanese diaspora live abroad than residents live in Lebanon.
- Once the banking and media capital of the Arab world — now in near-total economic collapse.
- Has the highest concentration of banks per capita outside Switzerland.
Quick Facts
Capital
Beirut
Languages
Arabic, French
Currency
ل.ل LBP
Area
10,230 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
20Mbps
Mobile
45Mbps
GDP / Capita
$4K
PPP / Capita
$12K
Inflation
14.6%
Unemployment
11.0%
Innovation (GII)
23.6
GNI / Capita
$4K
Tax Revenue
11.1%
FDI Inflows
7.1%
Education Spend
1.2%
Cost of Living
41.7
Price Level Index
64th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2005
0.710 → 0.723 (+0.013)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 18 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Lebanon's Human Development Index?
Lebanon's Human Development Index is 0.723 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #108 of 191 countries.
Is Lebanon safe?
Lebanon scores 2.44 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #130 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Lebanon?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Lebanon at 41.7 (New York = 100); that is #71 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Lebanon?
Life expectancy at birth in Lebanon is 77.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #58 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Lebanon?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Lebanon at 98.2, ranked #77 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.